About Cara (she/her)

 I learned the power of story early. The very day I learned to read my first picture book, I begged Mom to keep the car light on on the way home from the bookstore so I could finish my brand new book. Being the amazing mom she is, she indulged me. 

Eventually, I'd read much more at the University of Pennsylvania, where I decided I wanted to be a novelist when I grew up. Dad, being the amazing father he is, practically suggested I find a profession that might pay a living now, so I worked as a journalist and then a marketing writer. Eventually, I would write my first novel, made all the sweeter by not living in Dad's basement while I did it (thanks, Dad!). 

I wrote for twenty years under my formerly married name, Cara Lockwood. In that time, I've had two amazing kids, divorced, dated (hilariously), found the true love of my life on Bumble (yes, Bumble), re-married, gained three fantastic stepkids, and somewhere along the way, also became a dog mom to a goofy yet endlessly lovable goldendoodle. 

I'm writing under my maiden name Tanamachi now, because for me, it was time to get back to my authentic self: the one who knows more than anything that life is what happens when you're making other plans, the one who paid her own rent while she wrote her first rom-com in 2000 and the one who loved stories so much she read them by dim car-light.     

 I believe love makes life worth living, and humor allows us all the courage to keep on going, even in the face of grief, disappointment, and heartbreak. I think being reminded of the power of these two amazing gifts we all carry in us (the ability to love and to laugh) is the key to living in our happy places.  

I'm represented by the amazing Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency!