Today we’d like to introduce you to Naja Hayward.
Hi Naja, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
If you had told me five years ago I’d be living on an island in Savannah, Georgia—simultaneously growing my publishing company, Rainmaker Publishing, relaunching a new partnership with my tea company, and starting a whole new venture—a farmers market—I would’ve laughed. But life has a way of rerouting you, especially when you’ve outgrown the map you were using.
In 2019, I was engaged. I thought I was building a future I’d been waiting for. It wasn’t perfect, but I had resolved to do things differently this time—to stick through the difficulties. But when that relationship ended—abruptly, and not by my choosing—I was left to reconsider what I thought the next fifty years of my life were supposed to look like.
Soon after, I became the primary caregiver for my then 90-year-old grandmother. I stepped in because it was the right thing to do. I wanted to give the woman who raised me back everything she’d lovingly poured into me my entire life. But it also meant stepping back into family dynamics I had intentionally left behind—the kind of dysfunction I’d worked hard to protect my son from. And there I was, in the thick of it again, trying to keep the peace while slowly losing my own.
Eventually, I hit a breaking point. Not dramatic—just honest. I needed to go. To think. To breathe. To be somewhere that didn’t require me to be everything for everyone. And as so often happens in my life, an opportunity presented itself: a chance to travel the world—12 countries over 12 months—documenting how other cultures define and practice wellness.
My son was grown and finishing college, my consulting business was already remote and thriving, and those same aunts who had placed me in the caregiver role now needed to care for their mother without my management.
So I took the leap. I traveled to 21 countries over 18 months—eight of those months spent living in Thailand.
Though I’d originally set out to document wellness practices around the world, what I came to realize was that it was my own wellness that needed attention. And the wellness I craved had always lived inside me. I just hadn’t made space for her in a very long time.
While living in Thailand, I was reintroduced to an old passion: writing. But not just writing—I fell in love with the entire process of turning the written word into a published book. That spark became Rainmaker Publishing, the bread and butter of my livelihood today.
When I returned to Los Angeles in 2021, I expected to feel relief. Being so far away from my son, my friends, and my community had taken its toll. But instead of comfort, I felt disoriented. The rhythm I used to move to no longer fit. I had changed—and I needed a place that reflected who I had become.
I didn’t know much about Savannah. I hadn’t planned to come here. I had never even visited. But every step of my journey here felt divinely guided. And I listened.
I landed somewhere I never knew I needed.
Today, I live on Hutchinson Island—a quiet, tucked-away part of Savannah that feels like a world of its own. But one thing quickly stood out: no grocery store. No market. Nowhere to grab fresh food without leaving the island.
And in true Naja fashion, I took the seed of an idea—create a farmers market on this island that is ripe with potential—and birthed the Farmers & Fishermen Sunset Market at Savannah Harbor, now better known as the Savannah Sunset Market.
I spent two months visiting other markets, meeting local farmers (and learning the great challenges they face), trying to locate fisheries (which felt nearly impossible), asking questions, and connecting with anyone who could help me find the best food and homestyle producers in the region. I curated a market that felt like it brought a piece of California’s vibrancy to Georgia’s coastal landscape.
In doing that, I uncovered something deeper: the challenges Black farmers face in this region, the lack of access, and the absence of platforms for producers doing incredible work.
So the Savannah Sunset Market became more than a market to me—it became a mission. A movement. A way to do what my grandmother always taught me: leave any place that welcomes you just a little better than when you arrived.
I won’t pretend it’s been easy. It hasn’t. But it’s been real. It’s been supported by amazing people. It’s making a small difference. And it’s growing. And I’m growing—even at 52.
What started as a response to a missing grocery store is blossoming into a vibrant ecosystem of growers, makers, neighbors, music, yoga, and a beautifully diverse community of people who may not all look alike, but who share common values. I see it in how folks connect every Market Thursday—against the backdrop of a Savannah sunset that still takes my breath away.
I came to Savannah looking for peace. And I found so much more.
I found renewed purpose.
