blog | I Love the Skin I'm In!

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The journey continues

Posted December 14, 2012

I have had such a mixture of emotions these past few weeks, but somehow I have managed to cope, and the book has curbed most of the sad feelings. In early November, my Mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and we were not prepared for this very shocking and sad news. My mother has such a fighting spirit, and so she has been putting her best limbs forward and fighting with all her might for better results.

Despite all this, I also was able to visit an extremely amazing all girl's school, School of the Holy Child, in Rye, New York. I was reminded of my elementary and high school years of attending all girls' schools and it brought back such a nostalgic feeling. They girls were well equipped with their smart looking uniforms and permanent smiles.

I have to say that the young ladies are very articulate, poised and confident, and rightfully so. Their school is among the top in Westchester County. It was an extreme pleasure to spend the morning with them, discussing my book, how I got inspired, sharing the illustrations with them and answering their questions. I was honored to be in their presence and it was truly amazing bonding with these future leaders. Thanks to the diversity committee for having me and hosting me throughout my stay at the school. Dana Thomas and her team did an excellent job.

Posted in General

Falling for Fall

Posted October 12, 2012

Yesterday we celebrated the International Day of the Girl. The international, national and local communities celebrated girls and addressed issues they face. Issues of child labor, prostitution, human trafficking, rape, access to health care and education, among others that continue to haunt the lives of girls. It was also an opportunity to help inspire girls to be their best and reach for the stars despite the many obstacles they face, and no matter what their physical make up may be. I also believe that it was an opportunity to communicate to boys and men and bringing awareness to some of those issues. As without the inclusion of them in the discussion, girls will not have a fair chance at their goals. I Love the Skin I'm In is a great book to help introduce the subject of accepting differences to children.

On Saturday, October 13th, 2012 11am - 4pm we will be participating in the 1st Annual Westchester Multicultural Children's Book Festival which will be held at the White Plains Library. Mayma Raphael will be doing a book reading and signing. There will be many other authors present. Click on the link to read more about the event. Westchester Multicultural Children's Book Festival

On Sunday, October 14th,2012 2pm - 6pm Mayma will also be doing a book reading and signing at Sarah Lawrence College, at a 4RIISE diversity recruitment event for Independent schools in the Westchester, New York and Connecticut area. Click on the link to view the details.4RIISE event

On Saturday, November 3rd, from 1 pm- 4 pm, Mayma is doing a reading and book signing at the Barnes and Noble at the Cortlandt Town Center. Please spread the word.

Mayma is happy to announce that she will be doing her first school author visit at the School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York. She is extremely pleased for the opportunity to speak to the students.

Posted in General

A day at Washington Irving's Sunnyside

Posted September 22, 2012

Mayma Raphael and Jerry Pinkney I was honored to be asked to participate in the Celebrate Children's Book Day at Washington Irving's Sunnyside in Tarrytown, New York, and humbled to be in the presence of so many great authors and illustrators. It was a wonderful opportunity.

Apart from meeting such great book enthusiasts, kids and adults alike, I was ver pleased to meet one of the most decorated and admired African American illustrators, Jerry Pinkney and his wife Gloria. I was even more pleased when they purchased I Love the Skin I'm In for their grand daughter

.

Posted in General

We are in great company

Posted September 11, 2012

The Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch recently wrote an article on the Children's Book Celebration Day at Sunnyside. It is going to be a great event. Please check out the link, with some nice things that was said about me and other Westchester authors and illustrators. http://peekskill.patch.com/articles/celebrate-childrens-book-day-sept-15#photo-11253156

Posted in General

There is a brand new fella in town

Posted September 1, 2012

Great news, we are pleased to announce the birth of Ronan Clarke Raphael. He made his debut on Tuesday, August 28th at 12:59 pm, 7 pounds and 12 ounces. He is a very happy one. His Big sister Reagan and Big brother Ralston are very excited to have him.

Posted in General

We are in the lime light

Posted August 14, 2012

We are so pleased with the way things are shaping up for I Love the Skin I'm In. Thankfully we are aligned with two international book distributors, Ingram and Baker and Taylor. Although the book was already available on Amazon and was listed on Barnes and Noble website since January, we had to go through our distributor to be re listed on their site. At the moment we are pleased that we are listed on both Amazon and at Barnes and Noble, and numerous online retailers world wide. We are now slowly making our way into the Public Libraries and school libraries, and we will keep you posted.

Most recently we were approached by the producers of Celebrate Children Book Day at Washington Irving's Sunnyside, and we are thrilled to say that we will be there participating in the program, and signing books. The event will be held at the Sunnyside estate in Tarrytown, New York, on Saturday, September 15th. Please do check out last year's line-up and updates about this year's upcoming event. We will be in great company. Click on this link.

