Publisher Profile: Lawley Publishing
The CBC asks Carrie Turley & Lara Law, Owners, questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
Carrie and Lara first connected as neighbors, bonding over casual chats at church and community events. Their shared love for fairies, fantasy, and the Outlander series quickly sparked a deep friendship. Inspired by their imaginative conversations, they built a whimsical fairy realm and began crafting a fantasy story set in a world called Fairy Glade, where dark forces threaten magical beings. Their collaboration — Carrie writing and Lara illustrating — brought their first novel, Everlasting Icicles to life. But as they navigated the traditional publishing world, they realized it wasn’t the right fit. That challenge sparked a bold idea: to create something better—more inclusive, more supportive, and more magical—for dreamers like themselves.
What is your publishing house most known for?
We are known for clean, uplifting, and inspiring children’s literature. We strive to enhance natural curiosity, empower imagination, and ignite the magic of childhood.
Where in the country is your house based? What do you love about being based there?
Lawley is located in Gilbert, Arizona. We love our little town and all the friends we have made here.
What conventions and conferences does your publishing house usually attend?
We love attending the Tucson Festival of Books each year. This year, for the first time, we also attended the Arizona Homeschool Education Convention.
How many employees does your house have?
We have 19 employees.
How many books does your house aim to publish per season/year?
We aim to publish 24–30 titles this year!
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
We publish E-books, paperbacks, and hardcovers.
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
Some of our house’s publishing priorities over the next few years include growing our reach on all social media platforms and getting our message in front of more parents and teachers.
Which title has your house recently rallied behind?
Our house has recently rallied behind My Mommy is in Heaven and My Daddy is in Heaven because of their poignant messages, along with two upcoming titles: My Brother is in Heaven and My Sister is in Heaven.
Which title does your house feel deserved more love than it got?
We feel that Tell Everyone: Break the Silence of Child Abuse deserves more attention—it’s such an important message that we believe all children need to hear.
Which upcoming titles is your house buzzing about?
Our house is buzzing about Broom-Tastrophe, Maverick’s Ride, Wanda Wants Out, Rover Rolled Over, and Room Enough For All.
- In Broom-Tastrophe, it’s Halloween night, and Witch One’s twitching eye grounds her broom, threatening her crowning as Queen of the Ball unless a last-minute fix can save her flight.
- In Maverick’s Ride, rookie carousel horse Maverick, defies his fate, breaks free, and discovers freedom and unexpected companionship beyond the pole.
- Fed up with hive life, Wanda the bee buzzes off for freedom in Wanda Wants Out, only to find that the wild world is weirder, scarier, and slimier than she ever imagined.
- When pets aren’t allowed, clever Reggie thinks outside the box to find the perfect dog without breaking a single rule in Rover Rolled Over.
- In Room Enough For All, the North Star shines brightly on a journey through the universe, discovering there’s space for every light to shine and belong.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
All of our titles are geared toward making children feel good about themselves and the world they live in, and include educational components.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
The Rocky Rumble and Tucker’s Impact are great for Kindergarten and first grade because they teach important lessons about friendship and getting along with others. For 5th and 6th grades, See You Later, Elody Elizabeth is a fabulous story of self-discovery, courage, and being yourself.
- As The Rocky Rumble approaches, bulldozer Billy must choose between winning alone or sticking with his slow-but-kind partner, Crawley.
- It’s the first day of kindergarten in Tucker’s Impact, where superhero-loving Tucker learns that real heroes are kind to those who don’t always fit in.
- At a prestigious summer music academy, Elody Elizabeth faces performances, new friendships, and the unexpected twists of discovering her inner magic in See You Later, Elody Elizabeth.
Name a few of your favorite backlist titles that people should check out.
A few of our favorite backlist titles are The Great Cold Queen, Everlasting Icicles, and The Foster Mouse Series.
- In The Great Cold Queen, a dark prophecy awakens a roaring beast, and brave gnome Murray must lead a magical quest to save Fairy Glade.
- As a deadly freeze spreads, fairies Ruse and Buttons race to save the Cold Queen’s children and thaw her heart before all of Fairy Glade is lost in Everlasting Icicles.
- This series follows Mouse’s emotional journey through foster care as he adjusts to a new home, navigates the challenges of starting a new school, makes and loses friends, and learns empathy and resilience along the way in The Foster Mouse series.
What else would you like to tell us about your house and the amazing work you all do?
Most of our employees are mothers and grandmothers. We care deeply about the content we publish. Our team works incredibly hard to grow our little company, and their dedication is beyond compare.
Thank you, Lawley Publishing!
