Sometimes you receive an email that makes you pause, smile, and reflect on the journey. Recently, I had the honor of being interviewed by Aaron Miller from CanvasRebel Magazine, who ended our conversation with such kindness:
“Hi Melissa-Sue! Absolutely. Was such a pleasure to learn your story, wishing you tons of continued success!”
The interview process itself was thoughtful and unique. Rather than a traditional live conversation, CanvasRebel uses a written questionnaire format, allowing creators to reflect deeply and answer honestly, in their own time. That approach made the experience especially meaningful because it gave me space to truly think about the path that brought me here — as a professor, author, publisher, mother, and advocate for representation in children’s literature.
Sharing the Journey
In the interview, I shared how Lauren Simone Publishing House was born from both frustration and hope. While working in early childhood education and STEM literacy, I noticed that many books available to young learners did not reflect the identities or lived experiences of the children in front of me. That realization — and encouragement from my daughters — pushed me to become part of the solution rather than simply talk about the problem.
What began as writing stories inspired by my children grew into a publishing company dedicated to helping diverse authors and illustrators bring their stories into the world. Along the way, mentorship, continuous learning, and resilience became central to building the business and sustaining its mission.
Why CanvasRebel Matters
CanvasRebel creates space for creatives and entrepreneurs to tell authentic stories — not just highlight successes, but also the pivots, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Their platform celebrates community storytelling and reminds us that every journey can inspire someone else who is just beginning.
Being featured felt less like publicity and more like reflection — an opportunity to honor the people, experiences, and faith that shaped this work.
Read the Interview
I invite you to read the full feature and learn more about the story behind the books, the publishing journey, and the mission that continues to guide my work:
👉 Read the CanvasRebel interview: Meet Melissa‑Sue John
Thank you to Aaron Miller and the CanvasRebel team for creating space for storytellers like me. And thank you to everyone who continues to support this journey — every reader, parent, educator, and child who believes that representation, literacy, and imagination truly matter.