Salty Books LLC Origin Story: From MarTech Stacks to Children's Book Racks

Once upon a time, in a world of startups, marketing strategies, demand gen, SEO and tech jargon, I embarked on a career as a marketing executive. It all started with a simple question from my boss a decade ago: "What's your biggest strength?"

My answer? "I'm good at writing."

Little did I know that this seemingly innocuous response would set the stage for a string of fantastic opportunities and wins, but also a potential plot twist.

Fast forward to around 2019, when my husband and I welcomed our first child into the world. Our lives suddenly became a whirlwind of baby planning, house proofing, showers, gifts, and, of course, books. We were gifted an abundance of children's books from friends and family, and our collection expanded further thanks to my mother's treasure trove of elementary school teaching books. Our home transformed into a haven of literature, bridging the gap between old-school classics and contemporary bestsellers.

As parents, my husband and I toyed with the idea of creating unique storybook characters for our little one, each with their own special charm (more to come on that). However, in those early years, we relied heavily on the books we had amassed to entertain and educate our son. Compliant with tips and best practices for the baby years, we quickly started a bedtime routine that would allow our child to fall asleep on their own. It consisted of your typical: milk, jammies, books, bed type of routine.

Around the age of 2.5, bedtime started to become a battlefield, which I'm sure many (if not all) of you can relate to. Despite our foundational consistent bedtime routine, it seemed that the simple act of getting our son to sleep had turned into a nightly struggle filled with tears, endless backrubs, innocuous threats, delaying techniques and so very much more. We needed a change.

One night, in a moment of desperation, I offered to tell our son a bedtime story as a special treat. A little one on one time with mom, lights turned low. Little did I know that this seemingly small addition would become a nightly ritual. If your kid is anything like mine, the introduction of one small thing that is pleasant quickly becomes adopted as if it was the very thing we've always done. Sigh. Fast forward 1.5 years, and I am still crafting bedtime stories (almost) every night, made up on the spot. If you've ever dealt with a sassy or opinionated child, you'll understand the exhausting process of pleasing their ever-changing preferences. That story wasn't very good. That story was too short. That story, that story, that story...

Yet, within these nightly tales, I discovered a passion for storytelling that I couldn't ignore. Some stories became favorites, and certain characters were requested night after night. After my son would finally (an hour later) fall asleep, I began documenting these stories as best I could recall.

Storytelling began to infuse every aspect of my life. Everyday moments, outings, misadventures, and the quirky things my child said all transformed into stories. And stories became the world around.

Now, at the age of 40, I realized I wasn't experiencing a midlife crisis but a mid-life reimagining of my passion.I write stories for salty, smart, sassy moms, dads, and caregivers who can find pieces of themselves and their kids in my books. Through my stories, I hope to make the challenges of parenting more lighthearted and relatable. From stubborn shoe preferences to chaotic mornings, I aim to bring the beautiful absurdity of parenthood to life.

I've seen the inner workings of the corporate world, and I've seen the inside of my kid's bedroom. Both can be messy and sticky, and either could drive you to madness.

However, my child's bedroom holds something the corporate world can't provide—stories that make life fun again.

And so, my journey as a children's book author begins, fueled by a passion for storytelling and a desire to connect with fellow parents on the wild and wonderful adventure of raising kids. Join me as we navigate the delightful chaos of parenting, one story at a time.