So spread the word to your friends and family.

We will also start our book signing tour in the fall, which kicks off at The Barnes and Noble at the Cortlandt Town Center, in mid October. Stay tuned, we will keep you posted on the specifics. Also more dates and venues will follow.

We have a winner for the free book contest which was posted on our Facebook page. The winner is Mary O'Brien, who received the most likes for her post, and won a book for her lovely 4 year old daughter Sariah. Congrats to Mary. If you have a Facebook account like us on Facebook and join the conversation.
Our Facebook page
Check out a few of the press coverage we have received Our book is getting coverage

Posted in General

What have we been up to

Posted June 27, 2012

We're moving full speed ahead! Last week Saturday, June 16, we celebrated the "birth of our book" with a wonderful book launch celebration, which was held at the Greenburgh Library. What a lovely event! It was truly amazing to see everyone and so heartfelt that so many of you purchased books, many waited to get them signed by Mayma and Haily. We are also loving your feedback. Many of you commented on the amazing illustrations, thanks to Haily and you loved the book's message to kids. If you have not yet been able to get your hands on a copy, you can do so at
Amazon

At the moment, we are still in the negotiation process with Barnes and Noble even though they had us listed on their site since January, and some of you pre orderd from them. Things will be sorted out within the next few weeks. No journey is complete without bumps in the road, and this is one of them.

Bumps in the road.

The book response has been overwhelming, and as such we are broadening our distribution channels. A few schools and public libraries, have emailed us, and so we have just signed up with a distributor who will take care of all the channels for us. This was a step that we were trying not to pursue at the moment, but as one of the attendees at our book launch asked, how are you going to get the book into the urban areas where it is very well needed compounded by Barnes and Noble's request to make it easier for them to order volumes, made our decision easy. So here we are.

Our web connections

We have updated our website and added a contest page. Don't forget to visit the page to learn about ongoing contests.

You can win a free book! Our Facebook page has been receiving lots of hits since the launch, and we are proud to say that we are almost at the 1200 likes mark. If you have a Facebook account like us on Facebook and join the conversation. http://www.facebook.com/ILoveTheSkinImIn

Posted in General

We're Official!

Posted June 20, 2012

We are all celebrating the official publication date of I love the Skin I'm In. It has been such a tremendous journey to get to this day. A few months ago, when this day was decided as the publication date, we did not really know whether we would be able to meet such a steep deadline, now we are pleased that we have and the book has been well received.

The response to our book has been overwhelming and this makes it even more special. Initially, we thought that we could do it all on our own, however, because of the response, we are now going with a distributor, who will be able to take the books into areas that we were not able to and to get it to the areas that it is most needed: the public libraries and schools.

So today is a great day! A day of reflection and to appreciate a simple dream. When we dream, we never know how much of our dream can be transformed into reality. Happy 5th Birthday to Reagan also. She will receive a special signed copy of I love the Skin I'm In.

Posted in General

It Took A Village: Thank you!

Posted June 16, 2012

My journey to publishing my children’s picture book just came to fruition, as I opened one of the many boxes that were shipped by air, (the rest by boat). A natural feeling of fear overcame me, as my family and I hoped to get a first glance of the book. We were very nervous, especially my son Ralston, who was my main reviewer, critic, and idea generator through this entire process. Although the book was inspired by my daughter, my son had a lot to do with the content, illustration selection, and design. He is now 7 and an avid reader, so armed with his many years of experience with children’s picture books, I had a much unbiased critic at my disposal. Reagan was at school, and our anticipation overcame us, so we just had to see the book even without her being present.

When Stew, my husband of almost 12 years opened the top box and pulled out a copy, there was a level of relief on his face, and so I echoed his sentiments, and we all rushed to him to see the final product. What a joy!!! This is the most incredible experience one can be afforded: I was overcome by joy, relief, pride, excitement, contentment, all at the same time. I did not know what to expect as I opted not to get advance copies or F&Gs which are industry standards, as the production was delayed by an entire month as I explained in one of my previous posts.

We took I Love the Skin I'm In to Reagan at school, who was so happy to see the book she had inspired, and joyfully shared it with her teachers and friends. She continued to hold onto the book on the ride home as if it was the only copy and someone would take it away from her. Her reaction reminded us all how far we have come and how these months just flew by.

So now is a time to celebrate and to share with all, the book that we all have been waiting for. I am not being biased, when I say that this is one of the most beautiful books I have seen. The quality is substantial and the feel and look is comparable to the quality. I do hope that it will be well received by the community at large. It is a book that comes from a place of love and endearment.

