About the Team - Under the Canopy
Every story here begins somewhere in our everyday life - on a walk, around the dinner table, or in one of those moments that doesn't seem like much until it lingers. Canopy Tales may have started as my personal space to reflect and to write, but it's grown into something shared.
Together with my partner, Dave, and our son, RJ, we've turned it into a family project - part story telling, part memory-keeping, and part quiet experiment in noticing what matters. Each of us brings a different voice: mine for reflection, RJ's for curiosity, and Dave's for heart (and the occasional dad jokes).
This is our little corner of stories, growing with you, growing together, one moment at a time.
Stella Song
Founder & Chief Editor
"Hi, I'm Stella, a partner, mom, and lifelong lover of good stories.
Writing has never been my profession, but it's the way I live to process life - a space where thoughts find clarity and emotions begin to make sense.
I have a full-time job that keeps me busy and often consumes my days (and weekends occasionally). Most of my writing happens in the in-between hours: on the train to/from work, between tasks, or in those quiet moments when reflection finds a small opening.
Often, I let my thoughts flow while listening to Spotify. Music has a way of leading my emotions. Each note helps me see moments more vividly, as if the words are floating right in front of me. It's a quiet kind of magic that turns feeling into story.
The best content contributors to this space are my son and my partner - not only through what they say or do, but through the ways they inspire me to write.
Canopy Tales grew from that simple wish: to notice, to remember, and to grow alongside the stories that make up our lives."
- Stella
Rishon Rothenberg
Jr. Content Contributor
RJ is the youngest voice under the Canopy. He loves to write about the things that make him laugh, wonder, or see the world in new ways. Whether it's a school moment, a family adventure, or something he's just been thinking about, his words always carry a spark of curiosity and heart.
He takes his writing seriously, and proudly earns a small
"writer's fee" for every essay he contributes and I approve (a deal negotiated with the Chief Editor herself).
"Hi, I'm RJ. I'm the youngest writer under the Canopy, and also the one who came up with the name Canopy Tales. My passion for writing started when I decided to write a real book with one of my friends in 5th grade. It came out to about 60 pages, and I had it self-published with a cover, copyright page, etc. It was cool to see what we wrote turned into a real book. I distinctly remember feeling very proud when I first got to hold the book that made in my hands. I've also always loved reading - especially stories that mix real life with a bit of fantasy and fiction. Some of my all time favorite books/series are: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Percy Jackson Universe, Harry Potter, and the list goes on and will continue to grow just as I do."
-- RJ
Dave Rothenberg
Content Contributor
Dave's stories might not appear often on Canopy Tales, but his presence runs quietly through all of them. He keeps the team well-fed, making sure they have the energy to write stories for our visitors. Whether it's a home-cooked meal, a perfectly timed dad joke, or giving everyone a long (very long) explanation to a simple question, he is part of the reason we can turn ordinary moments into something memorable.
"Hi, I'm Dave. My name doesn't show up here too often, but my stories somehow do. When you don't see me in front of my computer, I'm usually in the kitchen cooking up something good, cracking Dad jokes, or doing something silly to get a reaction.
I like reading about all kinds of things, and I love explaining them in my own way - nothing ever feels too small to make sense of. I find meaning in the ordinary: a good meal, a long walk, or a quiet moment that becomes a memory. Years ago, I helped RJ bind the first story he ever wrote - pages of pure imagination from a young mind turned into a real book. Watching him light up reminded me how powerful it is to bring ideas to life.
Most of what I contribute happens off the pages - in the kitchen, in the laughter, in the little moments that inspire the team to keep writing. But it's all part of the life we're building, and the stories we keep growing together."
-- Dave
