We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Florence Myer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel Florence, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It’s probably predictable, but my publishing business all began with the idea for my first book. At the time, I had recently quit my corporate marketing job and was attending weekly speech therapy sessions with my oldest son. I had a toddler and a 9-month-old and was likely reading close to 10 picture books to them daily. Armed with this “research” (if I’m able to call it that) and what I had learned and witnessed in six months of speech therapy sessions, a lightbulb went off in my head one day.

I wanted to create a book series that helped toddlers learn functional words. But more than that, I wanted to craft a fun character that kids could latch onto, and a storyline that parents wouldn’t mind reading over and over again.

The first part was easy—when inspiration struck, I sat down at my kitchen table and typed out a very rough first draft. This is the exciting part; ideas are flowing and the possibilities seem endless.

Over the next month or two I continued developing and fiddling with the story. Then came the initial research phase. What makes a good picture book? How many pages should it be? Do my page turns make sense? Who is my target audience? What other books exist like this? What book format and sales channels would be best to pursue? Once I had my draft in as best shape as possible, I then began researching the best editor and illustrator for the project.

During the illustration process (which was about four months) I started building a website and social media presence, and continued my research into how to best craft, publish, launch, market and sell children’s books. I read how-to books, took webinars and joined relevant online groups. By now I knew that I was hooked and that this would NOT be my first and last book, which is when I officially established Inspire Publishing LLC.

It took approximately a year and a half between initial idea and physical book launch. I delayed launch multiple times in order to better prepare and make it as successful as possible, and looking back, I’m so glad I did.

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

I am a mother to three young children, a crafter of fun children’s stories and the owner of Inspire Publishing.

I have always had a passion for writing. From a very young age I was writing poetry, short stories, song lyrics—you name it. This led to me obtaining a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. However, during school I felt lost as to what direction to take my writing. I didn’t aspire to become a novelist or poet, and neither translated to economic survival as a career. In my early 20’s I decided to pursue master’s degrees in professional writing and business administration and began a corporate career in marketing.

Fast forward 10 years, I had the idea for my first children’s book and the stars began to align. I was now a mother to two small children, had solid business/marketing acumen and rediscovered my love for writing in the form of children’s books.

What sets me apart is I always write with one thing in mind: re-readability. From the very first spread, my goal is for each child to be engaged and excited to turn the page. As a parent, I’m disappointed if a book I purchase gets read once and then sits on the shelf collecting dust. I’d much rather be annoyed by reading the same book 50 times. If kids don’t want to read my books multiple times, then I’ve failed.

I’m also always brainstorming ways to include added value in my books. For example, my first book Pip the Bird: For Early Speech & Language Development combines a fun story with the benefit of learning and vocalizing functional words, such as up, down, over, push, go and stop. It’s perfect for parents or caregivers of young children who are looking for something a bit more engaging than just a first words book. I’m proud to say that Pip the Bird won a 2025 Writely Award, taking home gold in the “Best Overall” category for ages 0-3. The second book in the collection will be out later this year.

Also, my book Mommy-Son Day focuses on enjoying quality time and everyday moments while being fun for the child, and relatable and heartwarming for the parent. For added value, it includes a map on the back of the dust jacket that parent/child pairs can fill out together to create their perfect day.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The largest pivot in my life came approximately four years ago. I was working in a corporate marketing role at the time, had a one-year-old and was six months pregnant when our family decided to move to an island 1,500 miles away.

I had fully intended to keep my job after we arrived. However, in the initial first months we struggled to find reliable, full-time childcare, and we soon realized it made the most sense for me to stay at home.

As a woman, I’ve always been driven to be successful and prove myself. I had consistently held a job from the age of 16 to 33, obtained three different degrees along the way, and suddenly here I was—in a brand-new place and home, tasked with the 24/7 needs of a toddler and new baby and not making any income of my own.

While I fully recognize I am privileged and lucky to be at home with my kids, at the time I started to quietly panic. What about all the time, effort and money I’d put into school? What about the ten years I’d spent working hard to climb the ladder in my career? No one tells a woman at 18 years old that your priorities may drastically change once you have children.

Luckily for me, within my first year of being at home the seeds for what is now my publishing business began to take root. It was more than a far-fetched dream—it was a new challenge and a purpose outside of motherhood. I no longer feel selfish for saying I needed something only for me. It continues to bring joy and balance to my life, which in turn makes me a better mother to my children.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

My books are for sale on my website, but 90% of my sales currently come from Amazon.

My decision to sell on Amazon was mainly due to convenience factors and personal life circumstances. Like it or not, hundreds of millions of consumers shop on Amazon. From the consumer standpoint, Amazon has multiple things working in its favor: wide variety, low prices, free and fast shipping (at least for Amazon Prime members).

From the sellers perspective, it’s a captive audience and minimal work after getting my products listed and stocked with them. As far as life circumstances go, I don’t have many opportunities (or the time) to sell at events or school visits due to where I live and how young my kids are.

The cons of selling on a platform like this include high competition and low profit margins. My books are up against millions of others, and those without a compelling cover or title don’t stand a chance. In addition, books that have been available for a while with a proven sales record are likely to be discounted (by the algorithm). Whereas if you’re just starting out, it can be challenging to compete at a higher price point and with a lower number of reviews. (If you like a product from a small publisher or business and want to support them, please leave a positive review- I can’t stress this enough!)

Beyond that, you absolutely must invest in advertising if you want your books to be found in the first place. After advertising costs and the chunk of each sale that the platform takes, the amount you net is very slim.

Despite the cons, it’s surreal to realize my books have made their way into thousands of tiny hands. It’s the best feeling in the world when I hear that a child loves reading them. I plan to continue creating, marketing and building my brand so that one day there may be a clearer path to more direct sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelflorencemyer.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelflorencemyerauthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-florence-myer-70ab6012/