Reea Rodney, The Book Midwife: Empowering Authors to Build Ownership Through Books

Books have the power to positively transform us — mind, body, heart, and soul. They spark imagination, inspire us to dream, and give us permission to step into versions of ourselves we didn’t know were possible. Each of us has a story within us, and when it’s told truthfully and authentically, it can change someone’s life — whether it’s a story of resilience, a practical life hack, a business strategy, motivational humor, or even a book of recipes passed down through generations.

That’s where Reea Rodney, known as the Book Midwife, comes in. Project Ownership had the joy of speaking with Reea, a self-publishing expert and book coach who helps authors birth their books into the world and step confidently into authorpreneurship. Through Dara Publishing, she guides clients through nearly every step of the process: manuscript diagnostics, accountability, editing, formatting, design, and final publication. Dara Publishing is more than a service — it’s a full-circle experience designed to leave authors proud of the legacy they’re building.

What inspired Reea to become an owner, and how did she get started?

Reea’s journey is a powerful one of faith, resilience, and obedience. She never planned to become a book coach or business owner. In fact, she once envisioned herself working a traditional 9-to-5, pursuing a career as a pediatric nurse. But everything changed when she suddenly fell ill.

“It was during that time that God spoke to me,” she recalls. “He told me to write for my healing and to establish a publishing company, because one day I would publish books for others. It was at that moment that Reea gave birth to Dara Publishing. Though she never liked reading, she trusted God and began writing children’s books. Through that act of obedience, Reea was healed from a disease with no cure. From then on, obedience became her compass.

Guided step by step, Reea learned how to publish her own books, and in 2020, God placed the vision in her spirit — to open the door of Dara Publishing and begin helping others bring their books to life. Since then, she has published 22 books of her own and supported her clients in publishing over 80 more—helping more than 100 people become authors through both individual publishing and her anthology program. For Reea, it’s not just business; it’s ministry.

Reea sees herself as a partner in her clients’ journeys — discerning when they’re stuck, holding them accountable, and encouraging them past fear, procrastination, or self-doubt. She’s a tough-love catalyst who helps her clients cross the finish line of publishing to create their own income-producing assets.

What impact has ownership had on Reea's life, family, and community?

Reea grew up in Trinidad and faced many challenges as a child, including a speech impediment and a lisp that affected her confidence and self-esteem. Yet, she has become an inspiring example to her community of what’s possible when you walk in your purpose.

Her transformation has created a ripple effect, inspiring people who knew her as a young girl in Trinidad, as well as friends, family, co-workers, church members, and even her son, to pursue their own dreams and start their own businesses. Through her work, she not only helps authors publish their stories but also teaches them how to monetize their books and build lasting generational assets.

“Publishing isn’t the finish line,” Reea emphasizes. “It’s the starting point. Your book should keep working for you, long after it’s written.”

What fears or challenges did Reea have before becoming an owner, and how did she overcome them?

Like many entrepreneurs, Reea wrestled with fear and self-doubt at the start. She worried about her speech impediment, the steep learning curve of running a business, and the financial risks involved.

“All of my thoughts were negative at first,” she admits. “But then I remembered: I am a child of God. If I truly believed that, then I had to believe in myself.”

Shifting her mindset was the turning point. She affirmed that she was enough — enough to lead, enough to create something valuable and sustainable, enough to succeed. With that conviction, she invested in herself, hired a life coach, became certified as a life coach, and started taking risks on herself until it became easy. 

Reea failed many times along the way — but instead of letting it stop her, she embraced failure as a learning opportunity. Now, after 9 years of entrepreneurship, she has built a business rooted in resilience, confidence, and faith.

What advice would Reea give someone who’s never owned an income-producing asset but wants to start?

Reea’s advice is bold and practical:

• Surround yourself with like-minded people. In the beginning, Reea leaned on books and videos of virtual mentors like Oprah and Steve Harvey to build her confidence until she could afford professional coaching.

  
  

• Don’t wait for perfect confidence. It will never be 100%. Whenever you try something new, you will always experience a level of discomfort, fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Confidence is developed in the doing, so you must become okay with failing, falling, and things not being perfect.

  
  

• Uncover your purpose. Purpose is not something you have to find; it’s something you uncover. Your idea doesn’t have to start big — it could be a personal story, a skill, or a unique perspective the world needs. 

• Protect your purpose like a seed. It will endure challenges and setbacks, even when you do everything right, but if it’s rooted in purpose, you won’t give up when things get hard.

What advice would Reea give someone who’s always wanted to write a book?

“Start with why,” Reea advises. “Why do you want to write a book?”

From there, invest in learning the process. A good book requires professional editing, proper formatting, and a proper book cover. It also requires understanding the expectations for your genre.

If you’ve been waiting, Reea says the time is now. “We all have a purpose, a unique story, and a group of people God has assigned to us. They’re waiting to hear your message. If you’re going to do it, do it the right way.”

Writing a book isn’t just about being an author — it’s about stepping into authorpreneurship. That means investing properly with the right people and in the right way, so your book becomes an asset that builds a legacy you can be proud of.

Let Reea Help You Birth Your Book

Dara Publishing offers a free 60-minute book analysis session for aspiring and experienced authors. During the session, you’ll clarify your message, gain confidence, receive an overview of the publishing field, discuss costs, and map out your publishing journey for working with Dara Publishing.

For those not ready to go solo, Dara Publishing also offers its Thought Leader Anthology Program, where you can co-author a book with like-minded individuals in a highly supportive environment led by Reea. Whether you join a group that she creates or gather your own circle of friends, colleagues, or loved ones, the program provides the same premier services with the bonus of collaboration.

• To learn more about Dara Publishing’s programs and services, and to schedule your book analysis session, visit: https://darapublishing.co

  
  

• Join Reea on October 11^th at 1:30 PM EST for the Pivoting Into Success Anthology live launch party. The anthology features six co-authors sharing their stories of uncovering and pivoting into their purpose and achieving success. 

  
  

• Follow and connect with her on social media: 

  • Facebook - facebook.com/reea.rodney

  • Youtube - @darapublishing 

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reea-rodney