My name comes from Guatemala and is pronounced ‘Shayla’. My mother served as a missionary down there and just loved the spelling ‘Xela’. While I love my name, and its origin, it does get a little repetitive having to explain it constantly, which is why I decided to go with a simple ‘X’ on my book’s cover.

I am a working mother of three, living in the Utah (USA). I have one girl (13) and two boys (5, 2). My daughter loves horseback riding and gymnastics, and my sons are very into science and roughhousing. My husband and I will be celebrating our ten year anniversary this fall, hopefully in Chicago at a Cubs game.

I am currently in my eighth year of teaching secondary education, a calling that I just love. After talking to students for years about following their dreams and doing whatever it takes to achieve them…