Lorena grew up with a pencil in her hand. As far back as she can remember, she was always drawing. Throughout grammar school and high school, she was the class artist, and she went to college to pursue a career as a graphic designer. Never in a million years would she have thought that getting a job and living on her own would mean she wouldn’t have time to draw, or that design wasn’t as creative as she had hoped.

She followed her career and discovered a knack for making things “make sense,” eventually becoming an Information Architect and User Experience Designer in high tech. She thought her creativity was lost until she was rescued by an Australian Shepherd named Phebe.

Inspired by Phebe's antics, Lorena began to write funny stories and draw caricatures. She rediscovered her creativity in the joy of sharing her fun and funny dog. However, she never knew that the love of a wonderful dog would lead to tremendous heartbreak upon Phebe's death.

To console herself, she turned those drawings into T-shirts as gifts, which became Phebe-n-Me, a T-shirt company. However, there was more to say than could ever fit onto a T-shirt. To spread Phebe’s love and wisdom, she began a journey to write her first children’s book, with more on the way.

How to Make a Sandwich is her first picture book.

(And if you're wondering why her dog's name was spelled Phebe, not Phoebe, ask Shakespeare.)

“A beautifully illustrated story that children and caregivers alike will savor.”
– Kirkus Reviews