A lot of people say they want to write a children’s book. Ashley Wall actually did it and then kept going until it became a business. She joins us to talk about the surprising path from middle school math teacher to stay-at-home mom to children’s book author and co-founder of Mama Bear Books, and what it takes to build a real author brand without losing yourself in the process. We get practical about self-publishing and indie publishing: the learning curve, the mistakes that cost money, and the mindset shift that saved her time and stress. Ashley shares one rule we keep coming back to: “invest, don’t spend.” We talk about choosing quality over shortcuts, why long-term thinking matters if you want your books in print in 20 years, and how mentorship and reputable partners protect your standards. Then we move into confidence, leadership, and parenting. Ashley explains how specific praise and purpose build confidence, how she learned to delegate instead of burning out, and how boundaries turn a dream into a sustainable work life balance. We also dig into screen time, social media, and the daily choices that shape kids’ attention spans and imagination, especially when you’re around other families who do it differently. If you care about raising curious, confident kids and building a creative business with integrity, this conversation will give you both encouragement and concrete next steps. Subscribe, share this with a parent or aspiring author, and leave us a review so more people can find Stacked Keys.Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff