Hi! I’m Chelsea Cunningham, the author and creator behind Postal Penny.

I grew up on a quiet bayou in the Florida panhandle, where my parents—both educators—taught me to be thoughtful, creative, and to make even the most ordinary moments feel fun.

I followed in their footsteps, earned my Master of Arts in Teaching, and spent my early career in a middle school classroom. In 2010, while teaching my students how to write a friendly letter, I was stunned to learn that most of them had never written one before—not a single stamped envelope or handwritten note.

That realization stayed with me, and within twenty-four hours, the idea of a tiny messenger bird delivering handwritten letters and unexpected joy began to take shape. Her name came instantly: Postal Penny. The book did not. 

The years that followed brought two babies, life as a stay-at-home mom, the start of my own business, and a move after sixteen years in Franklin, Tennessee. The story finally came to life after our family returned to the Florida bayou, where my love for handwritten letters first began.

In a world full of noise, screens, and constant digital connection, many of us still feel disconnected. I believe one simple step we can take is returning to the tradition of writing letters—slowing down, connecting off-screen, and sending small surprises through the mail.

My hope is that this little bird sparks a letter-writing revival and brings a bit of mailbox magic back into the world—one heartfelt note at a time.