My Story
I was born in the Philippines and moved to Hong Kong when I was eight years old. There, I grew up as a third-culture kid—navigating different languages, celebrating diverse traditions, and learning to find home in the spaces between cultures.
My love for writing began early. I penned persuasive poems to my parents whenever I felt a punishment was unfair (which, I confess, was often!). As life grew busier, I set writing aside for a while. But when the pandemic created unexpected space, I returned to it—and I haven’t stopped since.
Today, I write to explore the intersections of my own heritage and experiences. I draw inspiration from memories and life in Hong Kong, Canada, the U.S., Italy, and the Philippines. Through my stories, I hope to share the richness of multicultural life and to open doors, windows, and mirrors for children everywhere.
And above all, I write because it brings me joy.
Official Bio
Stephanie Ellen Sy is a Filipino-Chinese-Canadian writer and interior designer with a degree in International Relations and Asian Studies from Tufts University. Born in the Philippines and raised in Hong Kong, she draws inspiration from her multicultural experiences across Asia, North America, and Europe. She is the author of A Roof!, illustrated by Daniel Tingcungco (Kokila), and the forthcoming You Can’t Tame a Tiger, illustrated by Julien Chung (Owlkids, September 2025). Her upcoming picture books also include Jia Has a Dog Problem, illustrated by Isabella Kung (Kokila, May 2026), and The Majestic Banyan and The Green Tong Lau, illustrated by Ishita Jain (Kokila, August 2026).
Stephanie comes from a family of storytellers—her siblings are also authors, and they all began writing during the COVID-19 pandemic, turning uncertainty into creativity and connection. She is represented by Stefanie Molina of Ladderbird Literary Agency.
Find her at stephanieellensy.com and on Instagram @steph_steph_sy.
