We were lucky to catch up with Franceta Lopez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Franceta , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

One of the most significant times I experienced failure was after writing my first book, Mother You Can Make It. I poured my heart into it, but after its release, it felt like everything went downhill. It was as if the devil was saying, “Oh, you think you can make it? Let me show you!” Life became chaotic, and the book didn’t gain the traction I hoped for. I felt discouraged and questioned if I should continue.
But I didn’t give up. I started learning about self-publishing, and when I published my first children’s book, things slowly began to look up. However, I realized I still had a lot to learn about marketing and connecting with my audience. I got myself coach, Crystal Daye , over time, through her coaching, guidance, persistence and faith, began experiencing growth. Now, I’m Empowerment speaker, Christian Life coach, the author of 10 books, and I help aspiring children’s book authors navigate the self-publishing process to bring their stories to life.
What seemed like a failure at the time was really a stepping stone. That journey taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of believing in myself and trusting God even when the process feels tough.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Franceta Lopez, a self-publishing coach, empowerment speaker, and author of 10 books. My journey into self-publishing began with a deep desire to share my story and inspire others to do the same. As a wife and mom of five, I’ve faced my share of challenges, including the devastating loss of my daughter, Gabrielle, to stillbirth in 2015. That experience shaped my resilience and fueled my mission to help others turn their stories into something impactful.
In 2020, I published my first book, Mother You Can Make It: From Struggles to Blessings, and later transitioned into writing children’s books like God Made Boys and God Made Girls. Through this journey, I learned how to navigate the self-publishing process, and now I guide aspiring authors to do the same.
As a self-publishing coach, I provide:

Words to Impact Program: A 4-week step-by-step coaching program designed to help aspiring authors write, illustrate, and self-publish children’s books. From creating content to launching on Amazon, I walk you through the entire process.

One-on-One Coaching: For personalized support, I help aspiring authors refine their ideas and bring their stories to life.

What sets me apart is my belief that hands-on experience and the personal connection I bring. I know what it’s like to feel unsure about your abilities, and I’m here to simplify the process and empower you to succeed. There’s a book in you! A story only you can tell. Waiting to be written—a story that someone out there needs to hear. My goal is to help you overcome self-doubt and show you that publishing your book is achievable with the right guidance.
What I’m most proud of is seeing my clients go from unsure and overwhelmed to confident, published authors. For anyone considering working with me, I want you to know that self-publishing is not just about creating a book—it’s about sharing your unique voice and leaving a legacy.
If you’ve ever felt like you have a story to tell, but don’t know where to start, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Your story matters, and it’s time to share it with the world.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that I had to do everything perfectly to succeed. For years, I carried the idea that if I wasn’t flawless, it wasn’t worth doing at all. This mindset started when my dad left, and I was afraid of losing anyone else. I began people-pleasing, accepting mistreatment, just to feel loved and accepted. I thought my worth was tied to what others thought of me.
But over time, I began to realize the value I carried. I understood that people were lucky to have me in their lives, and that my worth wasn’t determined by their approval. This shift in thinking eventually led me to my true calling.
Through trial and error, I learned that imperfections are part of the process and that mistakes are often our greatest teachers. When I embraced this mindset, I was able to publish children’s books, build my coaching business, and help others achieve their dreams.
Unlearning perfectionism taught me to celebrate every step forward, no matter how small, and to focus on the impact of my work rather than chasing unattainable standards. It’s a lesson I now share with my clients: your story doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, my side hustle eventually turned into my full-time business, and it all started during one of the most challenging times of my life. It was three years after I loss my daughter Gabrielle. A period when everything was falling apart. First, our account was scammed, and we lost all of our savings. Just two weeks later, family members caused major issues in our marriage, adding even more stress. As if that wasn’t enough, the following week, our home was broken into, and we lost valuable possessions.
At that moment, when my world felt like it was crumbling, God placed within me the desire to write a book. It was during that time of deep hardship that I realized I had a story to share—one that could inspire others going through similar struggles. That was the beginning of my journey.
Writing Mother You Can Make It: From Struggles to Blessings. It was my way of processing the pain and finding hope. As I poured myself into the book, I began to feel a shift inside. The process of writing became a healing journey, and I saw how it could help others who were facing their own challenges.
As I published my first book, I also discovered the world of self-publishing and coaching. I started helping other aspiring authors share their stories, particularly those who wanted to publish children’s books. What started as a side hustle quickly grew as I saw the impact it was having on others. I built my coaching business alongside my books, and slowly, it became my full-time focus.
Key milestones along the way included the release of my first children’s book, The girl From Westmoreland, followed by multiple other books. I also launched my self-publishing coaching program, Words to Impact, which has helped aspiring authors create and publish their own works.
Today, I am proud to be living my passion—helping others find their voice through writing and self-publishing. What began as a side hustle born from a season of loss and hardship has grown into a full-time small business that allows me to make a difference in the lives of others every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://francetalopez.com/
• Instagram: francetalopez
• Facebook: resilientmama
• Linkedin: francetalopez
• Twitter: francetalopez
• Youtube: francetalopez
• Other: Pinterest
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