Melissa Marsted, the founder and publisher of Lucky Penny Publications, joined me this morning and spoke about her “hero’s journey” in becoming a children’s book author/publisher.

“It really all began on the night of the Santa Barbara Tea Fire in November, 2008. My two boys, three pets and I lost nearly everything after having an hour to evacuate. After the fire a friend asked if I could do anything to start my life over, what would I do? Without hesitation, I wanted to finish self-publish a children's book, I was working on. I set my intentions and within a year that book was finished at the end of 2009. 

In March, 2010 the iPad was released, and I had the idea to start an eBook publishing company. TEN years ago! 

Over the years I have hit road blocks but as a long distance runner I have learned to go the distance. There is no giving up!

I am re-writing this now in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis, and re-evaluating how far Lucky Penny has come in ten years and what's next? It's a time for us to believe in our dreams!”

We discussed A Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell, 1949) and her personal transformation which included obstacles, trials, allies and a little luck!