Meet Ariona Turner | Children’s Book Author & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariona Turner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariona, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business came from a passion for storytelling, creativity, and wanting to create something meaningful for children and families. I’ve always loved books, imagination, and building experiences that inspire learning and connection.

Creating The Spaceship Match series allowed me to combine creativity, education, and fun into something I truly believe in. As an independent children’s book creator and business owner, I wanted to build a brand that encourages reading, imagination, and positive family moments while creating stories children can enjoy and remember.

My thought process wasn’t about chasing perfection — it was about taking a chance on an idea I cared deeply about. Entrepreneurship has taught me patience, consistency, and the importance of continuing to show up for your vision even while learning and growing along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is rooted in storytelling for children through imagination, curiosity, and adventure. I am the creator of The Spaceship Match series, a children’s book collection designed to spark creativity and make reading feel exciting, warm, and meaningful for young readers. What sets my work apart is the intention behind it—I focus on creating stories that feel visually engaging, heartwarming, and imaginative, with the goal of creating stories children can enjoy again and again.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. In the publishing world, many authors often wait to see strong results from the first book before continuing a series. My experience was different. After releasing my first book, only a small number of people purchased it, but those readers shared how much they genuinely enjoyed the story. Their feedback encouraged me to keep going, and I chose to immediately continue writing the second book in the series instead of waiting for “perfect” results.

Even when the second book did not perform strongly in sales, I still made the decision to complete my third book. I am not a widely known author, but I am deeply committed to creating meaningful children’s stories for the families who connect with my work. My focus has always been consistency, purpose, and building something that grows over time rather than chasing immediate success.

Through this journey, I’ve learned that progress is not always reflected immediately in numbers. What matters most is staying consistent, trusting your vision, and continuing to create even when results are slow. I’ve also learned to value every reader who connects with my work, no matter how small the beginning may look.

What I want the world to know about my brand is that it is built with intention, love, and imagination. My goal is to create children’s books that encourage reading, spark creativity, and remind children that stories can take them anywhere they dream of going. I am still growing, still building, and still excited about what’s ahead—but everything I create comes from a place of purpose and heart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, I would want to give them a mix of great food, fun activities, and peaceful places that show different sides of the city.

For food, Atlanta is known for its hot wings, so I would definitely take them to a good local wing spot, especially on the west or south side where you can find some of the best ones. I also like places like Taco Mac because it’s great for wings, drinks, watching sports, or even a casual girls’ night out, and its budget friendly. For a nice sit-down meal, I also enjoy Longhorn Steakhouse because it’s consistent, affordable, and a good place to relax and eat a solid meal.

For activities, I would take them to the Atlanta Botanical Garden because it’s such a beautiful, peaceful place to walk around and take in nature. I also think Six Flags is a fun option because it brings a different kind of energy and excitement to the trip.

I would also include quieter, more calming stops like bookstores, and libraries. I visit them often myself because they bring a sense of peace and inspiration, and they fit into my creative space as a children’s book author. Those kinds of environments are meaningful to me and add balance to the more fast-paced parts of the city.

Overall, I would want them to experience a mix of good food, fun activities, and peaceful moments that show the culture and everyday life of Atlanta.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to Crystal Kitchen, the illustrator behind The Spaceship Match series and truly someone very close to my heart. She has been such an important part of this journey from the very beginning, and I could not imagine bringing these stories to life without her creativity, support, and encouragement.

Her illustrations added so much magic, personality, and warmth to the books, and seeing my ideas transformed into beautiful artwork has been one of the most rewarding parts of being an author. She helped create a world that young readers can connect with, imagine, and enjoy.

Building a children’s book brand takes teamwork, creativity, and belief in the vision, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything she has poured into these stories. She deserves so much recognition for helping bring The Spaceship Match series to life.

Website: https://www.thespaceshipmatch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceshipmatch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083085384576

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceshipMatch

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespaceshipmatch

Image Credits
Marie Thomas
JCPenney Portraits