A Place to Belong is a charming children’s book that promotes diversity and self-acceptance through a fun and relatable story. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My stories are inspired by my own experiences. You’ll see a lot of myself in this story. It was important to me to share my own story of what I went through as I grew up. It was often difficult for me to fit in with different groups. Despite not fully identifying with certain people, I learned it was okay. By creating my own friends, community, and family, I can create my own place to belong.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mayara Nogueira?

Mayara was a pleasure to work with. I already had an idea of what the characters would look like. It was just a matter of communicating my vision to her and she drew the characters in her own way.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

It was mainly about making friends along the way in your life adventure. Together, you can create memories. The most important thing is that you can create a place where you feel at home.

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

There are no new books in the works at the moment. However, we’ll see how things turn out. If you would like to see what I’m doing with my books, you are welcome to follow my social media accounts.

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