‘She Does’ book celebrates Cook County women balancing business and motherhood
Motherhood and ambition can and should coexist, say Gina Joyce and Laura Muus, two Cook County small business owners and mothers behind the new book “She Does: Words of Wisdom.”
The book highlights 40 women representing 38 Cook County businesses who balance entrepreneurship with motherhood — a group Joyce and Muus describe as “mompreneurs.”
Gina Joyce and Laura Muus, authors of “She Does: Words of Wisdom” | Contributed by She Does
The women behind the 38 businesses have a two-page spread in the book that includes photographs and insights into raising a family while balancing entrepreneurship. Joyce and Muus also asked each woman to finish the sentence ‘She Does…’
Joyce and Muus hope the book inspires young girls, mothers, and fellow small business owners to challenge themselves, keep growing, and recognize their own capacity to do more.
“It’s important for us to do things for ourselves and continue growing and proving that we are capable of doing that and more,” Muus said.
A book launch event will occur on May 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. The majority of the women featured in the book will be in attendance, and Muus and Joyce plan to give a short speech.
Two other events are also planned over Memorial Weekend. On May 23, at 6 p.m., Muus and Joyce will be at Drury Lane Books for a talk and book signing. Then, on Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a book signing will take place at The Fisherman’s Daughter.
Joyce and Muus have already begun plans for Volume Two, which will include woman entrepreneurs along the North Shore and across northern Minnesota. The two are also launching a podcast on May 25.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins sat down with Gina Joyce and Laura Muus to talk about the new book “She Does,” the inspiration to create it, the process of working together, who the women in the book are, the book’s launch day on May 20, and what to expect for Volume Two in 2027.
Kalli Hawkins May 14, 2026
