Sometimes I feel like launching this company is a big race.  The deadlines in publishing are relentless: catalog reservations, catalog copy, artwork, tipsheets, printer specs, sales kit mailings, marketing, publicity, review copies.  And that’s just the business side.  The creative side is somewhat of a race, too.  Books are always perfectly written in a writer’s head.  It’s when the words hit the page that the perfect story looks…well, imperfect.  That’s when the workman like revisions begin to tease out the best possible synergy of words, story and, in the case of children’s books, pictures.

That’s me with the wonderful Children’s Lead Ann at the Barnes and Noble in Norcross, GA.  Ann, Heather and the community resource manager for that store Carla Wilson have been so supportive of our young press and have offered valuable insights and suggestions.  Thank you!

But then there are the moments.  The moments that sneak up on you in the midst of all the hard work that make you realize that dreams are starting to come true.  I had a moment like that last week at Barnes and Noble.  My book.  On a shelf.  In Barnes and Noble.   Some dreams look good on a shelf.

It’s inspiring to work for and with families who have enough faith in the future to bring another child into the world.  There is nothing else I can think of that shows more hope.  It was so interesting to see the different services.  Among them, were baby photographers, a maternity apparel shop, a merchandise rep for the maternity business and even a company that takes 3D pictures in the womb.  I wondered about their personal stories and what led them to their businesses.

That led to thinking about what drives me to write books for babies and young children and the adults who read to them.  And I think the answer is primarily two things:  I love the connection I get reading to children, especially Ava our granddaughter.  It’s electric.  Her little face lights up with wonder and curiosity and excitement.  She loves the undivided attention.  It makes me feel like a small part of her future.  The idea that something I helped create could further that kind of bond between other children and adults…well, it’s exciting and moving.  Reading has been one of my favorite hobbies from a very young age and it has benefited me in so many ways.  I’d like to think our books will help encourage an early interest in reading.

The second part comes from a comment an editor we hired to help us with Dear Baby, Let’s Dance!  which will be released early next year.  She made the point that children’s books can articulate how people feel about being a family and, in some cases, actually teach young parents how to be a family, if they did not have the benefit of growing up in a functional household. I come from a large and loving, sometimes loud and contentious, and always loyal and fun family headed up by our amazing parents Vince and Gloria.  We genuinely like to be together and root for each other. 

That same family sensibility has been passed forward to our kids.  My husband and I feel there is no other accomplishment in our lives that makes us feel more happy and proud.  A little bit of that family dynamic finds its way into pretty much every story I write for children.