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Lynne Marie |
- It introduces us to new places and a historical era;
- It examines the question of what true riches are; and
- It asks what brings people happiness.
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Lynne Marie |
This year, banned books really need a week. Or a month or more.
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is a time to "highlight the value of free and open access to information" and fighting censorship. The coalition of organizations sponsoring it work to defend our freedom of expression: The American Library Association (ALA), Authors Guild, PEN America, and many others. The 2025 theme is "Censorship Is So 1984."
This time, I would like to share what happened next. Two areas in particular have taught me lessons that might be useful for other writers, whether you are publishing independently or traditionally:
After thirteen years of shaping this story, handing it to beta readers felt both thrilling and terrifying. I did not choose my readers casually. Colleagues brought professional expertise. Friends knew me well enough to be honest and kind to me. Children, the very audience I was writing for, helped me see what rang true and what did not.
To make it easier for them, I prepared different file formats, including PDFs, ePubs, and print copies for adults, as well as simple tablet-ready files for kids. I created feedback forms that felt like conversations rather than assignments. Parents were invited to read alongside their children, allowing questions to be discussed together.
What I have received so far has been thoughtful and respectful, full of insights that push me to refine characters and settings. It has reminded me that feedback is not just about affirmation. It is about making the story more lifelike and rich.
Waiting for feedback is not idle. It is the work of trust.
For me, the real lesson is that independent publishing is not only about control. It also requires the courage to let go and trust others with the story.
While feedback was coming in, I faced another challenge: the cover.
My first experiments in Canva were clumsy but thrilling. For the first time, the manuscript looked like a book. But early designs worried me. Would they look unprofessional, too homemade, not worthy of the years I had invested?
I experimented with AI images and hired a designer whose work I admired. Neither approach fit. The results were too fantastical, too young, or too far from the tone of a story grounded in WWII Dayton, Ohio.
The lesson was clear: talent is not enough. Fit and truth matter most.
In the end, I returned to my own drafts, layering figures, planes, and backgrounds like a collage. I used ChatGPT as a critique partner, asking it to respond as a professional cover designer. The feedback was concrete and immediate. It was not perfect, but it helped me move forward.
A cover is not just decoration. It is the invitation to the story inside.
Would I have preferred to hire a professional? Absolutely. But working independently often means picking your battles. I invested in the best editor I could afford, which meant learning to stretch myself in other areas of my work.
Independent publishing has stretched me in ways I never expected. It has asked for patience, humility, and the willingness to learn skills I had never practiced before.
For any writer, regardless of publishing path, two lessons stand out:
Independent publishing may seem like a form of control, but in reality, it demands courage —the courage to let your work leave your hands and live in the world.
These lessons are still unfolding for me, which is why they are worth sharing now. Publishing is not only about finishing a manuscript. It is about releasing it into the world in ways that require both trust and truth.
I look forward to sharing the next installment in this process.
I would love to hear from you, what part of your own publishing journey has taught you the most, and what you wish you had known sooner?
It’s the 12th day of school, and I’m still seeing and hearing cries and tears. Most of you know, I teach kindergarten, and so I’ve dealt with sooooo many first day fears. However, in kindergarten, first day fears last wayyyyy longer than the first day. Geesh, it’s the 12th day of school, and my team is still dealing with criers.
Here are
some excuses and whines for their crying.
**I MISS MY
MOMMY. I tell them I miss my mommy too.
I want to go
home! I tell them I want to go home too.
I can’t do
it! (the work) I tell them, yes, you can!
My tummy wants to go home! I say, Sometimes tummies hurt
if you’re hungry or if you need to use the bathroom. Take a break.
I’m hungry.
I say, eat a bigger breakfast! We’ll eat lunch soon.
He/she won’t
play with me. I say, then play with someone else. There’s a playground full of
kids.
Then there’s
the silent ESL crying kid because he/she doesn’t really know what you’re
saying. I use my limited Spanish or Google translator app. There’s always a
way!
So why am I
telling you all this? Because as adults or adult writers, we’re just big, giant
kindergartners. It’s Fall. It’s time to get back to the keyboard and write.
WAAAH! Do I hear you crying? Whining? Are you fearful? Procrastinating? Is a
scary editor with a due date waiting for your manuscript? HA! Are you lost?
