Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melanie Hawkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Melanie, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Most of my books share important messages. These message include empathy, friendship, and have topics such as mental health, anxiety, excessive worry, anger management, pessimism, uniqueness, disability awareness and inclusion, and many more. Books that share a message, or teach a moral are NOT industry standard outside of the self publishing world. I turned down a traditional publishing contract so that I could share the messages that I felt that families, children and parents needed. Most of the books from traditional publishing companies do not include talk of mental health, or have children in a wheelchair on the cover. This is something that I noticed was lacking, and I wanted to change that. Every child needs to be seen and heard. Mental health is a passion for me and something I felt drawn to and needed to bring it into the light. I have been able to write, illustrate and publish 19 books in three and a half years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a mother of 7 AMAZING kids. (My 5th just turned 18). Being an author was never something on my radar, but I love kids and have worked at my own children’s elementary school for the last 7 years. I have LOVED teaching art, and I feel like it is a huge reason I dove into being an author and illustrator. Being around kids, especially those that struggle with differing abilities, and seeing how incredibly unique and special they are inspired me to write my first book “I’m Basically a Unicorn”. This was the first book I wrote about 6 years ago and was the reason I stated writing and illustrating. I turned down an offer from a traditional publisher that wanted to publish this book, but wanted to remove key elements to it. I wanted to keep this as it was and have been so grateful for that decision. This book was an Amazon best seller for six weeks strait when it was first released.

My most successful book, however, is one I wrote about Anxiety for children. It’s a book called “How To Tame My Anxiety Monster”. It is a book that explains what anxiety is, how it can make a child feel (with real, physical symptoms), and provides a variety of clinically proven techniques to help children get it under control when it gets a little too big and out of control. It was reviewed by three child psychologists to make sure it was all medically accurate information. I wrote this book because I could see what was going on in the world and the effect it had on my kids and the children at my school. It is a book that I WISH I had as a young mother 20 years ago to help my own child that dealt with anxiety. I didn’t know what it was or how to help. It was daunting for me and crippling for her. I have read a lot about and am passionate about Mental Health and helping children navigate this difficult world around them. If I can help even one child, then that makes it all worth while. I am working on several other books in this series that tackle and explain tough subjects for children like anxiety. I just released a book about Anger (“How To Calm My Anger Monster”), and I have plans for many more.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Getting emails from child psychologists telling me that they use my book in their practice is invaluable. One even said it is her curriculum standard that she uses with her patients and their families! Getting emails from parents that my book has helped their child understand anxiety and find renewed bravery facing it, and feel like they are not alone, has been priceless. My Husband and I have both lost cousins to mental health diseases. I fact my cousin took his life the month I released this book. It has become a passion for me. A path that I feel drawn to. I want to make this a topic that is no longer a taboo topic that is only talked about behind closed doors in hushed tones. I want families to be able to talk about mental health at the dinner table, as a part of their normal everyday conversations. Addressing mental health at a younger age and helping them understand it is so important ant can be something that benefits them for a lifetime.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I have learned SO much in the last 4 years! I don’t even know where to start. I have learned about digital programs (and taught myself how to use them) to help with my illustrations. I wish I learned earlier that self publishing WAS an option that is available to anyone! Everyone has a story. Each one of us has experiences that are unique to us and lessons we’ve learned.

Contact Info:

• Website: melaniehawkinsauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirejoypublishing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirejoypublishing