Well, at least special to me...
On a very chilly and snowy afternoon this past winter, I sat with pencil and paper in hand up in our front room. An idea had been brewing inside of me, so I sat down and let it all pour out.
I scribbled frantically, afraid the idea might at any moment up and leave me.
It didn't, and several pages later it was all out.
I had written a book.
Ok, that maybe sounds precocious.
I had written a cute and short little children's book.
That's more accurate.
(My lilacs and irises are done for the year and I am in-between blooms at the moment. I've been getting creative with random clippings from our bushes to hold me over until my peonies, hydrangeas and roses are ready.)
After I had written it, I dove head first into researching a way to publish it.
I made phone calls and read through publishing websites.
I googled "how to publish a children's book" more times than I should admit, and read through anything that popped up.
I decided I wanted to go the self-publishing route.
That way I can be sure it'll get published if I want it to. I won't need to submit my manuscript over and over again to various publishing houses, waiting and hoping for someone to pick me up.
It became evident early on that I would face two hurdles in this endeavor however...
One is cost. It is very expensive to publish a book.
The second is that since it is a picture book designed to be read to very small children, I would need to find an illustrator.
We asked around. No one was interested.
So there the idea (and my humble little book) sat, for several months.
Winter melted into spring and here I am again with this dream... this idea... this prompting in my heart... to do something with this little book I created.
Then I heard the voice of my ten-year old one day say, "Uh... Mom? Can I illustrate your book?"
The moment that thought arose, a picture flashed through my head. A picture of the cover of my book that would read:
"Written by Courtney Downs
Illustrated by Roman Downs"
Perfect! I thought.
So I had him submit to me a sample page...
"You're hired!" I told him.
And we've been working on it ever since.
Today I sat down to write "A note from the author" that will go on the inside cover, and I stumbled upon something I had forgotten that I wrote months ago.
It's a list of my reasons why...
Why would I do this?
Why would I go through the trouble to publish a children's book when there are already so many of them out there?
Here is what I wrote...
What would I want to read to my 0-5 year olds?
What would I have wanted as a book to read to Roman, Nola and Soren when they were 0-5?
- Real human families. Not bears, foxes, or ants that have been given human-like qualities to try to appeal to children. Children like to see characters that they can relate to - human children like them.
- Traditional family values. This includes traditional male/female roles. Father goes to work, Mother stays home, etc.
- Stories that inspire children and set a good example. I want my children to be exposed to stories of other children just like them helping Mama with housework, obeying with a happy heart attitude, being kind and gracious with their siblings, creating artwork or music, or being involved in productive, wholesome, imaginative play.
(Roman's interpretation of the main character, a little girl named Tillie...)
My book is titled, "Big-Girl Helper".
I got the idea for Tillie from my four-year old, Elsa. She has always had a heart to please me and help me, so I have called her my "big-girl helper" over the years.
The book isn't about our family, but I got the inspiration for Tillie and her family from my own children and our own home life.
This is my "Note from the author" that I just wrote today...
After reading countless books to my four children over the past ten years, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and write one of my own.
I thought about what I would want to read as a mother, and what I would want my children to learn and absorb.
Big-Girl Helper was birthed from this, as well as from my own experiences at home with my children.
It is designed to promote traditional family values and the beauty of a simple and peaceful home life.
Nothing is mundane or boring if it is done with love.
I truly hope you and your little ones enjoy my book... and maybe your little one may even be inspired to become your "big-girl helper."
~ Courtney
I don't really know what the final outcome will be or what to expect, I am just taking it one step at a time.
I will probably not make any money from this. That is not my goal. I am doing this just for fun, and just for myself and my family. This can be something I can leave behind for my children as well as something to share with others... if there are any "others" who may want it.
I would love to be able to put into the hands of Christian parents a book that they can add to their repertoire of wholesome children's stories for their family.
If nothing else, I want to hold it in my hands someday and add it to my bookshelf.
We have a long way to go before then, but in the meantime I wanted to share with you, my friends who faithfully read my writings here on this blog, that something special is in the works.
I will keep you posted...
xo,
~ Courtney ~
