We recently connected with Mona L. Scott and have shared our conversation below.

Mona L., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I have worked on is writing inspiring books for children. The most important one I fell I’ve written so far; was for children living in hotel shelters when the corona virus hit in 2020. The title of the book is SAFE KLEAN KIDS, The characters are a sister and brother named Abbey & Isiah who tell the children that they are not super hero’s who came the save the day, but to remind them to stay clean & healthy.

I wrote the story, because I felt that they would not get the necessary information to stay clean and healthy. The book basically reminds them when to wash their hands. They have big friends to assist in reminding them to cover their face when they cough or sneeze.

As a result of writing and self-publishing the book, I did a soft fund raiser to purchase toiletry items for them as well. Between 2020 & 2022 I gave away 70 books and toiletry boxes to children at the shelters and campers at a local YMCA. This coming Christmas and 2023 I project to give at least 100 books and toiletry items again.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an Expressive Arts Therapist; specifically a Dance Movement Therapist. I hold a Masters’ Degree from Antioch/New England Graduate School located in Keene, New Hampshire. I have utilized my skills with emotionally disturbed children, unstable adults and active senior citizens. I fell into writing books for children after working for 4 years with inner city African American & Hispanic girls enrolled in “The Go Girl Go” summer sports program. I started out facilitating a onetime Stress Management workshop for third grade girls, but ended up facilitating self-esteem workshops for four years and continued doing so for the girls in the middle and high school grades.

The initial topic was “Why Not Me”, meaning if someone else can do something I desire to do then why can’t I. This topic lead me to include myself in the process. I wanted to write a book from a handout I gave the girls relating to their hair. They had been put down about their fuzzy, kinky hair. They had know understanding about their heritage as it related to their hair. The title of my first book is “Nappy Sunrae Crown”. Sunrae’s hair is designed in many ways, but no matter what others does to it, the sun wins when her hair snaps, crackle, pops back into nappy curls again.
The premise of the story was to share with the girls why their hair texture is the way it is. In the commentary, Sunrae shares that it is due to their African ancestors living and working in the hot region of Africa. Their thick kinky, coily or curly hair protected their scalp from burning in the hot sun.

All of my books end with a life lesson commentary given by Sunrae. After researching information about African American hair texture i felt it was fitting for the main character to share the educational information..

In “Micah’s Little Book of Affirmations for Children”, Sunrae and her Sunday School friend teaches practicing positive words, how to handle stress, celebrate oneself and have manners.

“Timothy McHugglebe Gets His Coat of Arms” book is about a little boy who is a bully, but it is written from his perspective as a bully. He gets a coat/shirt that has pictures of arms on it from some boys in the neighborhood who invite him to play basketball with them. They give him the coat to remind him they will support him even when he messes up.

In my current book titled “Safe Klean Kid” introduces Abbey & Isiah, a sister and brother team reminds all children to stay clean and healthy. They have big friends to help share the message as well. There is a diagram of the immune system so they can better understand how the body works to stay well.

What I want fans, followers and future clients to know about the Sunrae & Friends brand is to B. U. in everything you think, feel, say, & do. In so doing, learn to accept and understand how others get along in the world, especially from children’s point of view.

I am available to facilitate Self-Esteem workshops, & interactive book signings. Sunrae & friends have marketing items such as puzzles, t-shirts, theme birthday party in a box, character charms and soap designed just for children.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I first started writing, I used the money I earned from teaching/chorepgraphying a dance for a holiday show to purchase the computer I wrote my first children’s book on. Currently I use money earned from my book and marketing items sold to purchase supplies. I still use money earned from part-time dance teaching jobs as well; but or special projects I do a soft fundraiser from family & friends.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Here is a short list of some books I read to keep me motivated and on track. They help remind me WHY I do what I do.

Transform Your Life-Dr. Barara King
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success-Deepak Chopra
Do You-Russell Simmons
Inspiration- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sunraeandfriends.com
• Instagram: sunraeandfriends
• Facebook: sunraeandfriends
• Youtube: sunraeandfriends
• Other: www.serenityhealing_arts.com