My name is Desiree M. Ortega. I was born in New York and raised in sunny Miami, FL. From a young age, I discovered a love for writing and art. That led to me pursuing many creative ventures from childhood through adolescence such as theatre, dance, singing, guitar, stage design, soundboard management, as well as teaching various creative ventures. As for writing, I explored poetry, storytelling via plays for the theatre, screenplays, non-fiction works, and adventure novels with a dose of romance. My other passions include coffee, reading, teaching about the writing process, art, and aiding in ending the stigma surrounding mental health. Building a creative community founded on mindfulness is my current mission that I'd like to explore through writing and art.