When we are faced with challenges, it is very easy to take the effortless route. My path led me to many new discoveries, and I learned a lot along the way. I am very grateful to all those who came along with me for the ride and supported me through this journey. Your support has been amazing. Thanks for emailing me, calling, contacting through my websites, posting on my personal Facebook page or on I Love the Skin I’m In’s Facebook page, calling, telling me in person, any way that you have supported me to help keep me going, I am grateful. I have been blessed with a very supportive network, and I thank you.

I Love the Skin I’m In will be available for purchase on the official publication date of June 20^th, from Amazon.com and Barnesandnobles.com. So don’t forget to get your copy. I will be signing copies at the launch today, Saturday, so those of you who will be attending will get a first peek at the book.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Posted in General

Just Us Girls

Posted June 4, 2012

After so many unsuccessful attempts to get all of us ladies together, we managed somehow to have our schedules coordinate and finally met for lunch, at Nobu 57^th.

I decided to bring Reagan along on our lunch date because I wanted her to feel equally important in the production of the book, I Love the Skin I’m In, and to take her out of her comfort zone of French fries and chicken fingers. She regressed slightly, not the typical, extremely energetic and talkative type that I am used to, but a quiet, more subdued Little Miss Muffet. I guess the very modern but cool atmosphere and the very bustling city right outside Nobu’s heavy doors could have contributed to her unusual demeanor. Nonetheless, she was enjoying just us girls style gathering. I reluctantly asked our waiter whether he had any child friendly dishes on the menu and he immediately understood just what I meant. He suggested the chicken skewers which were a hit. He was right, and Reagan had order two sets, and seems very content with her meal.

Rebecca and Haily both settled for the lunch boxes, which were by far the most elaborate I had ever seen. There were very interesting combinations, and extremely appetizing. Myself on the other hand had everything on the menu. I have always enjoyed their rock shrimp salad, however, I had that and quite a few other things, making it impossible for me to request dessert. I had the perfect excuse that I was eating for two. That cliché is so overrated. The girls seemed to pretend that they understood. I am sure that they thought how piggish I was being, but hey, there are lots to be grateful for and we were having a wonderful time.

Both Rebecca and Haily are such amazing people. They are passionate about their work and we enjoyed just basking in our little creation, and talking about it like it is our baby. We are all hoping that the book will arrive before the launch, but if it is does not, there are definitely lots of reasons to celebrate.

We are just very grateful that we have come so far in the book production process, and at this moment, we just have to wait as our fate is in the hands of our beloved printer and shipper.

Posted in General

Tagged as i love the skin i`m in

One More Month to go

Posted May 20, 2012

Slightly nervous, but more than excited about the book. It is being printed right now. Hoping that the wonderful people at RR Donnelley, will produce on time and ship on schedule.

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Tagged as i love the skin i`m in

Happy Mother's Day!

Posted May 11, 2012

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Mother’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays of the year. We can all attest to why such a popularity. Moms are truly special, and Mother’s Day gives us an opportunity to communicate our feelings to our moms as well as have other’s extend their gratitude to us as mothers. I share the sentiments of many and feel that indeed it is the best day of the year for me. Not only because I get to be pampered by my family, but I get to enjoy those specially made handmade crafted projects and cards, that keep on getting better every year as my kids get older. They love to express themselves through art and I just enjoy their sense of creativity and confidence.

Their energy and excitement is what keeps me going, especially through this very trying time of my book production. It seems that over a month ago things were on track, and it looked very evident that the book would be published and shipped on time. However, there was an entire month of back and forth with files during the art and design transfer process, and the delay may have impacted the publication date. I am praying that this will not be the case, but when things are out of your control, fate and luck takes over. Maybe I was too ambitious in taking on such a huge project, or too ambitious with the design elements that I want in the book, and it does not help the process that I am a stickler for details. Well, all I can do at this point is hope that on my daughter’s 5^th birthday, June 20^th, the book will be available.

The printing company is RR Donnelley, one of the best in the world and has been the printers for most of the top traditional publishers in the US, and around the world. I sourced them, and although their main market is not small printers like me, they were willing to work with me. This makes it easier knowing that my book which is being printed by a top international printer, will be top quality as they stand behind their products.

At this point, I have gone through the first proofing process and just waiting for everything to be finalized, and go into full production. I am so humbled by this process, as I await the final product. I also thank you for your continued support through this, and do hope that all will be set for June 20^th, 2012.

Posted in General

Tagged as i love the skin i`m in, mayma raphael, and mom publishing

Book and Baby due this summer? My oh my!!!

