Heidy Ramos, an recent graduate from Institute of Children’s Literature, has always had a passion for writing. Author of Island of Dreams-A Memoir, Secret Whisper, and her first children’s book, The Girl Who Wears Gumamela Flower, has found that she enjoys creating children’s stories. Heidy was born in raised in the Philippines and brings her culture to the state side. Stories she heard as a child differ from children’s stories here in America. Heidy loves to embrace her culture and enjoys sharing her culture with others. Heidy lives in New York with her two of her five children. When Heidy is not writing she is cooking, hiking, or kayaking with her family.