Meet Vix Browne, Children’s Book Author

As a child, I was an avid reader. After I had my daughter, I immediately started reading children’s books to her. Although my daughter has aged out, I still enjoy giving children’s books to the littles in our extended family because I like to encourage picture books as opposed to electronic gadgets at a young age.

Vix Browne is a writer whose books, “The Day My Monster Spoke” and “The Night My Feelings Spoke” have just recently been released. Please meet the latest Real Mom of the SFV – Vix Browne, children’s book author!

How/why did you begin your business?

Vix: I was born and raised in South London with big dreams of becoming a writer. However, my journey was hindered by dyslexia, which presented unique challenges. It wasn’t until I reached the age of twenty-five that I decided to seek help for my dyslexia and took it upon myself to learn how to read.

Along the way, I explored different career paths. Despite the twists and turns of my career, my passion for writing has never waned. In 2012, I self-published my first novel, “Gut Feeling,” which was the culmination of eight years of learning to read. And went on to self-publish three more novels. However, it was during a pivotal moment in my life that I ventured into the world of children’s books – the birth of my son.

As a mother, I read numerous books to help my toddler understand his big emotions, but I couldn’t find any that fit his needs. My son seemed to lack the full range of emotions such as anger, sadness, or big tantrums. He was always silly, all the time. Through extensive research and countless hours on parent TikTok, I realized that he was masking. Being silly was his way of avoiding unpleasant emotions like disappointment, guilt, anger, and embarrassment.

One night, my son was struggling to sleep and acting incredibly silly. To calm him down, I improvised a story about his silly monster, explaining that his silliness was a result of feeling scared about bedtime. The story worked, and we started talking about his “feeling monsters” every night. It was then that I realized I had to write these stories to help other moms so they too could “enjoy their kiddos’ silliness.”

So, inspired by my personal journey and my son’s unique experiences, I embarked on a mission to create children’s books that addressed emotions and the concept of masking. These stories aim to help children understand and navigate their feelings in a fun and relatable way.

By starting this business, I hope to make a positive impact on the lives of children and parents, fostering emotional intelligence and promoting open conversations about emotions. It is a fulfilling endeavor that combines my passion for writing with the joy of helping others.

As a working mother, what is one tip or piece of advice that you would give to other female entrepreneurs?

Vix: For me, as a mom juggling a business, it is important to hold self-belief high. I often imagine and think about what my achievements will look and feel like when they come.

As for the more mundane but important tips, I’d say time management and setting priorities are key. I learned this during my days in sales. Each evening, I make a list of tasks I need to accomplish the next day. Some days, I only have an hour or two, and then I number them in order of priority. This allows me to let go of remembering what needs to be done and when. I simply open my calendar and start working on task number one. If a task isn’t completed, it is moved to the next day and given a new number based on its priority for that day’s tasks. It’s important to note that I don’t include housekeeping or my son’s tasks in this list. These dedicated work hours are solely for work-related tasks.

Holding onto self-belief is crucial, as it provides the motivation and confidence needed to overcome challenges and achieve success in both business and family life.

Remember, every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but by implementing effective time management techniques, setting priorities, and nurturing self-belief, working mothers can thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors while still being present for their families.

What do you like best about having a business in the San Fernando Valley?

Vix: For me, it is the family culture and the close residential neighborhoods.

If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?

Vix: Imposter syndrome is real. Find a good editor and always check their work no matter how much you trust them. We are all humans and last time I checked typos do not discriminate between writer and editor.

Vix Browne’s books can be found wherever books are sold. If you’d like more information, check out her website at www.vixbrowneauthor.com. Also, don’t forget to follow her Instagram account to get the latest updates on Vix Browne!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The image shown in this post is used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.