Charlene has always been passionate about writing, painting, digital illustration and photography. She currently resides in Florida with her family, but was born and raised in Puerto Rico and often dedicates her art to her island upbringing.
Charlene is a photographer and currently finishing her Virtual Arts Bachelor's degree with a graphic design concentration. She also divides her time between being a mom, wife, and tackling her latest artistic project.
Author Interview with Literary Titan
Where’s El Morro?: Rani’s adventure at Old San Juan follows a little girl and her grandfather who tour Old San Juan and see the historical landmarks. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Old San Juan has always been my favorite place to visit because to me, it symbolizes home. I have tons of cherished memories of the place, so when we moved from Puerto Rico to the US it was important to keep my children connected to it. Even though it’s a fictional story, the character of Rani represents my kids and the grandfather is a conduit to teach them all about this beautiful historical place.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main idea was to mix colorful visuals with the background information to keep it engaging for kids. When creating the illustrations, I wanted to showcase all the different elements you admire when visiting Old San Juan. It was essential to incorporate the array of colors of the Spanish-style buildings in contrast with the old stone look of the castle, church, etc.
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What scene in the book did you have the most fun illustrating?
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It’s difficult to pinpoint one in particular because drawing every single element felt like being back home, but if I had to choose one, I think it would have to be the Old San Juan street (which you see at the beginning of the story and cover). It combines everything I love about the place, the buildings full of color, the cobblestone street, the ocean in the background…I even added a Puerto Rican flag for good measure!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I want to continue Rani’s adventure at Old San Juan, this time teaching her about the governor’s mansion (which you read about on the last page of the first book) however, I am currently working on a coloring book showcasing PR’s 78 municipalities. The goal is to publish three more books in 2023, all of them dedicated to my dear island of Puerto Rico.