Overwhelmed? Stressed? Back to my kindergartner scenario, here are some writing
fears, and you may notice some similarities with our five-year-old friends!
Fear #1: I
want my mommy because I’m scared of the blank page. I say, then write a list of
things you want to say in your story/article or a list of things to write for the next day. OR leave
off a little of today’s task for tomorrow to get your brain in gear. Then go
call a family member and tell them what you accomplished or will accomplish.
Fear #2: I
just want to be home all cozy. I can’t think of any ideas; therefore, I won’t
write. I say, Ideas are all around. You just need to get into your past
kindergarten self. Be curious like a kid. Hang out with children and see what
they talk about. Scour your surroundings. What cool/interesting things are in
your area to write about? Scroll Pinterest. Take a shower. Seriously. Ideas
seep in when you least expect it.
Fear #3: I
can’t do it. I just don’t know. I say, Yes you can! Get into the positive
mindset that you CAN do it. Take little steps. Hang inspirational quotes in
your writing space.
Fear #4: I’m
hungry. I can’t focus. Have a good set of writing snacks and drinks available.
You can use them to reward yourself too. Set a timer. Write 100 words. Give
yourself a snack award J
Fear #5: I’m
lonely. I have no writing friends. I say, There are lots of writers and authors
out there. Find a group! Attend/join a critique group. Join a Facebook writers’
group. Find an in-person group. If there are none in your area, start one!
Fear #6: The
publisher doesn’t want my story. I say, Then find another publisher. There are
many publishers of books and children’s magazines that want stories! If you're a member of SCBWI, don't forget to check The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children on the SCBWI resources website.
Fear #7: I
don’t speak the publishing language. I say, There’s a book or class or blog for
that. You can learn how to write and in different genres! Just google “writing classes”
and a host of sites pop up. Find one relevant to you.
Do you
relate to any of those fears? Are you being a big whining, writing
kindergartner? The children of the world need great stories to inspire them to
become kind humans who care.
Your
homework--#1 on your to do list: Write down a topic or idea you’re interested
in pursuing. Grab an award snack or drink for later. Set a goal.
Brainstorm/research/write. Award yourself. Repeat daily. From this kindergarten
teacher--You can do it!
Tina Cho is the award-winning author of six picture books--RICE FROM HEAVEN: THE SECRET MISSION TO FEED NORTH KOREANS, KOREAN CELEBRATIONS, MY BREAKFAST WITH JESUS, THE OCEAN CALLS: A HAENYEO MERMAID STORY (4 starred reviews, JLG, Freeman Honor Award), GOD’S LITTLE ASTRONOMER, GOD’S LITTLE OCEANOGRAPHER, and the forthcoming THE PRINCESS AND THE GRAIN OF RICE (Feb. 2026) and GOD’S LITTLE ZOOLOGIST (2027). Her lyrical middle grade graphic novel, THE OTHER SIDE OF TOMORROW received five starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School Library Journal, The Horn Book), an SCBWI Golden Kite Award, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, SLJ Best Graphic Novels List 2024, Kirkus Best Middle Grade 2024, & Booklist Editors’ Choice 2024 & the Freeman Book Honor Award/NCTAsia). She’s a kindergarten teacher by day and an author by night. You can visit her website at www.tinamcho.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
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photo by Michael Poehlman |
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Coming Soon! |
I should begin with a confession: I am no expert on independent publishing. I’m very much a beginner. My earlier publishing experience was with a major publisher, and that book was nonfiction. It wasn’t the book I most wanted to write—in fact, I would have loved for it to have been the story I’m working on now. But when a publisher approaches you and asks you to write a book, and you are a struggling teacher, you say yes. It turned out to be a tremendous experience. I earned a little income from it—not much—but what I gained was an inside look at the publishing process. It was an opportunity I’ll always be grateful for.
This time is different. When I chose to publish independently, the reasons went deeper. I wanted control. I didn’t want someone I would never meet deciding on my cover. I didn’t want someone else to have the final say over my story. And after working on this book for more than thirteen years, I wanted it to move into the world at a pace that felt right to me.
“Independent publishing feels like managing a project as much as writing a book.”
What I didn’t fully anticipate was how much independent publishing feels like managing a project as much as writing a book. I knew it would be hard work—anything worth doing usually is—but I wasn’t prepared for the cost.
