Celeste Davidson Mannis has been fascinated by world cultures and history since childhood. "My brother and I would spin our globe, close our eyes and pick places to visit. Then we'd pore over atlases and history books and explore the destinations we'd discovered." Over time Celeste was able to travel broadly, first as a student and then for business & pleasure. "The more I travel in real life and through books, the more I appreciate the splendid differences and surprising similarities between different cultures and historical eras. I like to explore cultural and historical themes in my writing and instill in children a sense of their unique place in the greater world community."

One Leaf Rides the Wind (Viking, September 2002) was inspired by a visit to a Japanese garden on a family vacation. Celeste's children were enchanted by the peaceful, reflective nature of the garden. They spent hours counting koi fish and feeding them crumbs. "I was thrilled that such a simple pastime could be so utterly absorbing --no batteries required! We continue to visit Japanese gardens frequently and the kids love to learn about the many garden symbols they discover."

Born in Los Angeles, California, Celeste now resides there with her family. She holds undergraduate degrees in History and The History of Art, as well as a Masters in Business Administration ­ all from the University of Southern California. Celeste also studied British History and Renaissance Art History at the University of London. She and her family love beachcombing and barbecuing, create all kinds of music, sing songs and tell stories. The one comment her children and husband hope never to hear again is: "wouldn't that be a great idea for a book?"

© Celeste Davison Mannis 2002