Hello all! Yes, I finally broke down and decided to self-publish my children's book series, HIDE AND SEEK SCRIPTURES. Book 1: THE BAILY FAMILY'S TRIP TO THE BEACH should be out in about 4 months. I had hoped to publish traditionally, but it is a tough reality that not many children's books get picked up by traditional publishers unless you have a name in the industry or have celebrity status. I have neither :) The great news is that my wonderful husband heard my heart for this project and encouraged me to go for it. So...here we go into the unknown but working with the very talented Christian Faith Publishing The steps to publish a book with this company are clear, and their help through the process has been timely, professional, easy to understand and encouraging. I'm finally on way way! BOOK CONCEPT: The book concept came to me ten plus years ago while homeschooling my children in India. We used a Christian curriculum, and they were required to memorize Scripture in their Bible classes. I noticed that once they had their grade, the verse was looooong gone from their minds and quite possibly didn't have time to sink into their hearts. I felt like the Lord dropped this idea into my mind and heart to have a children's series that resulted in a memorized Scripture verse with a parent page to explain the context. Prayerfully, by the end of the book, the child will have this verse in their mind but working in their heart as well. nILLUSTRATIONS: Since the book concept was already well developed and an original script was already written and professionally edited, I was more than ready to start developing the character and scene illustrations. Little did I know what an interesting, fun but challenging process this would be. A dear friend of my children from our India days, Shalayne Mowry, had seen my blogs and Instagram posts about publishing a children's book and reached out to me about illustrating my book. Shalayne is a wonderful artist! Please check out her Instagram page and website. My daughter, Shelby Simone, is a wedding photographer, she is offering her clients either a wedding album or a piece of Shalayne's original wedding art of the couple (see below). PENCIL DRAWING VERSES DIGITAL IMAGING: What Shalayne and I realized together once we got started in the process was that her pencil drawing style was amazing, yet it was not working with my vision for a digital, cartoon-like illustration for my book. In a mature, professional conversation, we decided that Shalayne would work on an original visual identity for my series instead of the characters. We came up with the idea of a flower that would be found on the text pages of the book as well as craftily places in other places (author page, dedication page, etc.). So as the series characters travel to other locations in subsequent books in the series, this one item can connect them all. Below you will see the early concept of this flower. Shalayne will digitize it in order to sync it with the rest of the illustrations. She has not done a lot of digital art, so this is a lovely opportunity to stretch her skill and for us to continue to work together. So incredibly proud of her!! Another dear friend of my children from our India days offered to pitch in to help me get that cartoon concept that I had envisioned. Courtney (Morgan) Page is a busy, professional video animation artist. Check out her Instagram for some of her fun, commissioned work from before her days working for studios. We sure do have talented friends, right?? I have sent the images below as visual concepts for the illustrators that I have hired from Christian Faith Pulishing. Click here to have a look at some of their artists that I will be blessed to work with in the near future. I have some ideas of the styles that I like and some that Courtney suggested I consider. Once the editing process is finished, the Christian Faith Publishing illustration team will read the form I filled out then assign me someone that works well in my genre. I have full creative say so; therefore if I am not happy with the direction of a particular illustrator, I can switch to an illustrator that carries out my vision more accurately. Please pray for me along the journey. I will be tapping into advice from Shalayne and Courtney for sure. JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY:
Hope you enjoyed joining me on this evolving journey to self-publishing. I am excited and nervous! I am counting on you, my friends, to pray with me, get word out about the book once it is in print and give me feedback on any options that I put out on blogs or social media. I honestly feel this is a project deep from my heart. I am not into profit as a goal, except to gather funds for Book 2 in the series, but I want to see God's Word hid in the hearts of your families....'that they 'might not sin against God' Psalm 119:11. LORD, PLEASE HELP ME ON THIS JOURNEY TO PUT OUT BOOKS THAT ACCOMPLISH YOUR PURPOSES AND LEAD FAMILIES CLOSER TO YOU!
21 Comments
Samuel Biggs
2/22/2021 09:16:38 pm
Fantastic Laura well done!
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Katya Gutmacher
2/23/2021 12:33:53 am
Great, Laura. We are so happy and excited waiting to read ☺️❤️
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Lisa Jeter
2/23/2021 11:01:38 am
Love it can't wait to buy these for my grandbabies! I'm sooo proud of you dear friend and am praying for you❤
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Patti Dixon
2/23/2021 02:40:08 pm
I am so excited for you and can’t wait to share with my Grans!
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Linoy
2/24/2021 12:06:36 am
Wow Laura praise God!!! Can not wait to share the book with my babes and all my friends around the world! Exciting ♡ kol hakavod! The art is AMAZING !
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Pam McKee
2/24/2021 07:21:20 am
Your book and concept sound great! Can't wait to get the book! How do we order?
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Laura Martin
2/24/2021 07:57:40 am
It will be available on all the major platforms and on the Christian Faith Publishing website :)
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Shelley Griffis
2/24/2021 06:10:29 pm
Can’t wait! So excited for you and excited to bring this book into our home!
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Emily Jackson
2/25/2021 05:49:17 pm
This is so exciting, Laura! I am so proud of you for stepping out! I agree on the need to get the Scripture deep in their hearts! Love it!
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Scott and Cherie Lee
3/5/2021 08:03:05 am
How wonderful to see your vision and heart's desire come to life ! With 2 grandkids on the way, books like yours are what I’m looking for !!!!
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Amy
3/10/2021 06:14:48 pm
Love this so much, well done Laura! Writing a children’s has actually also been a dream of mine as well, and since my daughter is an artist, I would love to have her illustrate. Congrats on taking steps to make your dreams come true!!!
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Bernice Guerrero
3/13/2021 07:56:53 am
I can not wait to have the books, I will be praying for your project. And thank you for thinking and loving on other people kids. Blrssings
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Lisa and Brian Turner
3/13/2021 08:54:34 am
So excited for you!! We can’t wait to order for ourselves and our friends with children and grandchildren.
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Mike & Ruth Frizzell
3/14/2021 12:41:01 pm
Ruth and I love to give creative material to the kids in our lives that get them into God's word. We look forward to your book.
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Anju John
3/14/2021 07:19:51 pm
Hello Aunty Laura, so nice and exciting to hear about it. May God fills you His wisdom to make this journey successful 🙏. Looking forward to hear more about it. By.
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Linda Burchfield
3/25/2021 01:29:56 pm
Laura, I am so proud of what you have accomplished to this point I can’t wait to read your book!
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Nan Brinkerhoff
4/3/2021 04:36:51 am
What a wonderful creation Laura! Can’t wait to see the finished product. May the Lord continue to bless you in the fulfillment of the vision He has given you!
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Charlene schieferstein
4/15/2021 02:20:54 pm
Can’t wait to see what GOD does with this!
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Bryan and Tammy Rogers
4/16/2021 03:00:23 pm
We can't wait to order this for our granddaughter. I know it will be wonderful!
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4/17/2021 04:35:15 am
Love this Laura! Praying BIG for this...I have seen the fruit of this book already displayed in the hearts of your kids!!!! It’s already successful and praying it will help thousands more.
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Rick Robertson
4/26/2021 01:19:22 pm
Well done Laura & team - I love the entire concept. I wish you much success. Keeping you and your book project in my prayers.
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