Daily Inspiration: Meet Beth & Patty Buttery & Branigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth & Patty Buttery & Branigan.

Hi Beth & Patty, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our journey began with a chance meeting that quickly blossomed into a beautiful friendship. As we spent time together, raising our families and sharing our love for storytelling, we realized we had a larger vision—building something of our own. We started working on our first novel, but everything changed when Beth’s daughter, Lainey, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. At that moment, our focus shifted. Lainey needed hope, representation, and a story where she could see herself—and we recognized that other kids like her did, too. We put our novel on hold and focused our energy on creating Lainey’s Type 1 Diabetes Adventures, a series that not only transformed how Lainey perceived her illness but also promoted positive mental health—providing all kids with the support they need, wrapped in the wonder of a magical adventure.

We weren’t willing to wait years for an agent or publisher to make it happen. Kids needed this story now, so we took matters into our own hands and got it out into the world. That decision changed everything. What started as a mission to help one child quickly grew into something bigger, and before we knew it, Buttery Branigan Books was born.
Patty’s work in community-based addiction recovery has led to our most successful book series, the Inmate Activity Books. One of her clients shared a powerful experience, stating, “I didn’t speak for two years while I was in prison. I didn’t want to get into trouble.” We knew we could make a difference by providing mental health support and engaging activities for people in the criminal justice system, helping them serve their time more positively. With contributions from several inmates, we realized we had something truly special. These books are now featured in multiple prison book programs and have been sold worldwide.

Over the past five years, our business has grown significantly, filling a bookshelf with 16 books we’ve written and published, each addressing mental health issues that help everyone from children to individuals in prison navigate their struggles. Along the way, we’ve had the joy of sharing our journey and love of writing with students at local schools during Reading Month, celebrating a book launch at Schuler Books in Grand Rapids, and enjoying many other incredible experiences. Schuler’s amazing consignment program helped us realize the dream of seeing our books on a bookstore shelf—a moment we’ll never forget. We’re so grateful for their support. Throughout it all, we’ve laughed, cried, strengthened our friendship, continued writing, and learned so much along the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride. One of our biggest challenges came when we launched a partnership that meant dealing with the IRS. We’re finally on track after exchanging what felt like dozens of “Dear IRS” letters—with lots of back-and-forth between us and our favorite agent, Ms. Holcomb. Bringing accountants on board has made a world of difference and helped us run a more successful business.

Self-publishing has been quite the learning experience. When we published our first inmate activity book, we offered cover choices, thinking it would give people a sense of ownership. However, we quickly realized this led to confusion, as the same book appeared with three different covers. Through this experience, we’ve learned and grown, and we’re now unafraid to revisit projects to ensure we’re delivering the best possible product.

We have faced countless challenges and made our fair share of mistakes, but we never gave up. Instead, we learned from every misstep, dug in our heels, and kept pushing forward because we knew our books mattered. Today, we are incredibly proud to see them in the world. Every new book launch excites us, knowing that what once started as an idea has become something that will live on forever. It is a legacy we are proud to have built, and we are deeply grateful for the impact our books continue to make.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Patty is a certified addictions counselor at a local community mental health agency. Every day, she helps people battling addiction, offering them hope for a brighter future. Beth worked as a special education paraprofessional in the school system but is now a full-time mom to Lainey, a busy high school student. She also spends her days with her little love, grandson Finn, while his parents are at work.

Beth and Patty work on their many book projects throughout the week. They also make time to meet at least once a week to write, edit, and unwind with some seriously guilty-pleasure reality TV.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Our business got its start thanks to the luck of a new friendship. The funny thing is, the harder we work, the luckier we seem to get. We’re all about learning, laughing at our mistakes (and trust us, we make plenty), and growing with every step. With the support of our friends, family, and rock-solid partnership, we might be the luckiest people on the planet—although we wouldn’t turn down a movie deal for our domestic thriller, Altered Childhood!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.butterybraniganbooks.com