Turning A Picture Book Wish Into A Published Book

by Mirabel Lavelle

When I started drafting this article, I asked myself: ‘When exactly did I start this book journey?’ I could not work out one specific point in time. The reason is because different things have happened over several years which became the foundation for Zeb, Jet And The Ice-Cream Calamity. The ‘why’ was crystal clear: I’m driven by a strong need to raise allergy safety awareness. Writing allows me to reach large audiences and, as someone who loves literature with a passion, writing is the obvious route for me.

Laying The Foundations

My parents loved reading stories to us and, once I could read, I read with an insatiable appetite. My small dictionary accompanied my books, from Hans Christian Anderson to Enid Blyton. Then, when I emigrated to this country, the local library became my home from home. Books have many powers. They can transcend borders, bring people together, and much more. I’d be lost without them.

Then, when I witnessed my baby grandson’s allergic reaction to the food he was being weaned on, I turned to writing to cope with what had happened. I had to turn a traumatic experience into something positive, hence this book.

Networking

The allergy support groups I am a member of have been a treasure trove of information and shared experiences. I’ve learned so much about the countless challenges allergy sufferers and their families face.

I started to improve my writing by attending workshops and joining writing groups. I was able to participate in discussions and the feedback was invaluable, as it shed new light on my writing. Most of these were not for children’s books, but they got me thinking about the key elements that make a great book.

I took the opportunity to volunteer for Pen to Print and Write On! where I was afforded the avenue to submit articles and conduct interviews. These experiences helped me to grow as a writer by increasing my confidence. I began to see myself as someone who could publish a book that people would want. This change in mindset was essential in order to make the decision to approach an editor and illustrator later on.

I believe that editing and re-editing are crucial in the book-writing process. Choosing the right editor was extremely important for me, because I needed a person who understood how I work and who was on board with my vision. My chosen editor’s experience in focussing on the intended age group was invaluable, especially when I sent in the last edit.

From the beginning, I attended children’s book launches as well as picture book events at book festivals, where I spoke with authors and illustrators. These experiences inspired me and encouraged me to keep going and finish the book. In addition, some put me in touch with individuals who helped later on in the process.

Initially, building a supportive team was not easy, but I learned to listen to my intuition. The first person to bring on board was my book mentor, whose experience and support helped me to move forward.

Piecing The Book Sections

In order to pitch the story at the right level, I devised a survey for primary school children to complete. These findings informed my editing; for example, in language choice.

I wanted children to engage with the book throughout the story, the illustrations and differentiated tasks, while finding out more about food allergy. Once the story was done, and my illustrator was on her way with the illustrations, I focussed more on the tasks. I wanted readers to ask questions and to join in with Zeb and Jet in spreading the allergy awareness message.

Music is an intergenerational, universal language that speaks to us all. That’s why I turned the core message of allergy safety into a song. Two talented musicians composed the music in the book.

Balancing The Books

I’ve learned that keeping accounts and thinking about how to budget the project as early as possible will be beneficial later. Planning is key. I now use my daily planner to stay on track. Self-publishing may be about paying up front, but it allows you to retain your intellectual property rights.

I had to cover invoices from my mentor, editor, illustrator, publisher and printers. In order to meet these costs, I devised a series of workshop sessions around writing, editing and publishing to deliver at universities, libraries and other venues. Promoting and selling these is not easy!

Publishing And Printing

My publisher has been open and honest about the processes involved. He explained the ISBN system, where to stock the book, and pricing strategies. He then sent my book to a printing company that gave me a high-quality finish on my book at a competitive price.

Marketing And Distribution

Self-publishing involves marketing, budgeting and distribution, as well as building credibility and trust.

I started contacting schools and libraries and building relationships before the book was published. I also spoke to Indie book shop owners to find out if they would stock my book; plus, I listed my book on Amazon to gain wider distribution and promotion.

Lessons Learned

This process has taught me to listen to my intuition and to keep going. It’s also reinforced how important it is to look after your health. After all, your book depends on it!

As someone who regards books as treasure, having the opportunity to create my own has been priceless.

Understanding why and what drove me to commit myself to the end has been vital. How I navigated each step and where I found help is important, because it maps how I was able to complete the book.

This experience taught me the importance of support networks and the impact of a well-told story, in order to continue to advocate for allergy safety awareness.

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Connect with Mirabel on Instagram: @mr.j.car, Facebook: facebook.com/mir.j.carl, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mirabel-j-lavelle-4b73a2114/, X: @Mirabel20287342 and via her website: writebymirabel.co.uk

Find the book on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/3JEAJIi

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You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.

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If you or someone you know has been affected by issues covered in our pages, please see the relevant link below for ​information, advice and support​: https://pentoprint.org/about/advice-support/