Yet again.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Not even close. But my life has been sacred in its own way. And I am the kind of person who takes on a challenge with my shoulders high.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is being put in a position I didn’t ask for—but still chose to honor. Becoming my grandmother’s primary caregiver wasn’t something I planned. It was a role handed to me by default—between aunts and uncles who agreed that I should handle it. And while I have deep love and respect for my grandmother, stepping back into the center of family dysfunction I had spent years distancing myself from was emotionally exhausting. It triggered old wounds and required a level of strength and grace that some days, I simply didn’t have.
At the same time, I was navigating the heartbreak of an engagement ending, no matter how much in my heart I knew it ending was the right thing. I was forced to confront the version of myself that would’ve kept holding on out of fear, comfort, or obligation. The emotional weight of both those things happening at once cracked something open in me. I was forced to ask: what do YOU need, Naja? And the honest answer was: space. So I gave it to myself.
Traveling the world might sound glamorous, but there were very real challenges along the way. Living out of suitcases gets exhausting and you must trust your instincts in unfamiliar countries. Still, my already clear level of resilience was validated in a way that nothing else had.
Starting over in Savannah brought a whole new set of hurdles. I didn’t know anyone. Would my publishing company survive? I hadn’t built a market before. And let me be clear—starting a farmers market isn’t just setting up tents and inviting vendors. It’s permits, politics, partnerships, infrastructure, public safety, vendor relations, community trust, and local skepticism. It’s asking people to believe in your vision before there’s anything to show them. And when you’re a Black woman from California who packed up and moved to the South… doing it all independently, there are additional layers.
Sourcing producers, especially Black farmers and fisheries, was its own uphill climb. Many of them face systemic barriers—lack of water access, limited workforce, and generations of underrepresentation. Trying to bridge those gaps while creating a sustainable, joyful, inclusive experience for the public has been complex. There’s no playbook. Just heart, hustle, and a lot of figuring it out as I go.
And yet—every challenge has brought something. Clarity. Connection. Creativity. And mostly Community. This hasn’t been a smooth road. It’s been a winding one. But I trust it. Because with every turn, it’s brought me closer to people I would have nerve met. And it’s helping us all make the kind of impact I want to be a catalyst to.
As you know, we’re big fans of Rainmaker Publishing | Savannah Sunset Market. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Rainmaker Publishing is not a traditional publisher, and we’re not just a self-publishing service—we’re a Publishing Support Services company, which means we help entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals become published authors while maintaining ownership of their work and royalties.
We specialize in full-service support: everything from ghostwriting and editing to book design, publishing, and marketing strategy. We work with people who have something meaningful to say but don’t always know how to get it out of their head and into the hands of readers. Whether it’s a memoir, a business book, a children’s story, or something in between—our job is to make sure your message is clear, your book is beautiful, and your launch is intentional.
What sets us apart is how personal this is. Every book we work on gets tailored attention. We don’t take on hundreds of authors at a time—we work closely with each client to clarify their vision, elevate their voice, and design a product that reflects who they are and who they’re trying to reach. Our clients aren’t just publishing books—they’re building legacy, authority, and in many cases, entire business ecosystems around what they’ve written.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is how human this work is. We don’t do cookie-cutter publishing. We help people own their stories and step into a new level of visibility—many for the first time. We’ve helped therapists, nonprofit founders, TBI survivors, Attorneys, yoga instructors, coaches, and even a few grandmothers become published authors. Some come to us with a full manuscript. Some just have an idea on a napkin. Either way, we help them get across the finish line with something they can be proud of.
If there’s one thing I want your readers to know, it’s this: your story matters. And if you’ve been sitting on a book idea, there’s never been a better time to bring it to life. You don’t have to do it alone.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’d say the most essential quality behind my success is resilience with a soft center. I’ve learned how to stay grounded when plans fall apart, how to move forward when doors close, and how to find new paths when the old ones stop working. But I haven’t let that make me hard.
I still lead with heart. I care deeply about the people I work with—their stories, their outcomes, their growth. Whether I’m publishing a book, launching a market, or mentoring a new author, I approach each project with empathy, clarity, and a high standard of excellence. I’ve built a career by being someone people can count on to both get it done and make it meaningful.
That balance—between grit and grace—is what’s allowed me to reinvent, rebuild, and keep showing up. I don’t need things to be perfect. I just need them to be purposeful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SavannahSunsetMarket.com | www.timetogetpublished.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/SavannahSunsetMarket
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/SavannahSunsetMarket
Image Credits
Naja Hayward
