During that period of time, her parents had a divorce and her house was burned down by a firestorm.
She then graduated from California Polytechnic State University with honors and a bachelor's degree in Education.
After graduation, she started her teaching career as an Elementary teacher for five years.
For years, people have joked that if you ask my dad what time it is, he'll tell you how to build a watch.
She started writing when she was seven and tried to get her first book published at nineteen but was rejected multiple times until she was thirty.