About 2 years ago, I was lying in bed, communing with the universe, when a story showed up in my mind. It wasn’t an idea for a story, or a partial, vague story, but a complete story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. A children’s story. And sharp cookie that I am, I thought ‘Ha, that’s neat’, and promptly forgot about it and went on with my day.
But here’s the thing…that story wouldn’t leave me alone. So I told a friend about it. And they liked it. They said ‘You should publish it.’ Huh. Really? And the days and weeks went by, and every once in a while, I would tell someone else the story. And they liked it too. Eventually I felt compelled to tell the story to just about everyone I talked to. I started to think I needed to write it down. So I did. And as I was writing it down, I Googled ‘how to publish a book’. I emailed publishers. Lots of publishers. No answer. I offered money if someone would just give me some time to tell me what to do. No answer.
Eventually, I found an author who had self-published his own children’s books, and he was kind enough to point me in the right direction. And as I was making headway, it became glaringly obvious that I needed an illustrator, since my stick figures weren’t really cutting it. Enter my niece. She jumped in with both feet and a bucket load of talent and made fabulous, fun drawings that make me laugh and cry.
So here we are, almost 2 years after that story showed up, and I am about a week away from having the printed book in my hands. I am self-publishing, and am having 250 copies of ‘Emerald’s Big Discovery’ made. Not a cheap proposition, but I have faith.
This story is a gift, and I know that I have to share it. I trust that it will reach who it is supposed to, whether that be 1 person, 100 people, or 1,000. I know, deep down inside, that I am doing the right thing.
I am incredibly excited. A bit scared. I have no idea what I am doing, but the doors keep opening and I just keep on walking through them. The kindness of others is overwhelming. I am incredibly blessed. Wish me luck, and I’ll keep you posted.
BreatheShellyGirl 