Meet Melissa-Sue John, Ph.D. | Chief Executive Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa-Sue John, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa-Sue, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The mission of Lauren Simone Publishing House is to tackle the issue of lack of diversity in children’s literature by being completely inclusive in terms of gender, race, nationality, religion, and ability by publishing the works of diverse authors and illustrators thereby creating literature for all to enjoy. We are committed to having an impact on the world by spreading love, education, and inclusion. We will continue to provide diverse children’s books, serve diverse clients, hire diverse talent, participate in the mentorship program Read to a Child, and donate a portion of proceeds to worthy organizations. We will measure our commitment to social impact in the quality and representativeness of the products sold, the diversity of clients served, vendors used, volunteer hours, and financial donations.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Lauren Simone Publishing House was born out of a lack of diversity in children’s book characters, themes, and authors. The publishing industry has not been very inclusive and it is important for us to get our own voices heard and stories told from children to adult. Our company focuses on children’s literature. Our business is different from others because we tell stories from children’s point of view. Mothers and their children tell the story together, and illustrators of all ages convey the story. My daughters and I have worked tirelessly in getting our books in front of teachers, principals, schools, librarians and bookstores. We have raised capital by applying for grants and competing in pitch competitions. The easiest part was building a team. Once we knew we wanted to do this, we started to attract talented authors, artists, and editors. For example, my roommate at a summer program is one of my editors, three of my illustrators are family members, and most of my authors come through referrals. The challenge has been marketing. Social media is constantly changing the algorithms and thus how we reach our customers to expand our niche has been difficult but we are always pivoting to meet the challenge. We want parents, teachers, and librarians to know that our books go beyond telling stories about loving your hair, skin, and overcoming adversity, and focus on fun childhood lessons and curriculum topics such as plant growth, planets, communication, transportation, cultural apparel, caribbean history and geography, etc. We want your child to be the next published author or illustrator. Connect with us and follow our journey.

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 were to visit me, the itinerary would include nature walks, dancing, and water scenery.

Each day: We would start the day with devotion. We must give thanks for the opportunity to fellowship together. Then we would get our exercise on as we have to stay in good health and great shape.

Saturday: We would grab brunch either at a Caribbean restaurant or the newest elite brunch spot in Glastonbury or West Hartford, CT, and then later voyage on a hot air balloon ride in Woodstock, CT
Sunday: We would go to church, go back home to change, get lunch, and then watch the sunset at a vineyard for charcuterie and wine tasting at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards, Sandy Hook, CT
Monday: We would sleep in late, and make breakfast or lunch at home, so we can just chat and chill. Then in the evening go bowling at Revolution Bowling and Lounge, South Windsor, CT
Tuesday: We would head to Rocky Neck beach, Old Lyme, CT and just relax with a picnic on the beach.
Wednesday: We would visit Mystic Seaport and have dinner at The Mariner.
Thursday: We would do a photo shoot in the Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, CT.
Friday: We would catch the newest Marvel movie or chick flick or catch a show at the Bushnell, Hartford, CT.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would first like to shout out to my daughters, Olivia Lauren John and Alyssa Simone John for inspiring me and challenging me to begin the publishing company; my husband, Matthew John who has funded and supported this mission and physically sold thousands of copies; my mom, Janet Angus who has helped to review every title published, my dad, Clive Angus, for being my biggest social media follower, and my sisters, Rose-Anne Angus Uwague, Melanie Angus Aiken, Alicia Angus, and Alethea Angus.

Secondly, I would like to mention my authors, illustrators, editors, graphic artists, reviewers, and readers, who without would be no company.

Finally, my advisory board members who have stuck with me from the beginning: James Black, Tanesha McKen, Faith Clarke, Cheryl Gorham, and Dalton Richards, and my mentors, Denise Whitford, Steve Mahoney, Christine Sullivan, Judy Dobai, Emad AbouElgheit, Mary Cait McManamon, and Sam Nanayakkara for their wisdom and support.

Website: www.laurensimonepubs.com

Instagram: @laurensimonepubs

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-sue-john-53709626/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurensimonepub

Facebook: https://facebook.com/laurensimonepubs

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lauren-simone-publishing-house-manchester

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUbcGwL8pS0P9gSBynydFGalX8M-aYVI

Image Credits
Rondasia Curry Joseph Long Leslie Gomez