I’m taking a break from packing books to write a quick update.
So much is happening so quickly!!!
Our hardcover shipment arrived last Friday. Because the last batch had quality control issues I opened each book to check for misprints as I shelved them. It made for a cool video and this print run had no mistakes!
After unpacking all of these books it is finally feeling real.
The book is DONE.
Monday was a holiday, so our official launch day was Tuesday, October 13. I’ve been shipping out books every day this week and only have 20 preorders left to go. 🥳
DREAMING BIG
We also sent a copy in to Reading Rainbow’s open casting call.
Is this real life?
NOW IN BOOKSHOPS!
NW Arkansas local can now find How it Feels to Me at two awesome bookshops in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The finalized files are officially uploaded to our book printers!
So the book is… done??
It doesn’t feel real to me yet.
My hands are going to be full for the next week or two while I’m in fulfillment mode. We ran into some final challenges with our hardcover printer who removed the $5 USPS shipping option. 😭
So our best option is now to bulk order 100+ books with Fed Ex delivery, pack, and ship them to you myself. This does mean I can add the signed bookplates and tuck the preorders perks in with your orders. But the downside is that it will take a bit longer for the books to reach you.*
Once the hardcover preorders are done I’ll start on the paperbacks. We’re using Amazon for paperbacks to keep costs low and make these books as accessible as possible. But if you order through my website Amazon does not get a cut.
I’m really keen for everyone to understand this.
If you haven’t ordered yet you can find both hardcover and paperback in my shop.
If you want a single zine I’m always happy to trade. There’s also a printable version alongside our printable worksheets for all ages. Please spread the word if you know any teachers. You don’t have to buy the book to use the worksheets (although we’d love if you did.)
Thanks to everyone who preordered and helped bring this project to life.
We’ll be sharing more about the creative process once the books are fulfilled.
I’m also considering a slow paced book tour. If you think I should travel where you live please let me know! 🐌
Cheers,
FOOTNOTES
* Since the hardcover books now have to be shipped twice. First to me, then packed, labeled, and shipped again to you.
Both neurodivergent folks and professionals alike have told us how much this book resonated with them.
Here are some of the highlights!
Are you a teacher?
We are seeking additional reviews from K-12 educators. If you’d like to read the book and potentially write a blurb please reach out. Thanks to the art teachers who already have!
That’s all for today! Gracie & I are busy at work on the next proof integrating beta reader feedback and copy edits. We’re on track to finish the book by late summer.
If you haven’t preordered yet you still can.
You can also donate a book to a library or school.
I’m back this week with an update on the picture book How it Feels to Me. This is a book about neurodivergence and sensory processing I’m co-creating with illustrator Gracie Klumpp.
It’s fully crowdfunded and coming out later this year!
Last year we ran into some challenges due to substandard quality of our first proof. Ultimately we had to explore alternatives and change printers. Every printer offered slightly different “trim” sizes which meant this process delayed finalizing the illustrations.
Now that we’ve chosen a printer we’re back on track and the illustrations are nearly complete. Later this month we’ll order the next proof and send the text to our copy editor and beta readers!
Here’s a peek to share how it’s coming along…
It’s completely magical to see my words come to life in this way!
Gracie’s using a cool combination of illustrated and photographed elements to visualize the concepts in this book.
We both see this as the book we wish we’d had as kids and hope it will help autistic and neurodivergent folks of all ages!
We’re running a little over budget (because of rising costs and changing printers).
If you’d like to help us bridge the financial deficit you can do so here.
One last update before I shift into holiday hibernation. Socializing and changes in routine can take a lot of energy for an autistic. So we really prioritize gentle self regulation in December.
A Correction for the Boundary Zine
Last month I wrote about neurodivergent boundaries and shared a printable zine. I noticed that I accidentally left out the section on social supports (pretty important) so I’ve just updated the post. You can re-read and download the new printable zine here. (Everyone who bought a zine will get a little “tip in” of the missing section.)
Festive Recipe Zine
This month I was going to type up some festive recipes when I found the above image of my family’s cranberry relish recipe. I quickly realized most of my family recipes were from the “back of the box” and went down the rabbit hole to collect them all. These zines are going out to my zine subscribers and won’t be stocked in my shop. Just to minimize computer work for me this month.
I was busy all November fulfilling orders for Entwined & Ember (now out in hardcover and paperback!) Thanks so much to everyone who preordered and supported this project.
There’s now a free ebook option for parents in financial hardship. If you’d benefit you can download yours here – no questions asked. (You can also donate a copy if you’d like.) There are also a limited number of paperbacks donated during the crowdfunding campaign.
A note on publishing for a worldwide audience…
I’m using Amazon to print and fulfill orders for Entwined & Ember. I’ve made this choice for to offer affordable worldwide shipping (we have contributors from several different countries) and to make the book discoverable to anyone searching Amazon.
These were the books I needed as a new mum so I’m keen for as many parents to have access to these books as possible.
I want to clarify that orders placed through my website (or the crowdfunding campaign) are author copies and Amazon does not get a cut.
In case you missed it…
I filmed a zine and art unboxing last month. You can watch it by tapping below.
This week I’ve been soft launching two books that I’ve been working on for six years. I crowdfunded these books last spring and have been working on this project since I was postpartum… that’s been six years. It feels like I’ve finally given birth to twins.
Here’s a bit about the books.
Scroll down for more behind-the-scenes goodness. I probably have enough here for whole email campaign, but I’m sending it one email.
