Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born in San Francisco and raised in Chico, California. After graduating from Stanford University, she worked in the non-profit sector, teaching art and technology to youth in low-income communities. Her debut novel, The Language of Flowers, was on The New York Times best sellers list for 69 weeks and has been translated into more than 40 languages. It was long-listed for The International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award, which aims to promote excellence in world literature. Following the success of her novel, Vanessa co-founded Camellia Network, a non-profit whose mission is to connect every youth aging out of foster care to the critical resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive in adulthood. In The Language of Flowers, Camellia [kuh-meelyuh] means “My Destiny is in Your Hands.” The network’s name emphasizes the belief in the interconnectedness of humanity; a reminder that the destiny of our nation lies in the hands of our youngest citizens.