Dr. Vanessa Girard

Dr. Vanessa P. Girard was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and comes from a richly multiethnic background, with French, Black, White, Native American, and Honduran-Mayan ancestry. Her lifelong exploration of identity—shaped by personal experience and her work with diverse communities—inspires the heart of her children’s fantasy stories. Through her journey, she has come to see that being different is a strength, and that empathy and understanding can be powerful forms of magic.

With more than thirty years in education, Dr. Girard has worked with children from infancy through age eighteen, gaining deep insight into the universal challenges of belonging, courage, and self-worth. Her stories are crafted not only to entertain, but to guide young readers as they navigate these experiences—encouraging them to embrace who they are, value others, and believe in their own potential.

She is the author of several non-fiction works on diversity, as well as The Princess Legacy Series, a collection of fairytales currently spanning seventeen books. Through this series, she weaves themes of empathy, character development, and personal growth into magical, adventure-filled worlds that resonate with readers of all ages.

Dr. Girard resides in Texas near her family, where she continues to write stories that inspire courage, compassion, and a deeper understanding of what it means to truly belong.