Exploring Life & Business with Mary Blake of MHB Publishing Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Blake.

Hi Mary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started this journey long before I ever realized it was a journey. I’ve always been a storyteller, writing poems and short stories as a child, creating little worlds on notebook paper, and dreaming about the lives of the characters I made up. Even then, God was planting seeds.

Life has taken me through many seasons, highs and lows, yet I remain victorious. One of the most rewarding has been serving in ministry for over 20 years with my husband, Calvin, and raising my children, Krystal and Isaiah. Every phase of my life was shaping not only my voice, but also my alignment to God. In 2020, after walking through a difficult season, God began to stir something fresh in me. Writing became healing. Creativity became ministry. And purpose became clearer.

That’s when MHB Publishing Company was birthed, not just as a business, but as a calling. I wanted to create a place where people could tell their stories, leave a legacy, and use their voice to impact generations for God’s Kingdom. From children’s books to devotionals, YouTube storytelling, plush characters, and faith-based content, I’ve built a creative ecosystem that reflects my heart: to inspire, encourage, uplift, and point people back to God.

Today, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, pastor, author, content creator, publisher, life-coach and the founder of several brands including Bless That Baby®, Grandma Knows Life, and the Blessed Girl series that highlight joy, family, love, and God’s truth. What started with me writing in notebooks has grown into publishing books, developing characters, producing videos, helping new authors, and creating content that reaches families everywhere for Kingdom purpose.

I didn’t get here overnight. I published my first book in 2017, which was originally written in 2004, inspired by my son. That book is now a part of the Gabriel series within the Bless That Baby® Collection. My goal with this first project was to give parents Godly principles for raising children. I always say children need the “GLD”, God, love and discipline.

Overall, my journey was not straightforward, it took obedience, faith, boldness, healing, and a willingness to start even when I didn’t have everything figured out. Writing that first book in 2004 taught me many lessons about endurance, perseverance and God’s timing. Finally, I am standing with my company fully established ready to serve others. I truly believe God orders our steps, and every step has led me to where I am today: helping others find their voice, tell their story, and glorify God through creative expression.

MHB Publishing Company lives by the mission: Empowering Stories, Glorifying God.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not, but the challenges have shaped me just as much as the victories.

My journey has been filled with lessons, stretching, and seasons I never expected. In 2017, I worked with my first publishing company for my first book project, that experience opened my eyes to the publishing world, the good and the not-so-good. It taught me what to do, what not to do, and ultimately what kind of integrity, excellence, and compassion I wanted in my own company. Those lessons are a major part of the foundation of MHB Publishing Company today.

Along the way, life was still happening. I’ve faced financial hardships, sickness, the demands of raising children through adolescence and college, and the weight of serving in ministry with my husband for over 20 years. My husband and I both lost our fathers in the same year, a grief that shook us deeply. Not long after, we uprooted our entire family and moved from Delaware to Georgia, a place where we had no relatives, no familiar community, and no safety net. We had to rebuild everything from the ground up.

On top of it all, I battle lupus to this very day. But I always say: I have lupus, lupus does not have me. I refuse to let it control my purpose or my joy. I live my life trusting God for strength while pursuing my calling.

One of the hardest moments came in 2022 when my family endured a devastating house fire. We lost everything, clothing, memories, possessions, the things you can’t replace. My children and our dog escaped with only the clothes on their backs. It was a complete loss, but also a powerful reminder: God spared what mattered most, my family. Since then, we’ve rebuilt our lives, and we continue to share our story of resilience, faith, and restoration.

So no, it has not been a smooth road. But every struggle has strengthened me. Every setback has taught me. And every hardship has pushed me into purpose. I truly believe that the oil of my assignment comes from the crushing I survived.

We’ve been impressed with MHB Publishing Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MHB Publishing Company is a faith-based publishing house created to empower stories and glorify God. We help writers bring their God-given message to life through editing, custom book design, coaching, and full publishing support. What makes us unique is that we don’t just publish books we partner with people to preserve their voice, their testimony, and their purpose. Every author keeps full ownership of their work, and our goal is to make the process smooth, personal, and spiritually impactful.

Everything flows from one mission: to uplift, empower, and build the Kingdom of God through storytelling. Whether it’s a devotional, children’s book, journal, or testimony, we want every author to feel confident in the message God placed inside of them.

One of the things that truly sets us apart is our spiritual foundation. We pray over every project and every client from start to finish. Covering our authors and their stories in prayer is not just a practice, it’s part of the fabric of who we are. We believe that God breathes on every manuscript, every vision, and every step of the process.

What I’m most proud of is that our authors feel supported spiritually, creatively, and professionally. MHB Publishing Company exists to help people tell their stories boldly, beautifully, and in a way that honors Christ.

At MHB Publishing Company, we also believe in serving our community. Our community initiatives include: two sponsorships per year to publish two children/young adult’s literary work. In doing this, we partner with local foster centers and community centers to identify candidates. Additionally, we provide mentorship to young authors. As business grows we plan to explore new partnerships with local schools, libraries, groups and centers.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
YouTube has been vital for content creation. Canva and Amazon KDP has been vital for book publishing. We use Amazon KDP for their expanded distribution which allows authors to have their books displayed on Barnes & Noble, Books A Million and other platforms. We are continuing to establish additional book publishing platforms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mhbpublishingcompany.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandmaKnowsLife https://www.youtube.com/@blessthatbabystudios
• Other: https://www.blessthatbabyinc.net/