Meet Lauren Piland | Author, Blooming Rose children’s book series

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

Hi Lauren, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I first came up with the concept of starting the Blooming Rose series when I left teaching in 2017. After four short years, I was burned out and exhausted, yet wanted a way to still contribute to helping and supporting both my students and fellow teachers. I feel strongly that using books about social and emotional support and situations can aid kids at home or in the classroom. If students can relate to characters and situations, then teachers and parents can build relationships to help nurture a more caring, accepting and trusting atmosphere.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although, we’ve only published our first title so far, Blooming Rose Blasts Off, I’m really proud of this series as a whole, and so excited to continue sharing Rose’s story and all the experiences and teachable moments she encounters. My goal is for this series to extend beyond the pages of the book, and I’ve included extras like beginning & ending prompts to really spark meaningful conversations, and our academic Beyond the Text Bundle of activities available to download for classrooms, homeschool settings, summer reading programs, and etc. I also love getting back into the classroom for author visits including read alouds and presentations. It’s been an absolute dream seeing how far Blooming Rose has come, and where we have yet to go!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, spending a week in and around Houston is a long time, but you wouldn’t run out of places and things to do, that’s for sure! We moved to the west side of town right as the pandemic hit, so while that stalled our exploration for a bit, I’ve since loved getting to know our new area, especially the gems you can find in Katy, Fulshear and Richmond/Rosenberg. I am a bit of a coffee shop stalker, so any preferred morning will usually start at Blockhouse Coffee in Richmond (with a backyard & playground for kids!), Humble Grounds in Fulshear and my most recent finding: Homebrew Coffee in Katy. I love doing vendor markets in our area, and there’s always something fun going on, so checking market schedules for Katy’s Stableside Market, Cane Island Markets or Katy Market Days is a good start, as well as Blockhouse’s Farmstand Markets. We also have picturesque properties on this side of town, so getting out and about at Blessington Farms, or Rose Therapeutic Farm & Goat Yoga is always a treat. I also think one of the best kept secrets this side of town is Anthonie’s Grill in Simonton. With mostly outdoor seating on their huge, covered decks and live music, the atmosphere is almost as divine as their food – which is saying a lot because everything we’ve ever had there is absolutely top notch. We also love Ol’ Railroad Cafe in Rosenberg, their homemade burgers are amazing, and perfect after a day antiquing in downtown Rosenberg or visiting the Railroad Museum. A little further down the road in downtown Richmond you can find more strolling and shopping experiences, as well as the Fort Bend Museum in the beautiful, historic Moore House, which is fascinating hearing stories from these communities built along one of the first railway lines in Texas.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mission behind this series has always been: For Parents. For Teachers. For Kids. And that’s because they’re the inspiration behind this whole series. When I left the classroom I felt I was leaving colleagues behind, leaving students behind. And, I want to give a shoutout to the teachers who are showing up day in and day out, in what has continued to be a tumultuous profession for most, riddled with overwhelming workloads and under supported resources. They continue to be my inspiration as they shape young minds – the most important work for the future of our society.

Website: https://www.bloomingrosekids.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpiland/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomingRoseKids/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAefLkus31FOBEnuCVt7IQ

Other: Academic Materials at TeachersPayTeachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Blooming-Rose-Kids You can also find our first title, Blooming Rose Blasts Off, on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Target and Books-a-Million.

Image Credits
Jillian Reed Photography