Entwined is an anthology of creativity & motherhood weaving together stories from mothers in United States, Mexico, Canada, England, Qatar, and M’chigeeng First Nation. Every mother has their own creative ecosystem. By sharing our stories we hope to inspire you to entwine creativity and motherhood in your own way.
Ember is an art journal companion to the Entwined anthology. It presents a variety of creative prompts (writing, observation, ideating, dreaming, and making) to help parents kindle their creative sparks. There are two versions Ember for Parents & Ember for Mothers.
Free PDF ebooks are available to anyone experiencing financial hardship.
And a number of paperbacks have been donated & can be claimed here.
Resources for Creative Parents
I spent the first two years of parenthood reading everything I could about parenthood and creativity. I still couldn’t find the book I was looking for so I wrote my own – a massive manuscript that became two books and two art journals.
Click here to read the book launch blog hop. Watch the crowdfunding video below for clips of some of the creative parents involved.
If you’d like to support this indie book project here are some ways to get involved.
Leave a review! (This is the best way to help these books reach more parents. Even if you didn’t buy on Amazon that is the best place to leave a review. If we reach 100 reviews we get an algorithmic bump!)
Buy or donate a copy. (If you’re not a parent you can gift a copy to a friend or donate a copy to a parent in financial hardship. If you would benefit from a free copy yourself you can claim one here.)
Tell a friend. (Share this post directly with a parent who would enjoy these books.)
P.S. For those of you who backed my picture book project – it is also nearing completion. Here’s a peek at one of the illustrations in progress by the talented illustrator Gracie Klumpp.
Instagram (at least the current iteration) is dangerous to my mental health. What used to be a light hearted photo sharing app has now turned into another algorithmic dumpster fire.
I tried everything.
I blocked accounts, “curated” my feed, and did my best to train the algorithm. Near the end I even downloaded a social media blocking app to limit my usage to midday.
I was already struggling.
Then the autism news hit.
Nope. I can’t be here. I’m out.
I naively imagined that the next generation of autistics could grow up with less stigma. To know who they are and unabashedly ask for support.
To see that progress purposefully eroded is gutting.
My nervous system simply cannot handle the horrors and catastrophizing on endless algorithmic remix.
And it’s not just autistics under attack. Every marginalized group is in real crisis right now. Science and education have been defunded.
There is a new fresh horror every day.
Read I’m Fine – a digitized zine about self regulation & advocacy
It’s easy to feel helpless when the world is on fire.
Contact your representatives. Tell them autism is not a disease to be cured.
Preorder How it Feels to Me (a picture book about sensory processing.) This is a crowdfunded project I am creating with autistic illustrator Gracie Klumpp.
We just got a new set of proofs and are feeling very excited about next steps. After changing book binders we are a bit over budget – so if you preorder now it will be a big help.
If you don’t need a book yourself you can also choose to donate your copy and we’ll be sure it gets to someone who needs it.
Last weekend I ran a “Make a Zine” booth at the NWA Maker Faire.
I brought supplies to make zines and also had a display of zines and books for sale. Lots of kids made zines! Three teens. One friend I invited.
And one college student who made this zine. (I have permission to share.)
Thanks to everyone who dropped by my table.
The whole event was a great experience.
Full transparency: I didn’t make any money. I lost about $27 based on the table fee alone. But the money goes to a good cause. I’ll participate again next year.*
The Autism Spectrum
The zine that was picked up most often during the Maker Faire was my Spectrum zine about neurodivergence. While our goverment leaders are spreading such harmful misinformation about autism it feels more important than ever to do the opposite.
You can read (and share) the blog version of the zine here.
I have a few misprints of my Spectrum zine printed on the wrong paper. Completely readable, but the images bleed through more than I like.
If you would like to distribute Spectrum zines (either publicly or to friends and family) let me know and I’ll send you a stack of misprints for free.
This second edition has minor edits (most notably an expanded section about purpose), my new headshot, updated bio, and they/them pronouns.
These paperbacks are printed by 48 Hour Books and live in my closet. They will each be packaged and mailed by me personally. So I’m happy to sign and personalize them if you like.
They are $15 – which is the lowest my book has ever been available for purchase.
Tap below to watch me flip through the spacious full color interior.
If you’ve bought the original edition I’ll be sending an ebook version of the updated text soon.
There was a printing issue with the hardcovers, but I should have those back in stock before the end of the month.
I’ll be updating Self Publishing 101 soon. I’ve nearly finished testing several Amazon alternatives. They all have pros and cons so which printer is best for your book depends on your goals and budget.
An invitation to draw together. 🍉
I’m sending this email earlier than usual because there’s an event this week I want you to know about. Hanna Keiner and Logan Juliano, PhD are hosting a meditative drawing livestream on Thursday, September 11 called Where Do You Draw the Line?
The event is free, but everyone will be invited to take action from my Palestine Advocacy page in lieu of payment. (There are many ways to make a difference even if you don’t have the budget to contribute financially.)
I’m really grateful for my advocacy library to be used in this way.
If you host a similar event or link to it please let me know.
Image Credit: Hanna Keiner
That’s all for this week.
Take care of yourselves. I appreciate you.
FOOTNOTES
* I enjoyed meeting the other vendors so much I’ve logged in to Instagram after 8 months off social media. I’d like to be able to more closely follow local events and those I met at NWA Maker Faire. This is a trial period to see if curation, boundaries, and tweaking advertisements can make it a more positive experience. I much prefer RSS, but when there is to RSS feed for certain groups and events I am just missing out.