Posted April 10, 2012

Stewart and I are elated to be expecting the arrival our third child at the end of this summer!

Almost 5 years ago we thought we had to abandon the possibility of having a third child, but someone else had a bigger plan for us. Even just 5 months ago, if someone had told me I was going to have a baby this year, the year of the dragon, I would have told him or her to go see a shrink! But here I am today, on the receiving end of a glowing face, a round swollen tummy, and hips that would put JLo’s to shame. I am loving my newfound curves and truly enjoying this whole process as it happens.

I often wonder how my parents managed with four kids and how other families I know have handled over five. I do believe that somehow we learn to cope with our situation, no matter the circumstances.

I have been quite busy both getting ready for the baby and at the same time working on a few projects. I have heard that the third time around is the charm, so I am patiently waiting to be charmed. There may be a bit more juggling to be done but, at the end of the day, life goes on –and the baby will fit perfectly into our lives.

My son turns 7 years old today, and we are keeping his birthday plans quite simple, and making it more of a family affair, and creating a memorable experience for him just as his other 6 birthdays. They are such grateful children, and I love the way that they are warming up to the idea of having a new pair of feet running around the house and vying for all of our attention.

The kids are looking forward to welcoming their new brother or sister into this world. They are already busy setting aside their favorite books for him or her. I am hoping that baby Raphael will be blessed with a keen sense of curiosity, one that will challenge me to explore areas that are important to him or her.

I look forward to reading “I love the Skin I’m In” to baby Raphael when he is ready, and hopefully he or she will find it as fascinating and enjoyable as my other two children have.

So by the time the book is due, I will be glowing with bliss for two main reasons: 1) that I will have published this great book with a great message and 2) I will be thrilled with the anticipation of observing how my children will interact with their new sibling and how this baby will inspire all of us and push us to do things differently.

There is always room in a mother’s heart for more love and I am hoping to be blessed with this wonderful being in many ways, just as our two beautiful children have and will continue to bless us.

We are ecstatic and we just can’t wait!!

Posted in General

Tagged as i love the skin i`m in, mayma raphael, and mom publishing

The last Lap

Posted March 20, 2012

One of the beautiful illustrations in the book

This week marks a very important one in the production of the book, “I Love the Skin I’m in”. All the illustrations are complete, and I am extremely impressed with Haily’s work. I knew that she would have delivered great illustrations; however, I am still in awe of all the beautiful artwork she has produced to make this book come to life. I have also shipped them all to the printer, after getting them scanned by my very efficient book designer, Rebecca Stone, who truly went above and beyond her call of duty to help me get them out to their final production destination. This is exciting!!!

Now we have to fine tune the text and make sure the placement is where we want them, as this will help the story flow beautifully. I am slightly nervous because part of the process is out of my hands and I am now beginning to build a great relationship with my printer, and communicate all my ideas through my designer as we all work in unison to help meet our publication schedule.

We have already gotten all the required files needed to add to the book for marketing, distribution and sales purposes, now we have to double check everything to make sure that they are all in the right position, size, and of course there are no typos. I trust the expert Rebecca with all the book design details; she has been doing this type of work as head designer at Random House Children’s book for many years, and is able to deliver professional work in a timely manner.

Although my to-do list has significantly shrunk, I do have to explore the next stages of the book’s production process, which deals with distribution and marketing. I am working on a dedicated website just for the book; I also have to create an e-book, for nook, kindle, and other e-readers, in addition, I am in discussions to create an app for iphone, ipad and android operating systems. All this is to make the book more accessible to everyone. The book has such a great message to share with our children, and I am hoping that it will help enlighten and inspire kids to love the skin they are in no matter what they look like on the outside.

Thank you all for being on this inspiring journey with me.

Click on the highlighted link to check out our facebook page to see a few more illustrations or parts of it.

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Tagged as i love the skin i`m in

My visit to the Eric Carle Museum, the Museum of Picture Book Art

Posted March 1, 2012

Last week over the President's Day holiday, I took my children, along with my girlfriend Kathleen, and her three daughters to visit the Eric Carle Museum, in Amherst, Massachusetts. This is an amazing picture book art museum, the only one in the Northeast. We were taken aback by the current exhibits. One of the exhibits is of Eric Carle’s work, which is tremendous and richly appointed with various pieces. He is an amazingly talented artist and his style is so unique. Another exhibit was that of one of my favorites, Kadir Nelson. His work needs no introduction. The details are so vivid and realistic, and the paintings were so life like, and larger than I had anticipated.

Someday, Haily's work will be on exhibit at this amazing museum as well, as she is already on the right path. I am hoping that "I Love the Skin I'm In" will be part of their library and bookstore collection as well.

