Author Statement & Invitation

From New John Meluso, CEO of Masters of Influence Publishing

When the manuscript for Emergence – by the Caterpillar Formerly Known as Stripe first arrived, I recognized not just a story, but a metamorphosis in motion. While the author is presently “busy migrating as a monarch,” the message they’ve left within these pages is as enduring as the cycle of transformation itself—a reminder that change is not an ending, but an opening.

Having been born near the Monarch butterfly hibernation grounds in Pacific Grove, California, I have long felt a kinship with these winged travelers. My own path was deeply inspired by Trina Paulus and her luminous work Hope for the Flowers, a book that taught me that transformation is both deeply personal and universally shared.

This author, too, carries that spirit forward. In an act of generosity as pure as the sky a monarch crosses, they have requested that 100% of all proceeds—both the author’s and Masters of Influence Publishing’s—be donated to nonprofit organizations dedicated to the preservation and flourishing of Monarch butterflies.

It is rare to encounter a book whose very existence serves its message so fully. Emergence invites readers not only to witness the caterpillar’s journey, but to consider our own migrations—those quiet inner passages that lead us to grow wings.

With deep gratitude, we are honored to support this offering. May these pages inspire you to protect what is fragile yet strong, fleeting yet eternal, so that both butterflies and the transformations they symbolize may continue to grace our world.

— New John Meluso

CEO, Masters of Influence Publishing

Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)