Malooca and The Look of Love follows a misfit girl who is teased for her ethnic background, causing her to struggle with loneliness and rejection until an art contest helps her find confidence and acceptance. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I wanted to create in Malooca , a character who had undergone some of the same experiences I had around the same age.  We were both teased for our dark, naturally curly hair…so different from the other girls in our respective classes. 

Like Malooca, ethnicity was part of my life – in food, in family and in custom and culture.  Our life’s journey was seen through that prism.

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

Empathy; first impressions are not always accurate; compete only with yourself; pursue your passion; perseverance and believe in yourself.

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

With regard to writing and illustrating books, Callah and I were relative “newbies”. I contacted the art department of my former high school to get the name of an art student who would fit my purpose. Callah was selected. 

With each chapter, I gave her latitude to draw an object that would relate to the chapter. We tweaked the drawings as needed. But the most important thing to me was to get the face of Malooca as I envisioned her. She “hit the nail on the head” the first time.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

I haven’t made a decision on a series as yet. But there are definitely more stories to tell.