Hungry caterpillar?

This Museum is such a gem and should be visited by the entire family. Not just the kids and the kids at heart. There are lots of activities that will keep the children active, but also a few things that the adults can find fascinating.

Budding artist at the Eric Carle Museum

I was informed about the Eric Carle Museum by the Librarian at my son's school who is extremely versed in matters of books and art. I have been volunteering at my son's library since the beginning of the 2011/12 calendar, and I find it to be the most rewarding. I have learnt so many details about books and how the children interact with them and been fortunate to familiarize myself with so many different types of books. I look forward to volunteering every week, not only to broaden my knowledge, but get a deeper appreciation for books.

Writer at the Eric Carle Museum

I do believe that books are an important part of children's understanding of the world, and it is important that they do read and hear a multitude of stories about people around the world, and of what will inspire and enlighten them, instead of single stories with narrow themes. I look forward to sharing my book with the world.

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Tagged as eric carle museum, museum of picture books, and kadir nelson

OMG! The book is ready for pre-order

Posted February 7, 2012

A photo of one of the illustrations in the book

We are now in the final stages of getting all the illustrations completed, scanned, and ready to support the text. This part of the book creation process, to me is the most exciting part, as each illustration looks more beautiful than the next. The colors are vibrant, the illustrations are complimentary to the text and they help create a fun book that every child and parent will want to discover. It is coming together so wonderfully that I can't wait to share it with the world.

Those of you who are anxious to get your copy, can pre-order from Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. Follow the links below:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-the-skin-im-in-mayma-raphael/1037873737

The retail price is $15.95, but they are currently running a promotion of 10% discount special on the book.

Amazon is also another vendor where the book can be purchased.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Skin-Im-Mayma-Raphael/dp/0615568653/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328501470&sr=8-3

Stay tuned, as we looking into adding more retail outlets.

Please note that even though the book can be pre-ordered, they will not be able to ship out until June 20th, 2012, the officially publication date.

Once again I would like to extend my sincere thank you to those who continue to read my blog, comment on my personal Facebook page, like our official Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ILoveTheSkinImIn?sk=info, talk about us and have your friends talk about us, follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/Theskiniminbook,send in your emails, just the out pouring of support that has made the process easier, and helped me push through this. Although the journey is still being pursued, but your continued interest and support have made completing the book a reality. Thank you!!! I also want to extend a special thank you to Haily and Rebecca, they continue to work tirelessly to create a great book that they are all so proud of. Thank you!!!

Posted in General

Tagged as i love the skin i`m in, amazon, and barnes and noble

A Dream Almost a Reality

Posted January 16, 2012

Today as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, it presents an opportunity for me to reflect on the life of a man who continued to advocate tolerance, acceptance, respect and love of one’s self till the end. Not only has Dr. King’s message resonated with many for its positive message, it also serves as a guide for our children, who are learning to love, respect and accept each other no matter the color of their skin.

I am humbled to share with you the cover of my book. The book “I Love theSkin I’m In!” is a fun read, in rhythmic style that stresses on the universality of children, with phrases like “You are all so special like the colors of the rainbow, that all brighten up the sky whether red, green or yellow.” It seeks to explain that no matter what we look like on the outside we are all the same on the inside.

The book will be ready for purchase on June 20, 2012 and we are working hard to meet that deadline. Haily and Rebecca have been working tirelessly on the project with me. Haily continues to deliver very vibrant, amazingly creative and realistic illustrations, and Rebecca is working hard on art directing the project, editing, layout adjustments and just helping to create a very holistically flowing story with the images and text. It has continued to be a very fulfilling journey, and there is so much I am learning along the way. I feel extremely blessed to have found these very talented women to work on I Love the Skin I’m In!

I appreciate all the support and look forward to sharing with you the next stage.

Follow us on twitter @theskiniminbook, like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ILoveTheSkinImIn and on our website,www.mompublishing.com

Posted in General

Tagged as rebecca stone, kids of color, multicultural book, i love the skin i`m in, haily cryan, mayma raphael, mom publishing, and kids of colour

New Year, same vision

Posted January 1, 2012

Aerial Tram Dominica's Rain Forest

Today is New Year's Day, and I am very grateful for the past year and looking forward to a great 2012. There have been many changes taking place in my life as well as my family's life, including the journey to publish this incredible book. I have met quite a few people along the way, who are dedicated to making this project a reality, especially my partner in crime, illustrator extraordinaire, Haily Cryan. Her commitment to the project, professionalism, and reliability has surpassed my expectations, and I am so grateful for her never ending focus to bring this book to press.

