I was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands, where I started writing my first books at seven. They never got further than the first chapter. I picked up writing again in 1997. In the meantime I studied history and archive studies, moved to England and the United States, worked, taught, and had two children, who were the inspiration for my picture books when they were younger.
When I am not writing I work as an archivist and researcher. I live with my family in New Jersey.