I learned quickly that in publishing, you get what you pay for. Early on, I decided my priority was to work with a professional editor. Through Reedsy, a platform that connects writers with editors, designers, and illustrators, I found someone with national recognition and a strong track record. She was expensive, but I knew this was where I wanted to invest.
To help cover the cost, I launched a Kickstarter campaign. Asking for help does not come easily to me. But Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform—if you don’t meet your goal, you don’t receive a dime. That reality pushed me to research every aspect of how to run a successful campaign. I studied other authors’ projects, learned how to structure levels and rewards, and spent hours figuring out shipping, pricing, and what kinds of extras would make sense. At times it felt overwhelming, like nonsense piled on top of the actual work of writing a book.
There were moments I doubted myself, moments I wondered if anyone would care enough to pledge. It was stressful to put my vision out in public and risk failure. But slowly, support came in.
“In the end, more than $4,000 was pledged by people who believed in the story. That support feels like success already, even before a single reader has turned a page.”
Now I am anxiously waiting for the return of my developmental edit—the kind that digs into the big picture, the characters, and the heart of the story. I feel nervous, excited, and overwhelmed all at once. And part of me wonders how I will balance this next stage with my life as a school librarian heading into a new year. Independent publishing doesn’t happen in isolation—it presses into every part of your time and energy.
If another writer asked me what I’ve learned so far, I would say this: independent publishing is not for the faint of heart. Writers want to write, but this path asks for much more—fundraising, websites, community-building, marketing, design, layout, typesetting, printing, platforms, and even decisions about audiobooks. The list feels endless. But none of it is wasted.
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Reedsy has hundreds of free resources. They are also an incredible place where you can be connected with some of the leading editors, designers, and artists to help make your book come to fruition. |
My best advice is to find a community. For me, Reedsy has been a lifeline. I stumbled onto it by accident—a friend who isn’t even a writer mentioned it to me. That makes me think there may be many other writers out there who simply don’t know it exists.
Reedsy isn’t just a place to connect with professional editors, designers, and illustrators. They also offer a wide array of free resources for writers, self-publishers, and independent authors. A few highlights I’ve found especially helpful:
Reedsy Studio Book Editor – a free online tool where you can write, organize, format, and export your manuscript for print or ebook platforms. It even lets you collaborate with others in real time.
Free Learning Courses – over fifty 10-day email courses on everything from plotting a novel to marketing, distribution, editing, and design. These bite-sized lessons are practical and easy to fit into daily life.
Articles, Guides, and Webinars – their blog is constantly updated with industry trends and advice, and there’s also a library of webinars with expert talks on publishing and craft.
Weekly Writing Prompts & Contests – if you’re looking for accountability or a spark of inspiration, they provide prompts and even cash-prize contests with the chance of publication.
Community Support – forums, newsletters, and ways to connect with other writers who are also figuring out the indie path.
All of this is free once you create an account. It’s one of those rare places online where the depth and quality of resources genuinely surprised me.
“Independent publishing has democratized the industry. It’s simply another way to get your story into the hands of readers.”
I also believe the old stigma around independent publishing has faded. Many indie authors have found great success, some even moving into traditional publishing. More importantly, independent publishing has democratized the industry. It’s simply another way to get your story into the hands of readers. And isn’t that what all of us are really after?
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My main characters: Jamie and Ken. |
This book is written for readers ages ten to fourteen, but I hope it speaks to anyone. With only three more years left to work with students in that age group, I want them to have this story in their hands. It’s not just a story I believe in, it’s an invitation to see our nation’s history and reflect on it in light of today.
That’s why I chose this path. And while I am still learning, I can already say: it has been worth it.
And this is only the beginning. As I move through the next stages—final edits, layout, printing, and beyond—I’ll continue to share what I learn. I hope that by documenting the process, I can encourage and equip other writers who may be considering the same path.
If you would like to take a look behind the scenes of my book, I've built a comprehensive website that will delight anyone who is interested in history, storytelling, photography, and aviation. I still love exploring it! HERE is the link.
If you’ve walked the independent publishing path yourself, what’s one lesson you wish you had known at the beginning?
Back to school? How about back to cool? Let’s make the re-entry to school fun and memorable with new books and interactive activities. These ideas promote thoughtful ways to create a positive, inclusive, and engaging environment for all. I hope you find some intersectionality between your books and their usefulness in back to school units, or you get ideas for new projects that fit the back to school theme!
