Conversations with Lara Law Carrie Turley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Law Carrie Turley

Hi Lara Law, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We first connected through our mutual love of books and imagination. What began as a simple conversation quickly sparked an idea that fueled our collective creativity. That initial spark grew into a remarkable partnership, an incredible adventure story, and the creation of our own world: Poppenohna Land.

Poppenohna Land is a magical, immersive room—think Disneyland on a smaller scale—created in one of our homes. It’s a place where fairies, gnomes, and whimsical creatures inspire wonder and spark the imaginations of children and families. Over the years, we’ve had the joy of giving hundreds of tours, sharing the magic of Poppenohna Land with young adventurers and their families.

Inspired by the enchantment of Poppenohna Land, we went on to create a middle-grade novel series based on the characters and stories that filled the room. As the world we built on the page began to flourish, we realized there was an even greater opportunity to bring more stories to life. That project became the catalyst for founding our own publishing company dedicated to children’s books.

Carrie is a writer, and Lara an illustrator, and while we continue to work on our own creative projects, we don’t write or illustrate all of the books we publish. Instead, we have the privilege of collaborating with talented authors and illustrators from around the world, bringing diverse voices and perspectives to life through our stories.

Since the day we met, every step of this journey has been guided by inspiration. While that’s certainly true, it is our combined talents, determination, and passion for children’s literature that truly drive us. This commitment to producing empowering, high-quality stories for young readers is at the heart of everything we do at Lawley.

In our first year, we published four books, and today we have nearly 400 titles either published or in development.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road definitely hasn’t always been smooth, and we’ve certainly faced our fair share of challenges along the way. One of the biggest hurdles has been the introduction of AI and technology—while it’s undeniably a blessing, bringing incredible opportunities for growth and efficiency, it can also be a curse. The rapid pace of technological advancement often feels like it’s constantly shifting the playing field, requiring us to adapt quickly or risk falling behind. Additionally, working with people from different backgrounds and cultures has brought its own set of challenges, especially in terms of understanding diverse perspectives and navigating language barriers. And, as women in a business world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly male-dominated, we’ve had to work harder to prove our worth and break through preconceived notions. But all of these challenges have made us stronger and more adaptable. They’ve pushed us to think more creatively, develop new skills, and become more inclusive leaders. Through every obstacle, we’ve grown, and each experience has brought us closer to becoming the leaders we are today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Carrie is an author, with two novels and one in the works, four picture books, and various poems and other literature to her name. Lara is an illustrator, known for her large-scale murals and for illustrating nine children’s books. Both of us have worked with children in education. As business owners, we personally meet with every client and are involved in each project, working closely with our design team to help facilitate the book creation process. We’re most proud of how far we’ve come and how we haven’t given up, especially as we navigate an ever-changing industry filled with daily challenges. What sets us apart is our ability to bring both writing and illustration expertise to the table, always with a spirit of out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration. We also share a love for dance parties, craft supply shopping, and carb loading during creative sessions!

How do you think about luck?
We wouldn’t necessarily define the role of “luck” in our lives or business, but rather as divine intervention and guidance from God. There have been moments when things seemed to fall into place in unexpected ways, almost as if we were being guided toward the right opportunities and connections. It’s like God has a way of putting the right people in our path or presenting challenges that help us grow. In our experience, what others might call luck, we see as a sign of support and direction, especially when we need it most. Our journey has definitely had its ups and downs, but through it all, we feel like we’ve been steered with purpose and intention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lawleypublishing.com
• Instagram: @kidsbookswithheart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawleypublishing
• Twitter: @LawleyPublishi1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawleypublishing2466
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/lawleypublishing/

Image Credits
Zale Amaya Photography