Driven by a deep passion for supporting parents through the often unseen challenges of early parenthood, author Rosie Cimino has created a powerful collection of raw, honest books that open the door to conversations about mental health. Inspired by her own experiences as a mother of two young boys and the confronting statistics surrounding postnatal anxiety and depression, Rosie set out to write the words so many parents struggle to speak. Her books have become heartfelt conversation starters – bridging gaps, reducing stigma and reminding parents that they are never alone. Here, Rosie shares the inspiration behind her work, the challenges she has faced, and her hopes for bringing more openness, connection and compassion into the parenting world.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
It was during maternity leave with my second baby when I wanted to find a way to help parents open up and start talking about their mental health and wellness. I wanted to help create conversation starters around the hard topics – for people that don’t have the support or are too scared to speak up. With one in five mums and one in ten dads suffering with postnatal depression/anxiety, I couldn’t believe how high the stats were in Australia. I have always wanted to help where I can and I just knew that if I could create conversation starters for mental health and write these raw and honest books that parents could read and think, “I relate, and I’m not okay”, then I was on the right path.
As a mum of two boys, 15 months apart I knew the realities of how challenging the early years can be, especially when our families don’t live closeby. My family lives interstate and my partner’s family are in Ireland.
I wanted to create something completely different and make an impact not only for the parents, but also for their family and friends to read.
So, I opened my laptop and just started writing these conversation starters – one book at a time and one conversation at a time – to help create a chain of conversations. Whether it’s with a friend over coffee, a partner, a family member or a professional, that initial conversation is always the hardest.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I am still learning and navigating my way, but I think the most important thing is simply to start. I did a lot of research and I completely threw myself in at the deep end. I knew nothing about the behind-the-scenes of publishing a book, but I was determined to get my books out there and try to make a difference in mental health. It has been a challenging journey but an amazing and fulfilling experience, especially seeing my books available online worldwide through some amazing retail stores like Amazon.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough has been realising just how deeply my books resonate with parents. When I wrote them, I wanted to capture the real and raw unspoken truths – but I never imagined how much they would prompt parents to reflect on their own stories. Knowing my books are opening doors to conversations has shifted everything for me. It is no longer about the pages in my book but about the communities, the healing and the relationships that grow from them.
These books are more than a perspective, but a tool for change, and that is something I will carry with me going forward in my writing career.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balancing it all can be tricky, especially on the days I work from home. I spend my time on my business at night when the boys are in bed. I work from home while looking after the boys at the same time, so some days it can be very challenging. On weekends, I dedicate my time to my family, spending as much time as possible doing all the things we love doing together.
Even though I’m blessed to work from home, some days I feel like I’m not as present as I want to be, so I’m very aware of the need for balance. My children deserve my undivided attention, and I work hard to make sure they get that.
