Meet Annabelle, author of “The Mango Tree”

I never set out to be a writer.

I started my professional life as a proud University of Florida grad who pushed off medical school by working as a line cook, almost killing my Filipina mother in the process. I fell in love with food. I took a part-time job at my local newspaper and fell in love with writing, too. Eventually I got the chance to write about food. Two loves colliding. I started by reviewing restaurants under the pseudonym Jean Le Boeuf, a name most people assumed belonged to a French guy. I LOVED pretending to be a French guy.

After 15 years hiding behind that name and its many privileges, I let it go. In February 2021, I revealed myself as a half-Asian mom who drives a minivan. And I discovered a new love — being me.

I am a cliché: The girl who’s followed her heart.

While doing so, I’ve written hundreds of stories, on athletes, sports, food, chefs, cooks, cocktails. I’ve developed and written recipes. I’ve authored children’s textbooks on everything from lacrosse to nutrition. I’ve written content for local and national brands, raised a couple kids, picked a few thousand mangoes. My debut book, “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony” will be published April 2, 2024 by Little, Brown and Co. You can preorder it from bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your favorite local and independent bookstore.

I don’t quite know where this heart of mine will lead me next. But I’ll be following it.