From Scribbles to Shelves: My Wild Ride as a Debut Children's Book Author

Welcome to the rollercoaster of my life as a debut self-published children's book author. As I prepare to launch “Maya’s Worldly Wonders,” I've discovered that this journey goes beyond crafting stories; it feels like managing a one-person circus, juggling flaming torches, and dodging flying pies! My daily routine now brims with creativity, chaos, and coffee spills, a stark contrast to the corporate grind of board meetings.

Mind Mapping: The Organized Chaos of Plotting

For me, writing a book involves more than just inspiration; it requires planning. I'm already developing the next four books in the series before even launching the first, with mind maps as my key tool in this process. These colourful, annotated scribbly masterpieces help me wrangle my imaginative ideas into something coherent. It’s comparable to herding cats, but with characters, plotlines, and settings. Who knew crafting children’s stories could feel like plotting world domination?

Social Media Shenanigans and Website Wizardry

Managing social media accounts and a website for “Maya’s Worldly Wonders” is like attempting to keep up with a hyperactive toddler. Each platform—Instagram, Facebook, and even BookTok (yes, TikTok for book lovers!)—requires its own flavour of content. Posting behind-the-scenes shots, dropping sneak peeks, or awkwardly dancing for BookTok all contribute to the goal of keeping the buzz alive.

And then there’s the website—a beautiful beast that needs constant feeding with SEO-friendly content. It’s my digital home, filled with updates, sneak previews, and the occasional rant about the trials of self-publishing. Google loves fresh content, and so do I, so I keep churning out blog posts like this one, trying to dodge the dreaded curse of the blank page.

Quality Control: The Art of Not Losing My Mind

Quality control is just a polite way of saying, “I’m a perfectionist, and it’s a problem!” From obsessing over Maya’s facial features to agonizing over every inch of the book cover, I’m all up in the details. The cover needs to shout, “Grab me!”, and the illustrations need to be just right—like Goldilocks finding her porridge. Luckily, my illustrator has nailed it, capturing the essence of the beautiful countries I’ve travelled to and the emotions of the story. It’s as if they glanced into my thoughts and made it pretty!

Editing? Oh, don’t even get me started. My manuscript has gone through rigorous editing by my fantastic editors, not to mention the ten rounds of editing I did myself before sending it to them. It’s a never-ending quest to squash typos, fill plot holes, and dodge existential crises. But hey, what’s a little self-doubt between drafts? It’s all part of the excitement, isn’t it? Luckily, finding my editor and illustrator was smooth sailing thanks to the brilliant marketplace - Reedsy, which saved me both time and money.

AI and Branding: The Face of My Baby

I’m in the middle of creating a logo for “Maya’s Worldly Wonders” and it feels like giving birth to a new identity (minus the hospital bills). The logo has to be perfect—eye-catching, memorable, and not something I’d regret in a year. The focus is on creating a vibe that strongly conveys “magical travel adventure” and encourages purchases without being pushy.

Despite AI being intimidating for many, it has been a lifesaver for me as a self-published author with limited resources. Tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and various editing software have transformed my process. These AI marvels help me create professional, eye-catching book covers, illustrations, logos, and polished social media content. They even assist with editing before I hand my manuscript over to a professional editor. The result? Faster, more efficient work without breaking the bank. AI has truly been a game-changer on my publishing journey.

Promotion Madness: PR Teams and Amazon Ads

Generating buzz for the book is a thrilling adventure on its own. I’ve hired a PR team to handle the heavy lifting of media outreach and event planning. It’s like having a hype squad that knows all the right people.

On the technical side, I’m knee-deep in reading Ricardo Fayet’s “Amazon Ads for Authors,” book, trying to crack the code of advertising on Amazon KDP. Keywords, budgets, bidding, targeting—it’s like learning a new language, but with more charts and less Duolingo. Lets just say I have a spreadsheet with 15 tabs of advertising strategies!

The Great Distribution Hustle: From A to Z (Amazon to Zoos)

Setting up distribution channels is similar to playing a game of 3D chess. There are direct website sales, wholesale distribution, retail distribution, and more. Each one is a new puzzle to solve, requiring a mix of research and logistical planning.

While services like Amazon and IngramSpark print and deliver your products, selling directly through your website presents a unique challenge and is a different ball game.

Pricing & Marketing strategies? I’m on it like white on rice. Weekends are for researching market trends, coming up with new promotional ideas, and sometimes, venting frustration. It’s all part of the hustle, baby!

The Business of Being a Solo Act

Being a self-published author involves running a one-person show with multiple hats—writer, editor, marketer, and occasional therapist (to myself). As I continue this journey, there will be much more to juggle post launch, including school visits, book festivals, book tours and filming–and I honestly can’t wait! It’s not all rainbows and unicorns, but it’s a labour of love that keeps me going, even on the weekends. The boundaries between work and play are hazy, but passion makes it seem effortless.

So, as I inch closer to the launch of “Maya’s Worldly Wonders,” the excitement is palpable. The journey has been filled with highs, lows, and new challenges daily. I am constantly learning something new everyday. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way! I hope you continue to follow my journey!

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