Hi. I’m an indie author, working on publishing…
…any day now.
If you ask me how it’s going, I’ll answer, “I’m somewhere between thriving & spiraling with purpose.”
Here’s the T…
I am doing everything in what feels like the most chaotic possible order.
Absolutely nothing about my process should appear in a “How to Self-Publish” guide. Podcasts I’m on, should skip this question for advice…yet, somehow, it’s working.
Finding the Right Illustrator (& Why Mine Is Literal Emotional Sunshine)
One of the brightest parts of this whole experience is my illustrator.
Juliana is collaborative, warm, wildly talented, & genuinely invested in bringing this book to life.
She posts incredible art (&publishing) advice, if you haven’t seen her yet, check out @drawingjuli
She’d never say it out loud, but I know I’m a poster child for ‘what to learn from’. I’m pretty sure I’ve messed up a very carefully organized workflow. I’m learning everything out of order. I get excited and jump ahead. I imagine she channels her inner Alma & thinks, “Oh honey, honey, honey…”
But she lets me figure it out.
She lets me make mistakes without ever feeling like I did something wrong. She cheers me on, like what I’m doing is the most fantastic thing.
& that’s exactly why I chose her, she makes the messy parts feel okay. She keeps the creative joy intact.
A Chaotic Progress Report
Here are the updates from my indie-author trenches:
✔ Moving the Launch
I thought I had already navigated the confusing world of print options.
Truly.
Months ago, I sat down, mapped out KDP vs. Ingram vs. POD vs. offset, asked my husband for advice, & we decided on POD. Decision made.
Then — pause for dramatic effect— he says the other day, “Why aren’t you bulk printing?”
I stared at him.
I started stress crying.
I spiraled.
Because in my head, we had looked at bulk printing. We made a decision. We were done. I had a timeline & I was planning a launch party with a local business.
Bulk printing, though?
That’s a two-month endeavor.
Proofs. Emails. Quotes. Confirmations. Shipments. Waiting.
Waiting.
More waiting.
But… after I calmed down (somewhat), he wasn’t wrong.
Businesses are believing in me.
Mental health orgs are asking to share the book.
If I get the margins to work — I can just give books to the families & organizations who need them.
So today, I did it.
I sent out requests.
I asked for five quotes.
Now the waiting begins.
& maybe I’ll lose a few ARC folks who are tired of the timeline shifting — that’s okay. For everyone willing to hang in there, just know this:
If the book isn’t in your hands until March, it’s because it will also be in the hands of more organizations & families who need it just as much.
This delay is a doorway to a bigger impact. & I’m choosing that.
✔ Building My Author Platform: Partnerships & Extra Support Tools
One unexpected upside to pushing the launch is the space it’s giving me to deepen the support that comes with this book.
Through podcasts & interviews, I’ve met so many incredible people—therapists, advocates, educators, creators—& our conversations have sparked ideas I never would’ve imagined when I first sat down to write this story.
We’ve talked about worksheets.
Workbooks.
Processing pages.
All the things that make this children’s book not just a story, but a soft place to land.
What I’ve already built in the back of the book—the mental health resources & conversation starters—has helped me so much personally. Now I’m getting the chance to expand that toolkit with experts who know this world inside and out.
Keep an eye on my Resources page for more roll out updates soon, but I’m thrilled to be collaborating with:
- Bright Sky Mental Health First Aid Kit
- PebblePathJournal– Giveaway
- instagram.com/pebblepathjournal
- Montessori Dad
- Merriment Maker
- The Glitterati Guild https://www.patreon.com/cw/merrimentmaker
✔ swag. Swag. SWAG
While we’re in this waiting window, we are not just sitting around twiddling thumbs. We’re using this time for SWAG.
Pre-order goodies. Launch bundles. Event freebies.
✔ I Kicked Off My First Booth (…Kind Of)
Technically, I gave a friend some of my swag, with a pre-order sign, to display at her booth (like a “soft launch cameo.”)
My first sale-not-sale happened…
I hesitated sending the cloud pillows ahead because, in my heart, I wanted my first sale of a cloud pillow to be my moment. But I thought, “Hey—maybe this will add some pep to the event!”
Well… plot twist. Someone took one. Promised to pay.
Never paid.
So my “first sale” moment is still waiting for me, because that one definitely did not count.
I’m sharing this for two reasons:
- If you’ve ever scammed a hardworking creator at a market booth—shame on you. Truly.
- This is the reality of DIY hustle. You live, you learn, you grow. & back to checkmark one, this launch pause feels like the universe saying, “learn & grow now, before the bigger moments arrive.”
Before I sell or give away valuable items again, I want to be thoughtful about where I show up, how I show up.
The pause isn’t just logistical—it’s clarifying.
It’s shaping the foundation I want for this whole journey.
Don’t Do Everything Backwards Like I Did
Whether you’re writing a children’s book, launching a novel, or just flirting with the idea of self-publishing, here are the resources that have kept me afloat:
🎨 For Illustration & Art Tips
@drawingjuli — generous, informative, & perfect for anyone trying to understand how illustration workflows actually function.
📚 For Self-Publishing Guidance
- IngramSpark Academy (free courses, surprisingly helpful)
- https://brookevitale.com/blog
Don’t forget to pre-order!
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