From Bedtime Stories to Published Books: Karen Miller Talks Self-Publishing, Community, and Creative Collaboration
In today’s episode, I sit down with one of my closest friends and collaborator, Karen Miller, to talk about her journey of bringing Delta Born Books to life with her mom. This episode explores what it means to be a rural changemaker through action and a love for community.
Karen shares the origin of Delta Born Books, which began with her mother's imaginative stories for her grandson and grew into children’s books with Karen creating the illustrations. She also shares the joys of working alongside her mom as an author-illustrator team, navigating the self-publishing process, and the powerful community support that helped bring the books to life.
The conversation also delves into their latest release, Oki's Grove, a moving story inspired by the devastating tornado that struck Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Illustrated by two young survivors of the storm, the book carries a message of hope, resilience, and the importance of community.
In this episode, From Bedtime Stories to Published Books: Karen Miller Talks Self-Publishing, Community, and Creative Collaboration, we cover:
Why representation and local storytelling matter so much for small towns
How entrepreneurship can thrive even without big-city resources
How Karen stays grounded in her entrepreneurship journey
Advice from Karen’s mom that shaped her life today
What being a rural changemaker means to Karen
Meet Karen Miller:
Karen Miller is a creative powerhouse with Southern roots, a designer’s eye, and a gift for building brands that are as bold as they are joyful.
A proud Mississippi Delta native and graduate of the University of Alabama (graphic design, of course), Karen brings heart, humor, and high standards to everything she touches — whether it’s spinning up a new brand, illustrating a children’s book, or designing packaging that practically winks at you from the shelf.
She’s the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Sweet Bliss Candy Company, where she leads all aspects of branding for the gourmet candy company. She also serves as Co-Founder and Head of Visual Magic at Bat Sweet Crazy, Sweet Bliss’s wild little sister brand made for wholesale shelves that like their sugar bold and their branding even bolder.
Karen is also the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Middle of the Field Media, a boutique branding and marketing agency helping businesses turn big ideas into impactful, personality-driven brands.
And because one creative outlet is never enough, she and her mother, Leslie Miller, co-founded Delta Born Books — a publishing company celebrating Southern culture through beautifully written and illustrated children’s books. Together, they’ve published three titles, with their latest, Okie’s Grove, capturing the heart of rural resilience and community.
When she’s not designing, writing, or managing day-to-day operations, Karen can be found hanging out with friends, visiting her son, Parker, in Arkansas, or chasing her two sassy mini dachshunds, Winnie and Pixie. She’s the kind of woman who knows how to run a business and color outside the lines, all while making you laugh until your cheeks hurt.
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