I have been quite behind on posting, not because I am not drowning in material, but rather the last month has been quite hectic. My mother-in-law who lives with us is a bit more ill than previous months; we traveled to the beautiful Nature Island of Dominica for the holidays to spend time with my parents and my husband's parents, as Stew wanted this trip to be an extented celebration of his milestone birthday; the kids were out of school from December 16th. Things just got a bit more challenging. Thanks to Haily, there area few beautiful images to compliment the book. I can't wait to share some with you in my next post. Rebecca is also working hard on choosing fonts for the text, and trying to fine tune the cover layout.

Please stay tuned, we are trying our best to be on schedule. The year has just started and we want to start it off with a bang.

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Tagged as dominica

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel

Posted December 2, 2011

Move over Bird, Johnson and Jordan there is a new Dream Team in town, and we are not 7 feet tall, but we mean business.

A great children's picture book does not only consist of a great story line, and illustrations to support the text. However, it also requires a fantastic cover, an incredible interior layout and typography, which by default generates a professional look. I was very lucky to secure one of the most talented book designers in the industry with scores of books that bares her name and many years at the big houses behind her (11 years at Random House Children books, most recently as senior designer). The best thing is, she lives a mere 15 minutes from me. I am extremely grateful for this, and can't wait to bring all of our talents together.

The dream team is complete, and all three of us are plowing forward with the same vision, to create an amazing book in a not so long period of time.

The team is made up of:
Haily Cryan illustrator extraodinaire, and recent BFA graduate,
Rebecca Stone, veteran book designer and
Mayma Raphael passionate communicator-author.

We have just a little over 6 months to bring this baby to life, and from the looks of it she is being birthed by a motivated group of women.

Please stay tuned and thank you for going on this journey with us.

Posted in General

Tagged as rebecca stone, haily cryan, raandom house, and dream team

Some things are easier said than done

Posted November 21, 2011

I may have taken on more than I can swallow, but I am not discouraged by going through the initial pain of starting my own company, publishing a book that I beleive in, and sharing the book with all children to be inspired and empowered.

I knew deep in my heart that if I had the time, patience, the ability to give up lots of control on this project, the urge to not have this book in my exact words, there could have been an easier route to follow. It would have been so much easier for someone else, or a multitude of people to wear many of the hats that I am presently wearing. This week truly proved to me that I have to be prepared for the massive work that is in my future.

It was quite an accomplishment on my part, to get most of the items from the extremely long to-do list done, considering my family responsibilities have remained constant. I consulted with accountants, attorneys, book designers, graphic designers, web designers, with the printers, signed contracts, bought the ISBN number for the book, contacted the Library of Congress, among other things that are pertinent to the creation and distribution of my book.

Among all this tedious work, the most rewarding has been working with my illustrator. She has such a professionalism about her that makes it easy to work with her. I actually look forward to her emails, as there is always something interesting going on, as she is working tediously on the cover, to make sure that it draws on the emotions from the title and the text on the inside. She is on point with her interpretation and depictions.

Sometimes you choose someone for a project and you are not certain about their work ethic, talent and interpersonal skills, and you feel somewhat disappointed with the process when things are not going as expected. So far my instincts have guided me correctly, and I am very pleased. Her work is just as important as mine, and we both feel committed to presenting something that we will be both extremely proud of.

As I approach this week, my to-do list has moved into a different stage, a stage where the decisions I make will in fact affect the outcome of the book, and I have to tread quickly, but with caution. I have to also listen to my heart, pay attention to details, go with my instinct, because it has rarely failed me and enjoy the process. This is a very rare opportunity, and I know that my children will be very proud of the outcome.

Posted in General

Tagged as isbn, children`s book illustrator, and library of congress

I have created my own publishing company

Posted November 11, 2011

Essence December issue

There is a saying which goes, "if you want it done right, then do it yourself." Well, I have decided to do it myself and have created my own publishing company, called Mom Publishing. I will publish my book, market and distribute it through the right distribution channels. This is a gigantic challenge, but I will continue to be committed to the project. Now the real work begins.

Over the course of weeks, I also have had the honor of looking through over 400 artists' portfolios which were submitted for review to illustrate my book. It has been one of the most difficult things I had to do, to choose the illustrator who was going to illustrate my precious book project. I can't just let anyone who knows how to use a paint brush, and a desire to paint, work on my project. I have chosen someone, whose work speaks volumes, and her style is what drew me to her in the first place. I had envisioned a style which was suited for the project and when I saw the illustrator's work, I knew that she would be the best fit for the job. I honestly can't wait to see how all this unfolds, and what she comes up with.

