We recently connected with Beth & Patty Buttery & Branigan and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Beth & Patty thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

For me (Beth), the most meaningful project we’ve worked on is our children’s chapter book series, Lainey’s Type 1 Diabetes Adventures. It was one of the very first books we wrote, and it eventually helped us start our own business and publish our work.

My daughter, Lainey, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10 in 2018. It’s a hard, lifelong diagnosis, and suddenly there was so much to learn. Even now, it’s still a constant learning process. We all struggled with what people called our “new normal.” I didn’t want a new normal, and Lainey definitely didn’t either.

Patty and I could see how much Lainey was struggling, and I started looking for books that might help her through it. There were very few options for a 10-year-old facing a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. So, we decided to pause the project we were working on and write a book for Lainey—something to help her feel less alone during a really difficult time.

That period was also when Patty and I learned a lot about ourselves and how we work together. There were moments when things got tough. We’re very different in a lot of ways, which we believe makes us stronger business partners—but we’re also friends, and that can make working together harder sometimes. We made a conscious choice to work through disagreements and protect our friendship first. I’m proud to say we did exactly that.

As we worked on the books and asked Lainey for input, we started to see a change in her. She grew more confident and cared less about what others thought of the “weird” things she had to do, like taking shots before meals or eventually wearing medical devices to manage her insulin and track her blood sugar. Today, she’s a confident 17-year-old who lives life to the fullest. She loves dancing, theater, friends, baking, and nothing stops her from doing the things she loves. I am incredibly proud of her.

When agents weren’t interested in the books, we decided that wasn’t the end of the road. We wanted to share these stories with the world to help other kids, so we set out on our self-publishing journey. That was five years ago. Since then, we’ve learned and grown so much, and we’ve written many more books. We have a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. Some of our books, including the Lainey books, have been revised with new titles and covers. The process taught us an important lesson: we don’t have to get everything “right” the first time. It’s okay to step back, rethink, and re-do. We’ve also had the opportunity to visit local schools during Reading Month and share the Lainey books, our writing process, and what it looked like for us to start a small business. We also get to talk openly about type 1 diabetes—answering kids’ questions, clearing up misconceptions, and helping them understand that it’s just one part of who someone is. Being able to see kids connect with the story, and sometimes see themselves in it, has been incredibly meaningful.

These books will always hold a special place in my heart. They were a big part of Lainey learning to love herself exactly as she is, and the beginning of our self-publishing journey.

For me (Patty), the most meaningful project has been developing our recovery support materials. As an addictions counselor, I witness firsthand the devastation addiction causes—not only for individuals, but for entire families. While running a family support group, I realized that many of the available resources for families were outdated and difficult to use.

We created Not My Addiction to provide families with practical tools and compassionate support at the moments they need it most. When one family member struggles with addiction, the entire family is affected; with the right support, the entire family can begin to heal.

We also created Unwind Your Mind, a no-nonsense guide to mental health support. This book is currently being used to help individuals build healthier coping skills and improve their overall mental well-being. Along with Achieve Success in Recovery, I am so proud of the support we offer people to truly improve their lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Beth (the “Buttery” of Buttery Branigan Books). I have many roles in my life, but the one I’m most proud of is mom. I always wanted to be a mom, and I feel so lucky to have the kids I have—and to have gained three more sons when my husband Jeff and I built our life together. I’m proud of how we’ve blended our families, and I get so much joy, purpose, and contentment from them.

I’m also incredibly grateful to have met Patty almost 18 years ago. We’ve been through a lot of life together, and I honestly don’t know how I would have done all of it without her. We stumbled into our business because I knew how much she loved writing. One day in 2018, I brought her an idea for an adult novel, and she ran with it. That was our first book together (Accept the Terms). Looking back, we had a lot of fun—but there were hard moments too. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other along the way.

When we struggled to find an agent interested in our first book, it was discouraging. We didn’t have much publishing experience, but we did have a “never give up” attitude. When my daughter, Lainey, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, we decided to write a book to encourage her during that difficult time. Some agents showed interest, but nothing ever came of it. That moment was pivotal—we realized we weren’t going to wait around. We decided to learn how to self-publish.

The past several years have had ups and downs, but we’ve never given up. We started a business, kept writing and publishing, and learned as we went—even through mistakes and setbacks. There are areas we need to strengthen (marketing is hard!), and we can’t do this full-time because of where we are in life right now. But what I love about us and our business is that we keep moving. We’re willing to try new things, fix what needs updating, and continue learning and growing.

If there’s one thing I’d tell people thinking about starting a business, writing a book, trying out for a play—whatever it is—it’s this: just do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be perfect. Just be yourself, and you might be surprised by what you can accomplish.

I am Patty—an addiction counselor and the proud mom of three amazing people. My career is about helping those who are struggling. Having the ability to reach and support people across the world through our books is truly a dream come true.

Whether it is a young person living with type 1 diabetes who can see themselves reflected in our Lainey’s Type One Diabetes Adventure books, or an incarcerated individual who now has something positive to fill their day through our Inmate Activity Book Series, or a family struggling with addiction, our work is rooted in compassion and purpose.
Our business is not simply a way to make money—it is a calling. It represents our values, our commitment to helping others, and the legacy of support we hope to leave behind.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I never really thought of myself as a creative. Have I been accused of having an overactive imagination? Absolutely. But I didn’t think I was that great at getting my ideas out into the world. I tend to be a perfectionist, and I’m learning that it can hold me back.

Until I met Patty, most of my ideas just lived in my head. I think I was too afraid to put them out into the world. Patty isn’t afraid to put something out there, even if it’s not perfect, and I admire that. We balance each other beautifully. In our business, our strengths are different, and that difference is a big part of why we’re successful.

If someone thinks they’re not creative but dreams of doing something in the creative world, my advice is simple: go for it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You’ll learn so much about yourself and your process, but only if you try. Maybe you’ll decide it’s not the right thing for you—and that’s okay. At least you’ll know.

I’m the editor for our books, and sometimes that doesn’t feel “creative.” But what I’ve realized is that it absolutely is. Organizing a story so it makes sense, adding excitement, creating twisty moments, encouraging or lifting someone up—the list goes on—that’s all creative work. I’m so thankful to Patty for helping me see my strengths and giving me the space to lean into my creative side.

How’d you meet your business partner?

“I just met my best friend.” That’s what I remember telling my husband the day I met Patty. I (Beth) was pregnant with my youngest. A friend of mine would watch my 4-year-old daughter while I went to doctor appointments. One day, when I went to pick up my daughter, Patty was sitting on my friend’s couch. It turned out they were neighbors and friends. Patty and I just clicked instantly. I feel like it’s rare to meet someone and feel that kind of connection right away.

We quickly became close and have been ever since. We’ve had our struggles, arguments, and hard conversations, but through it all, we’ve grown closer and come to really know each other’s hearts. Sometimes we wonder if we’d be as close if we hadn’t started a business together. It’s hard to know, because working side by side has taught us so much about each other. I like to think we would have stayed close even if we hadn’t started a business together, because we always put our friendship first—but at the same time, I’m really glad we did start our business. We both feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and are so thankful for the bond we share.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://butterybraniganbooks.com

Image Credits

Jena Mei Media