My name is Gwendolyn Yvette Santiago. I am a mother, dreamer, writer , and founder of Gwendolyn Yvette Books - an independent publishing imprint dedicated to celebrating love, family, tradition, and legacy, through picture books.

When I was in the 5th grade, my teacher, Ms. McCoy, read a creative writing assignment that I submitted, and asked why the ending felt so rushed. I admitted that I had cut the story short to avoid a lower grade - since she had mentioned that stories with too many pages might be penalized. Ms. McCoy smiled and gently said, “You are a writer.” She invited me to rewrite the ending - no page limit, and no risk of a lower grade. That moment, to this very day, stays with me. I have been writing ever since.

My best stories were the ones that I would tell my son, Cameron - not just at bedtime, but anytime. Our bond and shared imagination is the heart of my debut children’s book, The Jar of Kisses.

The Jar of Kisses is a tribute to the thousands of moments that I share with Cameron - the kisses, the snuggles, the laughter, and the legacy of love that I want to preserve forever.

I am based in Los Angeles, where I continue to write stories that speak to the invisible threads that connect us. Through books that heal, uplift, and inspire, I am on a mission to help families honor the small moments, that become everything.