Kerri L. Ortiz

Kerri L. Ortiz is a lifelong storyteller, passionate reader, and artist who finds inspiration in everyday adventures—especially those shared with her family in sunny Southern California. With over 20 years of experience working with children of all ages and abilities, Kerri brings a deep understanding of childhood imagination and emotion into every story she writes.

She holds degrees in Child Development (B.A.), Communication Disorders and Deaf Education (B.S.), and Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.), and has spent much of her career helping children find their voices—both literally and through the magic of books.

Kerri wrote her first book in 2005 and has been creating ever since. Her latest work, The Adventures of Lilliana and Ariel, began as a love letter to her daughters—an imaginative series crafted to give them the adventure of a lifetime. The first installment, Escape From the Garden, debuted in July 2020 and marks the beginning of a whimsical journey through magic, mystery, and sisterhood.