This week I have also been very involved in choosing the right printer to truly make this book a reality and on schedule, June 20th. There are quite a few printing companies out there, all promising to do great work, but how do you pick which one is best suited for the project, and for other projects on the horizon. Just like the process of finding the perfect illustrator, it has been a very time consuming process. I am still a mom and a wife, and also actively involved in my family's life. My kids are involved in their school and after school activities, I am being pulled in so many directions. Can I be disciplined about staying on track in the midst of family chaos?

Through all this chaos around me, I have been blessed with a wonderful article about me and my husband, that is published in a national publication with international distribution, Essence Magazine. Essence is a well respected, 43 year old magazine that features inspiring stories, cutting edge styles and in-the-know experts, on topics that are pertinent to Black Women. Stew and I shared our tips on making our marriage last and we are so grateful for the feature. I think that if we did not have a relationship that was based on love, mutual respect, understanding, and support of each other, I would not be going on this journey of publishing this wonderful book or creating my own publishing company to do so. So kudos to Stewart for the support he has given me over the 11 years we have been married.

Huge "THANK YOU" to Essence for celebrating our relationship by featuring it in its publication in such an amazing way in its December issue.

Posted in General

Tagged as printer, essence magazine, mom publishing, and illustrator

The cost and quality of self publishing are keeping me up at night

Posted November 3, 2011

Since I have taken on the role of publishing the book myself, there are quite a few things I have to consider. Firstly, what type of book do I want to publish. Yes, it is going to be a picture book with lots of beautiful illustrations and so forth, but what about the complete look.

Fortunately, I am presently blessed with the luxury of time, and have gone through hundreds of picture books, looking at them from a different angle, not truly at the content, but from the quality of the product, the craftsmanship, the color, size, text, layout, illustrations, etc, etc. I want my book to have the quality and feel of a book published by one of the major publishing houses, and that readers will not be able to tell the difference, and sturdy enough to stand the test of time. So here are my criteria: Vivid, traditional illustrations, easy to read font, hardcover, jacket, large book, art paper, and of course great binding.

I have also been doing lots of research, went to a self publishing class, and looked into sites like Creatspace, Lulu.com and a few other self publishing venues, but I am quite discouraged by the lack of options, the loss of creative freedom and control, and most importantly the exuberant costs. For example, I put in my criteria on a drop down calculator option screen at Lulu.com for a hardcover book, and sadly to produce 5000 books, I am looking at $264,750.00 ($52.95) per book. Seriously, to manufacture a 32 page book, I have to sell my home, my kids, and the mechanical pet parrot we own, to publish a book of similar quality as the one I envisioned? No way! There is Createspace by Amazon, but unfortunately they do not produce hardcover books, and I have seen the quality, which does not align itself with my current project. Great option though, but not for this book. Also, you have to purchase books from them on top of the publishing cost. I have to find another alternative and fast, as my deadline is fast approaching, and I promised my daughter that the book will be published by her 5th birthday, which is June 20th.

In the meantime I have been reviewing quite a few portfolios of illustrators that I would like to work with. It has been lots of work, but it is well worth it. There are so many talented individuals out there, and they just need an opportunity to showcase their great work. Hopefully, I find one who shares my vision of the book, the look that I am going for, and we can collaborate on the various images that will bring the book to life.

Posted in General

Tagged as createspace and lulu.com

Change of plans: Book deadline

Posted October 28, 2011

Well, they say it does take a village, and unfortunately, I just got rid of many of the village people. I initially wanted to get the "author experience" and go through the route of getting a top notch agent, getting the interest of a huge publishing house, and by default being wined and dined, getting all the accolades and press, getting on the Anderson Cooper Show, The Talk, The View, be back on the Nate Berkus show, or back on the Oprah Winfrey Show (sadly the show has ended) being written up in Essence, Ebony and all these other great media outlets to promote my book, but I have to forgo my search and will publish the book myself. I have set a deadline, I need to have a copy of the book to give to my daughter on her 5th birthday, which is June 20th. Consequently, I may not have been able to meet that deadline if I were to go through an agent, (this may take months), who will find me a publisher, (more months), then we work with their editing department (to take the book to bare bones, days, weeks), then they find an illustrator (they believe that is right for the book, more months); then it is off to the layout department, (they figure out what is the best format for the book); then the printer (who will proof the book multiple times, weeks), etc, etc. All this may take months and even years. So I have decided, since I have some time on my hand, I will publish the book myself, and somehow be able to control the delivery time. It is not going to be an easy journey, and I am giving up all the built in marketing and distribution that comes with getting a book published by a major publishing house, but that is not the reason why I am publishing, and it does not diminish the value of the message.

