ABOUT BRENDA WOODS

During my sophomore year of college, an English professor encouraged me to pursue writing and sometimes had me read my compositions to the class which embarrassed the heck out of me because I was very shy. But I didn’t take her advice seriously because becoming a writer seemed like something I should only dream about. Years would pass before I began writing again and I now realize there was so much I needed to experience and learn about people and life and the human heart and soul before I was spiritually ready to begin my writer’s journey.

I was born in Ohio, grew up in Southern California, graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and California State University, Northridge.

As I was growing up during the 1950’s and 1960’s there were very few books written about young people of color. The world of publishing has since fully evolved so that in 2026 ALL children are able to find themselves represented in stories and see themselves positively depicted in illustrations. I marvel at this profound metamorphosis.

I’ve always been creative and artistic and won my first art award when I was in the sixth grade. I still paint and make collages and when I’m creating art I feel alive and free.

I wrote my first published short story in 30 minutes, sitting in my car, waiting for my younger son while he practiced sports.

I love music and a few of my books feature gifted young musicians.

I hope young people learn important history from some of my books and I also hope many of my characters give them the courage to look outside whatever box life has put them in so they can discover how big the world really is.

Creative endeavors make us better humans. Music and art and photography and acting and dance and poetry and prose and playwriting feed our souls and our capacity for creativity cannot be transcended.

As a Species, We Must Continue to Invent, Imagine, Create, and Dream, and Evolve…

I encourage you to

EXPLORE CREATIVITY

and, when possible, be kind