Ali Mejia is the co-founder of Eberjey, a brand celebrated for its signature soft pajamas. Born in El Salvador and raised in Miami, Ali always felt a pull toward creativity—but it wasn’t until she stepped away from the corporate world to build Eberjey that she realized how much she had been holding back.
Ali had believed achievement would lead to happiness—until, in her early twenties, she woke up and realized she felt deeply unfulfilled. Her soul was craving authenticity, self-expression, and purpose.
That awakening led her to rediscover her creativity, embrace her intuition, and forge a new path. Now, Ali is on a mission to help others unlock their own creative power—so they can see it, trust it, and make something beautiful with it. She lives in Miami with her husband, Carlos, their two daughters, Luna and Amaya, and their dogs, Henry and Toby. The Butterfly Studio is her first book.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: The spark came from my own journey of rediscovering creativity after years of putting it aside. I wanted to create a story that reminded children (and the grown-ups reading with them) that imagination is always within reach. The butterflies in The Butterfly Studio represent that quiet inner knowing, the voice that tells you to follow curiosity and joy.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: Don’t wait for the perfect idea or the perfect conditions. Begin where you are, even if it feels messy. Keep a little notebook or notes app where you jot down snippets, sparks, or even dreams. Those fragments often become the seeds of something bigger. Most importantly, write for yourself first, then shape it for others.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: It’s impossible to choose just one, but I return again and again to The Little Prince. Its simplicity holds so much wisdom about love, imagination, and what truly matters.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: Inez carries parts of me, the little girl who was shy about her creativity, and the grown woman who had to learn to listen to her own spark. She also carries pieces of my daughters, who remind me daily to approach the world with playfulness and wonder.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: I love the moments when the characters surprise me, when they say something or do something I hadn’t planned, and suddenly the story takes flight. It feels a little like magic, as if I’m just following where they lead.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: Both. There’s a natural rhythm that some people feel drawn to, but like any art form, it’s nurtured through practice. The more you write, the more your voice emerges.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: “The butterfly is only beautiful because the caterpillar is brave.” — T.M.T. It captures so much of what I believe about transformation and creativity.
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: Yes! The Butterfly Studio is the first in a trilogy. The second book, The Magic Pajamas, is coming soon, and I’m currently working on the third, The Lace Atelier.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: I admire Shel Silverstein for the way he blended whimsy and wisdom, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry for reminding us to see the world through a child’s eyes.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A:
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: a gentle reminder to keep love, wonder, and imagination alive.
- Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts: a sweeping story of redemption, resilience, and belonging in the unlikeliest of places.
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: a fable about following your dreams and listening to your heart.
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau: a meditation on simplicity, solitude, and finding meaning in nature.
- The Butterfly Studio: because I’d want to remember why I wrote it in the first place.
Learn more about Ali Mejia and her new book, The Butterfly Studio, here. Coming soon November 11, 2025!