There are a multitude of publishing options for authors, from Print On Demand (POD) to online printing, among others, which offer authors a means and a way to publish their manuscripts. I think that the most important thing to ask before I delve into looking at all these options is, what do I want my book to look like? How do I envision the book, the final product? My answers will definitely lead me to the right source, and hopefully have the book printed by June in time to present to my daughter, who truly inspired me to write the book, on her 5th birthday.

Posted in General

Tagged as the talk, nate berkus show, ebony magazine, anderson cooper show, print oon demand, online publishing, the view, essence magazine, and self publishing

Why am I publishing?

Posted October 25, 2011

I think that before I start this whirlwind tour of agents and publishers, I need to recognize and understand, why am I publishing the book. I have to be totally honest with myself. Am I publishing to become wealthy, to leave a legacy, to give back something to society, to see my name in ink, to demand that my family treats me like a scholar, to be back on the Oprah Winfrey Show, or to answer every question my children ask? There are a multitude of reasons why people publish, my reason is that I want my children to be proud of what I have done, especially being inspired by them to address a question that is going to be around for as long as there are children of different colors.

Although I have been home with my two children since they were very young, and have been an expert diaper changer, cook, chauffeur, booboo healer among other great things, I want them to see me as an author and that I am connected to them, not only by doing all these other amazing things, but also a strong connection through books. Like many moms have done, I have often made up stories to relate to them, which they often find exciting, and I am often pleased that I can create such wonderful stories for them on demand.

They love to read and love being read to. So my book will not only enlighten and empower them, but it will also instill a sense of pride, and to show them that whenever you put your mind to something you can achieve it by being persistent and never giving up.

Sometimes as stay-at-home mothers we feel a sense of accomplishment when we do something other than our expected roles of taking care of the children. Many of us have a passion to do something else, and we just need the support of our spouse, or family and friends to fuel our energy. I am happy that I do have a cheering squad in my court and they do challenge me to engage in other things. I truly believe that as women we need to find an outlet to channel our energy and creativity, or doing whatever we like to do in our leisure time. I hope that I am not speaking for the minority when I say that women are one of the most creative and resourceful beings I have met. Whatever we put our minds to, we have the power to achieve it.

I am actually enlightened to be on this journey and I hope that other women will be inspired to find their passion and pursue it. If you do not know what your passion is, search within yourself, find something that you enjoy doing, find something that you get lots of compliments for doing and pursue it. Trust me, you will know when you find it, just follow it and enjoy the process.

Posted in General

Tagged as inspired, enlighten, passion, stay-at-home mom, oprah, and pursue

Due Diligence

Posted October 21, 2011

For the past few days, I have been researching many of the publishing houses that specialize in children's books. I have to say that, there are so many publishers that I am getting a headache just going through their websites. Furthermore within these publishing houses there are also smaller publishers. So truly this makes the work even more complicated. Through my research, I have also gained very insightful information that I would like to share.

It is strongly recommended to use an agent as a guide through this literary maze. Some of the major publishers make it so easy for authors, they do not accept letters of inquiry directly from authors, but prefer to deal with agents, or so they profess. Some authors may in fact get turned off by this process, but I think they are doing authors a favor by not having them send out a million inquiries to a million publishers.

It is also advisable that if you choose to send out your letter of inquiry to a publisher directly, choose the publisher that best suits the kind of book you have written. So for my children's picture book, I do not anticipate sending a letter of inquiry to a publisher that specializes in "How to", or spiritual books or books that specialize in road maps. That would sure be a waste of their time and mine.

Another major tip is to not send a copy of the manuscript to multiple publishers at the same time. Even though they are competing against each other for the next Harry Potter book, they are actually closer than we think. The industry is small and somehow information gets shared freely. So show some respect and submit to one publisher at a time. That is why a literary agent takes away not all, but most of the stress of who to submit to, who is better suited for your book type, the dos and don'ts of the industry, and how to negotiate contracts. They have also forged great relationships with the publishers, so the likelihood of getting attention will likely be higher.

On the other hand there are also cons of going through a literary agent. One of the major cons is that they get a commission of at least 15% of your gains, and for an up and coming author that is huge, as the publisher also has to get a percentage of sales. So the pie get visibly smaller when an agent steps into the picture. An author is also contractually bound to their agent, so even though you are cursed with a lazy agent, you are going to have a hard time getting rid of him or her.

Some people have successfully published without the need for an agent, and everyone has their preferences. I am still debating the need for an agent.

Posted in General

Tagged as publisher, literary agent harpercollins, and commission

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