About Sandra Munoz LMHC, Psy.D

My career has been dedicated to supporting children and families through their most challenging moments. For eight years, I worked directly with children battling cancer and their families, accompanying them through every stage of their journey—from the initial diagnosis through treatment, celebrating victories when chemotherapy ended, and sometimes, sadly, providing support during end-of-life care. This profound experience shaped my understanding of family resilience and the critical importance of support systems during crisis. It also inspired me to create the TEACUP Preemie Program at The Children's Healing Institute after recognizing the unique needs of families with infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Since 2008, this program has provided essential support to local NICU families, and our Facebook support group now reaches families nationwide. My commitment to child safety began early in my career. At age 22, I received a patent for the Baby Pool Guard, a device designed to prevent child drownings after a family friend lost their young son in a tragic accident. Though the patent has since expired, this early innovation reflected my lifelong dedication to protecting children's wellbeing. Currently, as CEO of The Children's Healing Institute—a position I assumed within three months of joining the organization—I oversee programs that have supported thousands of families in our community. While my talented staff provides direct services to families, my leadership role focuses on program development, organizational strategy, and creating sustainable support systems that make lasting differences in children's lives. Throughout these diverse professional experiences, one thread remains constant: my belief in the power of support, education, and imagination to help children navigate life's challenges. This philosophy informs both my approach to organizational leadership and my storytelling as an author.

Fiddleswerth was born from a place of love and imagination long before he became a character in books. When my daughter was just two years old, I created Fiddleswerth as a magical elf who lived on the moon to bring wonder and fantasy into her life. He would "visit" our home, leaving behind candy and special notes that I would read to her, creating moments of magic in our everyday lives. ​ When my daughter was five, her father passed away. During this difficult time, Fiddleswerth took on an even more meaningful role in our lives. We would look up at the night sky together, and I would tell her how Fiddleswerth was watching over her from the moon, and how her dad had become a special star in the sky. These stories provided comfort and continuity during a period of profound change.   Over the years, Fiddleswerth continued to be part of our family traditions. He was good friends with Santa Claus, helping to keep track of who was naughty or nice. These stories created lasting memories that my daughter, now 21, still cherishes.   It was my husband Bruce who encouraged me to share Fiddleswerth with other children by writing the book series. What began as a personal way to bring magic to my own child has evolved into stories that can touch the lives of many children, helping them navigate their own challenges through the power of imagination.

My transition into children's literature was a natural evolution of my lifelong commitment to child development. Drawing from the magical worlds I created in my own childhood and the stories I shared with my daughter, I developed the Fiddleswerth book series featuring a magical elf who lives on the moon.   Through Fiddleswerth's adventures, I craft stories that do more than entertain – they help children process emotions, build confidence, and discover the wonder within themselves. Each story weaves together enchanting narratives with valuable lessons about friendship, courage, kindness, and self-belief.   As both a mental health professional and author, I uniquely understand how stories can serve as powerful tools for emotional learning. My books create safe spaces where children can explore complex feelings and concepts through the magical lens of Fiddleswerth's world.

I believe that childhood is a time of wonder and discovery, and stories play a crucial role in helping young minds make sense of their world. When creating books for children, I draw upon both my professional knowledge and personal experiences to craft narratives that resonate on multiple levels.   My goal is to write stories that children return to again and again – not just for entertainment, but because they find new meaning with each reading. I'm passionate about creating characters that children connect with emotionally, providing them with guides for their own journeys.   In  both my professional and creative work, I remain committed to nurturing children's emotional intelligence, creativity, and resilience – essential qualities for navigating life's challenges with confidence and compassion.