Meet Our New Authors

Laverne Houston

God inspired Laverne Houston to write Freckles Are Dope while sitting with her family. Seeing that
there were no books or apparel representing little Black girls with freckles, she was motivated to create
this story. Growing up in a small town, there were not a lot of little girls that looked like Laverne, and
she was picked on because of the way she looked. Laverne writes this book to tell all little Black girls
with freckles that their freckles are dope and to tell any Black girl who looks different that they are
beautiful and wonderfully made.

Tiana Sanders

Tiana Sanders was born and raised in Albany, NY. She is the eldest among her five siblings that she was raised with and is the third oldest of all her siblings. Throughout her professional journey, Tiana has assumed diverse roles in the fields of education and the non-profit sector. In addition to her professional endeavors, she takes pride in being the owner and founder of Grace Space Boutique. Tiana’s commitment extends to serving as a youth leader, mentor, advocate, and consultant. She has leveraged her unique talents and abilities to support others in areas such as ministry, communication, education, and business. Tiana’s pursuits are deeply rooted in her strong belief in the significance of representation, both in education and life. She attributes any positive impact she has had to her faith in Jesus Christ, which she discovered early in life, as well as the guidance and support she received from those who have helped her discover and extend grace to others. 

Currently, Tiana is in her second year as a doctoral student, with aspirations to assume executive leadership roles aimed at promoting equitable change and eradicating unjust practices, particularly within the realms of education and business that serve marginalized communities.