About me
Hello! I am the author of A Very Typical Family (Sourcebooks 2022) and The Second Chance Hotel (September 2023). I am extremely flattered that you have come to see who I am!
I was born in Santa Cruz, California (which is where A Very Typical Family is set!) and have lived in many places, including Santorini, Greece, when I was a kid. Now I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband and two sons, as well as a lot of animals that include a dog, two cats, and a turtle, which seems like a lot, and is. I spend a lot of time reading (I love a good epic romance) and hiking trails in the Bay Area. I have always been a writer, including a long time career in technical writing in semiconductor, solar, telecommunications, and AI industries. I was also a graphic designer and a sports reporter!
But my most favorite is fiction writing, of course.
I am mostly on Instagram and Threads, so if you want to hang out with me and talk books, I’d love to hear from you!
Some Sierra Facts:
I am a passionate supporter of Atlético Madrid, because Atléti is full of corazon y coraje. I support the national Spanish team in world football.
I love octopuses (not octopi!) and I feed the neighborhood crows.
My elbows are double-jointed.
I was on an episode of HGTV’s Curb Appeal and an episode of Bay Area Backroads many moons ago.
For loads more, see below.
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Note: literally no one has asked me these questions, and certainly not frequently.
Who are you?
I am an author!
What books have you written?
I have written A Very Typical Family, September 2022 from Sourcebooks, and The Second Chance Hotel, September 2023 from Sourcebooks.
What is your favorite band?
Underworld. I have seen them three times in concert including once in London, which was lovely.
What are your favorite books and authors?
This is hard one! I love so many. Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher is a perennial favorite and I think I’ve read it like four times. I love anything by Marian Keyes, Liane Moriarty, Jenny Colgan, and Liza Palmer. Recent loves include The Vacationers by Emma Straub and Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead. I also loved The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn and The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I like a meaty family drama, quirk, and a love story. Recently I loved This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
I wanted to write stories and I wanted to be a designer. In college, it never occurred to me to pursue a creative writing degree. I don’t know why. I was an idiot. But I did go to a university and got a master’s degree in English, technical communication. And I think when you have a passion for something, sooner or later it comes out, so now I write fiction. It makes me so happy to tell stories about women and the challenges they overcome.
Do you speak any languages other than English?
I speak some Greek. And I am learning Dutch and Spanish, but without the dedication it probably requires.
You live in California. Is it hot and sunny there with palm trees?
No. Sort of. I live in the area covered in a thick marine layer of fog and there aren’t a lot of palm trees. But there are a lot of bridges. Here is a look at where I live.
What kinds of socks do you wear?
It really depends on the use. I like plain black socks if I’m wearing black shoes, and I wear white socks with my running shoes. But I do like socks with stuff on them. When I was in high school, I enjoyed wearing socks with cats on them. Who wouldn’t? Believe it or not, I was called “weird” and “stupid” by mean girls for this. It was even suggested that I discontinue wearing such socks. I kept wearing them, obviously.
What pets do you have?
I have two cats, a dog, and a turtle. The older cat is lovely and the younger cat is mean. The dog is nice, for a dog. The turtle does literally nothing.
Do you still cover soccer?
Not anymore. It was little to no pay and lots of time, and it is an industry that I was not willing to devote myself solely to in order to rise to a full time position with a large outlet. But! I was sometimes a credentialed member of the press and I had a lot of amazing experiences while doing it. See? Here I am in Madrid, Spain, in the press room after the match I covered for Atletico Madrid, which was my dream.
What is your favorite kind of cookie?
Chocolate chip, every time.
What is the one thing you regret?
I’m not going to say that I regret nothing and that everything lead me to where I am now, even though it’s true. You want to hear about regrets, so I will tell you. I regret many things, but probably my biggest regret is when I was 22, I went with my best friend to Europe for two weeks and my mother said, “Stay longer! Stay as long as you want! Travel around! I’ll give you money.” And I didn’t do it. FACE PALM.