We’re looking forward to introducing you to Summer Butler. Check out our conversation below.
Summer, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
The most surprising thing I’ve learned from my clients is that we are more alike than we are different. While our challenges may look different on the outside, the internal battles they create are often very much the same.
I’ve also found that in this work, I’m always learning too. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘When one teaches, two learn.’ Every time I guide or teach a client, I walk away with new insights myself. It’s a reminder that growth is a shared journey.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Of course! I’m Summer Butler – author, speaker, coach, and founder of Blended Book Co. My mission is to create change, for good. I develop resources that support children and families navigating the complexities of stepfamily life. As a child of divorce and now a stepmom myself, I bring both education and lived experience to walk alongside those who feel stuck and unseen, offering tools, hope, and guidance for a healthier path forward.
At Blended Book Co., we believe every story is worth celebrating. From our upcoming children’s book and plush set, Mallie’s Two Homes & a Deer Named Darla, to our tween workbook Blended: Navigating Life Between Two Homes, and our adult resource Blended: Aligning the Hierarchy of Heart + Home, each resource is designed to meet families right where they are. Through books, coaching, and workshops, we bring our mission to life – creating change, for good.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, I believed it was my responsibility to manage the emotions of others. As a child of divorce, I often found myself caught in the middle of two homes. I quickly learned to read rooms for safety and stability, stepping into a parental role at a very young age. I thought I had to be the glue that held everything together.
As I stepped out into the world, the very skills I used to survive became the ones that fueled my success as a young adult. Grit, determination, discipline, and independence, traits that looked like strengths on the outside, were deeply rooted in that childhood belief that it was my job to hold life together.
But the truth I came to understand is this: life is hard, and we don’t have to be. The only person we can truly hold together is ourselves. That belief was tested when I married – and into a stepfamily, no less. The skills that had once brought me success in the world did not translate into success in marriage. It was only when I began challenging my deep-rooted beliefs that I found both hope and healing. Survival gave way to surrender, and it’s from this place today that I help others identify their misbeliefs, uproot them, and grow new truths.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me more lessons than success ever could. Success, as the world defines it, came easily for me – it was survival at its best. But suffering, deep-rooted suffering, makes way for a self-awareness that success never will. When we choose to examine our suffering, we begin to see the roots of our pain, the lies we believed, and the patterns we carry from past to present. And in that awareness lies the invitation: to surrender what no longer serves us, to release control, and to learn new means of success.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Authenticity is the cornerstone of connection. In both my personal and professional life, I believe there is power in showing up real, raw, and relatable. Is the public version of me the real me? I certainly hope so – that’s what I strive for every day.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Legacy questions run deep. When I’m gone, my ultimate hope is that people know Jesus through the life I’ve lived. Not because I lived it perfectly, but because I lived it openly. Living openly has not come without scrutiny, but it is often through scrutiny that my deepest childhood beliefs have been uprooted. The greatest challenges of my life have also been my greatest opportunities for growth. The truth is, we are only passing through this earth; it is not our final destination. And when my time here is done, my prayer is that others will find the courage to dig deep and, in doing so, find Jesus.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blendedbookco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blendedbookco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blended-book-co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blendedbookco/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blendedbookco
- Other: Substack:
https://summerbutler.substack.com/Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlendedBookCo
Image Credits
Christie Gare Photography
