Mbinguni is a natural storyteller. An avid reader, she began composing her own narratives as a small child in grade school. With roots in West Africa and the Gullah-Geechee region of Georgia's barrier islands, Mbinguni began writing, Looking for Hope, as a labor of love. She has a background in education and has channeled her technical know-how into her creative passion. Looking for Hope is her debut novel. ​