Name: Sasha Graham
Age: 45
Title: I am the author of a collection of children’s books called Tiny Ninja Books. The collection recently debuted with Milo does not like Mornings. The second book in the collection, Whitney Wins Everything, will be published in August 2020.
Married/Single: My husband, Alan, and I have been married for 15 years. We met in LA when I was working for the Walt Disney Studios and he was completing a fellowship in pediatric critical care at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Kids: Alan and I have three kids. Our two boys, Finn & Indy are in middle school and our daughter, Odessa, is in third grade.
City you live in: We live in McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale.
A typical day in my life includes…
ensuring kids have eaten, bathed and done homework, thanking the creators of Hello Fresh for having the foresight to know how much I would need them one day, and scribbling half thoughts on scraps of paper like, “what if people grew their entire lives so you could immediately see how old someone was by their height?”
I was born…
in a tiny South Dakota town. My dad was working in the Indian Health Service and my mom used to tell me stories of abandoning her full grocery cart to take cover when tornado warnings would sound.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
there are so many! The people, the weather, the food, the mountains, the desert, the wild horses along the Salt River, the lakes for kayaking, the red rocks of Sedona, the greenbelt…I could go on for days!
I’m listening to…
my Tiny Ninja. The central theme of each book in the Tiny Ninja Books collection is that we’re each born with our own Tiny Ninja who is the very best version of us; strong, brave and kind. Our Tiny Ninja is always there for us, all we have to do is listen.
My family…
and I recently played the game “Kids Against Maturity,” the junior version of “Cards Against Humanity.” Let’s just say, I learned a lot about what my kids find funny and it was a little disturbing.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
my favorite dinners are with my husband, our kids and close friends. There are many people I admire deeply, but it intimidates my little introverted soul to imagine sharing a meal with them. I much prefer reading a great New Yorker article about them.
One thing I cannot live without…
my family and the library. Have you thought about what a miracle it is that we can just go in, find practically any book we want, and borrow it for weeks on end for free?!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a cardiac surgeon, a large animal vet and a television anchor. Pretty sure there’s still time.
I’m inspired by…
people who really seem to know who they are and are comfortable in their own skin.
The one person who motivates me is…
luckily I have an entire team of motivators I call Team Tiny Ninja, they’re rad and give me a kickstart whenever I need it.
The perfect day would be…
kids wake up in great moods, I listen to a podcast during a nice (slow) run, then spend the day writing before having dinner and a little wine with Alan while the kids eagerly do their homework and clean their rooms.
My first job was…
in 6th grade, sweeping floors and sanitizing hair brushes at The Hair Hut, a small hair salon in Silverton, Oregon. The stylists and customers would often forget I was there and talk completely openly about their lives. I loved it.
My favorite escape…
we head to Sedona for a few days each winter and it knocks my socks off every time.
My life…
involves a lot of characters; both real and imaginary.
I’m currently working on…
the second book in the Tiny Ninja Books collection, Whitney Wins Everything.
Always…
listen to your Tiny Ninja.
Never…
ignore your Tiny Ninja. Seriously, your Tiny Ninja wants what’s best for you.
Favorite Quote…
“Finn likes peaches. Usually.” From Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliott. The perfect set-up for a dynamite story and relatable to parents of toddlers everywhere!
Biggest Dream…
that through Tiny Ninja Books kids will learn to trust their inner voice and feel empowered to go out and live their best lives!
My Pet Peeve(s)…
that they make those tabs on the inside cover of bottles of ranch dressing SO difficult to grab and peel off. Am I doing it wrong?!
