Author Victoria Ortiz was born in New Jersey on June 6, 1972, from very poor immigrant parents. Her first crib was a drawer on the floor with towels and blankets. Looking for warmth and new beginnings, her parents drove across the country to Southern California when she was just three months old, where she has lived ever since. There were a lot of expectations with being the first generation American in her family. Victoria graduated from the University of San Diego in 1994 and pursued a successful career in finance. She manages a blended family, works full time, and loves the outdoors, loves to travel, drink vodka, and curse quite a bit.