From Author to Publisher: Building a Company That Supports Stories That Matter

When I entered the publishing world, I did not begin as a publisher with a team, investors, or industry connections. I began as a disabled author with a story, a dream, and a determination to create opportunities that did not exist for me.

I built Purple Diamond Press from the ground up.

There was no large company backing me, no shortcut into the industry, and no overnight success story. From the beginning, I have been doing everything myself — writing manuscripts, learning book formatting, studying the publishing industry, researching printing, teaching myself marketing, attending vendor events, setting up book displays, packing orders, reaching out to schools, and slowly introducing my stories to readers, one book at a time, with the help of my family.

I started at the bottom.

Like many entrepreneurs, especially disabled entrepreneurs, I faced rejection, financial obstacles, uncertainty, and moments where people underestimated what I was capable of building. After graduating from college, I struggled to find meaningful employment despite my education, experience, and portfolio. Too often, I felt dismissed before I even had the chance to prove myself.

Eventually, I stopped waiting for someone else to create an opportunity for me and decided to create one for myself.

That decision changed my life.

What began as one story eventually grew into a mission-driven publishing company focused on creating meaningful children’s literature while helping independent authors better understand the publishing process. Over the years, I continued learning every aspect of the industry — editing, production, metadata, illustration development, printing, distribution, school outreach, retailer expectations, and long-term brand building.

Every step of this company was built through persistence, sacrifice, and hands-on experience.

There were years spent attending local events and vendor markets, personally introducing families to our books one conversation at a time. There were long nights spent researching the publishing industry, refining processes, reinvesting in inventory, improving production quality, and figuring things out without a roadmap.

Nothing about this journey was handed to me.

Today, Purple Diamond Press has published more than 40 children’s books and continues to grow as a selective publishing company focused on stories that encourage kindness, inclusion, emotional growth, literacy, and social-emotional learning. Our books have reached schools, libraries, families, educators, nonprofits, and readers across the country.

Some of our titles have received national recognition, classroom support, media attention, and educational partnerships that once felt impossible when I first started this journey with little more than determination and a vision.

But one thing has never changed: the mission behind the company.

I created Purple Diamond Press because I believed children deserved stories that made them feel seen, valued, encouraged, and included. I also believed authors deserved honesty, professionalism, communication, and support while navigating an industry that can often feel overwhelming and difficult to understand.

Publishing is not simply about printing books. It is about building stories carefully and responsibly so they are prepared for readers, educators, retailers, and long-term success.

That process takes work.

At Purple Diamond Press, manuscripts often go through editing, refinement, revision, and careful planning before publication. Illustrations are developed intentionally to strengthen storytelling and emotional connection. Production standards, metadata, distribution preparation, and marketing all matter because quality matters.

Strong stories deserve strong execution.

As both an author and publisher, I understand how personal storytelling can be. That is why integrity, professionalism, transparency, and long-term growth remain important values within our company.

Building a business independently has taught me resilience in ways I never expected. There were moments when things were difficult financially, emotionally, and physically. There were moments where giving up would have been easier. But I continued because I believed in the impact these stories could have on children and families.

I still believe that today.

When children read one of our books and feel understood, encouraged, represented, or inspired, that reminds me exactly why I started this journey in the first place.

Purple Diamond Press was built one step at a time, one story at a time, and one reader at a time.

And after years of hard work, growth, setbacks, learning, and perseverance, I am proud of what this company has become — and even more excited for where it is going next.

As Purple Diamond Press continues to grow, we are excited to officially open submissions for next year’s publishing lineup. We are currently seeking strong, marketable children’s books that align with our mission of creating meaningful stories that inspire kindness, inclusion, emotional growth, literacy, and imagination.

As a selective publisher, we carefully review each submission for storytelling strength, market potential, originality, and long-term fit within our catalog. Authors selected for consideration will have the opportunity to work alongside a professional publishing team focused on high-quality production, distribution preparation, and building books designed to make a lasting impact on readers, educators, schools, and families worldwide.

Apply Today, Here