Three-year-old Evan in the book Evan and the Skygoats was inspired by Vanessa’s son, Evan Delphinus Daitz. The story is based on the family’s true experiences living on a farm in New Mexico and adopting goats. Now eleven years old, the real Evan is a sweet and brilliant child who continues to bring much joy into Vanessa’s life after the passing of her daughter, Sky.

Evan loves all things music, most especially playing cello and composing for larger ensembles. His recent composition, A Balloon’s Breath: Three Short Pieces for String Orchestra, premiered in April 2024. Evan has participated in writing and performing an operetta, Problems With The Apocalypse, with the Albuquerque Academy Opera Club. He plays cello with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and has also studied flamenco guitar, piano, marimba, voice. He enjoys reading, kenpo karate, traveling, and filmmaking.

Evan is a member of the Sky Velvet Vassar Music Foundation Youth Board and a crew member of The Children's Hour Radio and Podcast—where you can hear him reviewing books and interviewing amazing people around the world.  

Evan loves animals and is particularly interested in dolphins, wolves, reptiles and ducks. He enjoys caring for his turtles (when they're not hibernating) and, once upon an earlier time, delighted in playing with the real farm goats, Evening, Ebony and Electra.