Raina’s Rainbow Lemonade follows a young girl who visits her grandmother and sets up a unique lemonade stand every weekend. What was the inspiration for your story?

My grandma and I have a real-life relationship that was my main inspiration when writing Raina’s Rainbow Lemonade. I was raised primarily by her and other extended relatives. She taught me about my culture, and the importance of loyalty, love, and family. I wanted to dedicate something special to her.

Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your story?

Nothing literal, no. I never ran a lemonade stand, but I did spend a lot of time with my grandma doing other things together.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

Color theory is huge. I also wanted to stress the importance of community engagement and entrepreneurship.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am working on a full series about Raina. The next book will be “Raina’s Magic Meltdown” and it will be available this fall!