Books for Everybody to Pair & Share
As a former teacher and librarian, I remember scrolling over student lists, making diacritical marks in order to pronounce everyone's name correctly and noting who had nicknames or wanted to be called something different. Students of all ages know the feeling of people stumbling over their names.
Book: The Power of Your Name
Author, Jyoti Gopal knows this feeling herself, and has a wonderful lyrical picture book hot off the presses August 26, that helps start a great conversation about names and how aspirational they can be. (Illustrator Olivia Sua's cut paper illustrations create vibrant worlds.)
Classroom Activities/Ideas
Share Jyoti’s words from her interview with John Schu Have you ever wondered where your name came from? Maybe you asked your grown-ups or maybe you took your name for granted and didn’t even think about it. In The Power of Your Name, we learn that names have stories, that each name is a feast of sounds, a gift, filled with promise, that it holds your family's heritage, hopes and dreams. Through the ABCs, this book celebrates the beauty of names and the fact that every name—including yours—is special. Whether your name is long, short, easy to pronounce, or often misheard like mine frequently is, this book will make you think about the story your name tells.
Students can create a poster with markers or in Canva sharing what their name means along with the correct pronunciation. Students can then swap their posters with someone else .
Together each pair introduces the other to the rest of the class. Finally, add the posters to the classroom bulletin board where all can see them and practice pronunciation.
Book: A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition
Author Pamela Courtney has cooked up a book that centers family, learning a new skill, and contributing to the family tradition - cane fishing - as she catches her first bream. The prize? Her feeling of pride being part of her community and her own red fish fry apron. I’ve shared her debut book on the GROG before, but in this context the back matter with pronunciations from varied parishes in Louisiana fits the topic of identity and the importance of pronunciation. As Pam’s tante Lula says, “Folks been crisscrossin’, speakin’, and livin’ like the otherin’ for forever”. The spice of the vernacular of Louisiana is fascinating and fun to say aloud. (Illustrator Toni D. Chambers serves up delicious views of Ol Cane River country.)
Classroom Activities/Ideas
After reading this engaging, lyrical book about the culture of Natchitoches, Louisiana, give students the option to choose one of the following options:
Share a family tradition orally, in writing or as a “how-to” demonstration (if it’s a recipe or game).
Create a short slide show that shares unique family background and traditions, or share a travelogue of family members who live in or outside the US including pronunciation for terms specific to the region.
PreK -Second Grade
Books pairs are fun to share and these two winners have great activities built into them. For K-2 students, matching and grouping are core skills for classification, a key scientific process. These action-packed picture books highlight skills in observation and comparing and contrasting characteristics, core skills for both math and science. Both books include themes of classroom climate, SEL, and diversity.
Book: We Match
Author: Chris Barton knows intuitively that kids notice when things match. Think about school spirit days when kids delight in matching outfits. Take that idea to the dog park where Button, a gray terrier, announces the commentary as dogs play ball and chase squirrels. Button observes that some like wet food, others prefer kibble; some wear sweaters; others destroy them. Button discovers more subtle ways the dogs match that also encourages readers to find for connections with their classmates. (Illustrator Sharon Glick creates the most "fetching" dogs.)
Book: Batter Up for the First Day of School
Author Bethany Hegudus, a bonafide baseball fan, creates a tried-and-true back to school picture book that hooks readers with baseball lingo, punny fun, and shares the schedule of a typical school day for young students The Twins, Hank and Erin, begin the day with some nerves, but excitement builds, and at the end of the day, the twins announce that, “Today was a home run!”(Illustrator Nomar Perez creates ballpark joy with his images.)
Classroom Activities/Ideas
Lucky for us, Bethany and Chris have hit a home run with their ready-made activities students will enjoy.
Look at these adorable “We Match” playing cards from illustrator Nomar Perez! Students can create their own cards and compare their connections with other students.
Here’s an example of Chris and Sharon’s match session.
Bethany has a baseball card activity as a way the new classroom team can announce and share this year’s roster. Celebrate your MVPs here.
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Check out Bethany's MVP and his vital stats as an example to model! Readers, what books, book matches and activities do you recommend for a great back-to-cool? Let us know in the comments! |