Brittany Batong

Brittany Batong has been hearing and telling stories her whole life, most of them based in and around the Los Angeles area. She grew up in the idyllic coastal farm town of Ventura, California, dreaming of becoming a professional character animator. As a child, she spent countless adventures exploring Los Angeles and the greater Southern California region, where most of her extended family was based. She remembers her first experience tasting escargots as a truly religious one. As a teenager she nurtured interests in theatre, poetry, and the arts. At an early age, she developed respect for the sometimes hidden history that dwells underneath the modern facade of contemporary life. She spent four years at the internationally renowned California Institute of the Arts, studying the art of storytelling through hand-drawn animation, after which she...did nothing with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Instead, she continued to observe interesting people and see new story opportunities working for the Cities of Los Angeles and Santa Clarita. Brittany finds that the most interesting stories lie within the hearts of people who lead lives and work in environments that are seemingly ordinary. Ever in love with local history, she enjoys working and playing in Downtown Los Angeles and uncovering its sometimes less-than-evident treasures. She developed the idea for her first novel, "A Time Apart", in her mind for seven years before fully realizing it. She currently resides in Santa Clarita, California with her husband and two sons; and is grateful for this interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.