YVONNE HAMPDEN

Small Business Center, NC

September 2025 blog

Yvonne Hampden sits on a dark brown leather couch holding her children’s book titled The Man on the Moon, Eating a banana!. She wears a red shirt and a patterned headscarf. The couch is decorated with a colorful geometric blanket and two bird-themed pillows.

Meet Yvonne. For as long as she can remember, Yvonne has been filling notebooks with poetry, stories, and family history. Writing was her outlet as a young girl, a way to process her feelings and capture the stories told within her family. Over the years, that passion never faded.

Yvonne eventually published many works including two poetry books, two journals, and most recently a children’s book, The Man on the Moon, Eating a banana! inspired by a precious childhood memory with her uncle. She even collaborated with a Rowan County high school student who illustrated that story. Today, her work can be found in libraries and online bookstores, with more projects, including a short story collection, already on the horizon.

But while writing came naturally, turning that gift into a business was a new challenge. That is where the Rowan-Cabarrus Small Business Center (SBC) came in.

“When we moved to Salisbury from New York, I wanted to see what opportunities were here,” Yvonne shared. “I reached out to the Small Business Center and met with Megan. That is when I realized I could move beyond writing as a hobby and actually create a business.”

Through SBC workshops and one-on-one counseling, Yvonne learned about contracting, registered her business YMAH Rivera Publication, obtained her MWBE certification, and began building a foundation for growth.

“If I did not start the business with Megan’s help, meeting with her a couple of times a month and going to events, I would still be writing, but it would just be a hobby,” Yvonne said. “Instead, I now have a business.”

Looking ahead, Yvonne hopes to expand her publishing efforts, including bringing her work into correctional facilities and continuing to inspire others with her words. She also hopes to collaborate with more independent bookstores. Yvonne welcomes opportunities to engage with the community, and is also open to readings or interviews, upon request.

Her advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: Start with the Small Business Center.

“You are going to save yourself so much time and heartache just by connecting with them,” Yvonne said, when asked about the Small Business Center. “They will guide you, connect you with the right resources, and help you take the steps you need to build your dream.”

To learn more about Yvonne’s works, visit her website.