Doyen studied creative writing and art design at Stanford University (BA) and directing at the American Film Institute (Masters). Previously working in the world of children’s television, when her oldest son set off for college, Denise set off on a new career and studied writing for children at UCLA. Her first book, “Once Upon a Twice,” a rousing nonsense adventure reminiscent of Jabberwocky debuted in 2009 to starred reviews, was a Junior Library Guild selection and included in several ‘best of’ lists including Kirkus Reviews “Best Children’s Books of 2009.” It was awarded the 2010 “EB White Read Aloud Honor.”