Born and raised in Queens, New York to Colombian parents, Marcela graduated cum laude with a degree in hospitality management and a minor in business administration. She worked in a luxury boutique hotel for 16 years before finally dedicating her time to writing children's books. It has been one of her dreams since the age of 13 when a book she wrote for an English class assignment was selected to be part of her school district's EZRA JACK KEATS BOOKMAKING CONTEST. Having always been surrounded by diverse ethnicities and being repeatedly told by her mom how important education is, she tries to incorporate the two into her children's books. Although nowadays, her two young children have been giving her great, fun ideas as well. Her dream is to ultimately educate and inspire children through her books and also put a smile on their faces. She believes they truly are our future and deserve all the best from the very beginning. Marcela now resides in Long Island, New York with her teacher husband, Thai in-laws, and of course, her two energetic children, Krisana and Kyler.