About Melissa Marsted

As founder and publisher of Lucky Penny Publications, I am honored to write about how we first started in 2008 and the paths we took to where we are today, and how the van came into my life! It really all began on the night of the Santa Barbara Tea Fire in November, 2008. My two boys, three pets and I lost nearly everything after having an hour to evacuate. After the fire a friend asked if I could do anything to start my life over, what would I do? Without hesitation, I wanted to finish self-publishing a children's book that I was working on. I set my intentions and within a year that book was finished at the end of 2019. In March, 2010 the iPad was released, and I had the idea to start an eBook publishing company. TEN years ago! In July, 2012 I was visiting a running friend in Park City and had the chance to run 18 miles only the mid-mountain trail. The last of the fire insurance came through while I was there and I set an intention to make an offer. My younger son and I moved into our new home in May, 2013. When I turned 50 in 2015 and became an empty-nester, I started traveling to the national parks to explore, and I started running ultra-marathons. I soon came up with the idea to write children's books about the national parks. I am finishing the seventh in our collection this spring of 2020. I bought the van to go to races and to explore even more, but I decided to stay home more often and rent the van at least two weeks per month instead of it just sitting in my driveway. It is an amazing opportunity to give others the chance to explore in a more healthy and safe way. Over the years I have hit road blocks but as a long distance runner I have learned to go the distance. There is no giving up! It's a time for us to believe in our dreams! That has always been my personal mantra so what is your dream? What have you been waiting for you? Don't wait as we know life is short. Act now! The universe has your back! Read books, get out in nature, stay healthy and have fun renting our van!!