The Researcher’s Treasure Hunt: Finding the Heart of "The Secret War"

By Todd Burleson

If you looked at my Google Drive right now, you wouldn't see a neat folder for a published novel. You’d see a decade-long archaeological dig.

Writing The Secret War wasn’t a straight line; it was a 13-year journey of uncovering the "wrong" stories to eventually find the one that truly mattered. As authors, we often feel like we’re on a long road trip where we’ve been pulled to the side with a flat tire or a busted radiator. There were even long stretches where it felt like the car had broken down entirely and I simply abandoned it—only to find it still there a year later, waiting to be repaired and driven again.

But in those moments of being "stuck," we notice the horizon at sunrise even more. Inspiration is everywhere if you are looking for it.

From Identity to Authenticity: The Shift from Jamie to Jamie

In the early versions of this manuscript, the protagonist was a 13-year-old Black girl. I spent months lost in the fascinating history of the Coffey School in Chicago and the incredible WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots). I loved learning about these pioneers, but as a new writer, I began to feel a deep responsibility toward representation.

Black and female characters have, for too long, been written through the lens of cis white men. I felt that as a debut author, I wanted to focus on an identity I "knew" from experience to ensure the story remained authentic. Jamie eventually became the boy I wish I could have been in 1944—someone who would have given anything to look Orville Wright in the eye.

The Heart vs. The Blood: Centering the Young Reader

Orville Wright was the inspiration for this entire project and has fueled my lifelong fascination with flight. In my initial drafts, the adult characters were front and center, but I realized I needed to bring the story back to a relatable reader audience.

I shifted the adult storylines to the background to ensure the boys remained the heart and soul of the book. If the boys are the heart, Orville is the blood pumping through their veins—his presence is felt everywhere, even when he is pushed into the shadows as a 72-year-old recluse in chronic pain.

From Trope to Truth: Trading "Green Goo" for Reality

As an educator and librarian, I’ve read thousands of middle-grade books, and I’ve learned that young readers don’t need "kid gloves". They need empathy and truth.

In my early drafts, the antagonist, Billy, was a cartoonish bully whose father suffered from a sci-fi version of "radiation sickness"—complete with glowing green goo. I eventually realized that by leaning on lazy tropes, I was robbing the story of its power. I traded the "goo" for the terrifying reality of the Dayton Project. In the final version, the tragedy is real: Billy is a victim of the system he’s trying to protect, carrying a warm, gray piece of Polonium-210 like a treasure while the adults look the other way.

The "Magnesium Glow" of the Future

The adult story that I "killed" in The Secret War hasn't actually vanished. It has become my next project, currently titled Magnesium Glow. This book is a narrative non-fiction biography of Colonel George Hatcher, the man who gave Orville his final flight on April 26, 1944. It explores the "Venn diagram" that brought these two amazing men together in Dayton, and I am incredibly proud to finally give Hatcher’s story the focus it deserves.

Looking Toward the Horizon

It is tough to give writing the time it deserves when you are working, raising kids, and simply surviving. But with retirement from my 34-year career in education now on the horizon, I am overjoyed. I’m looking forward to building more efficient routines while still allowing myself the time to wander the lakeshore and soak in the beauty of Kenosha.

The "Writer’s Math" of my journey—writing 500,000 words to find the 35,012 that mattered—wasn't a waste. It was the fuel.

What "scraps" are sitting in your own files waiting to become their own story? How have you balanced the "survival" of daily life with the need to wander and find inspiration? I’d love to hear about your own creative path in the comments.

What I Have Learned So Far About Trust and Truth in Indie Publishing by Todd Burleson

In my first post for the GROG Blog, I shared what I had learned about stepping into the world of independent publishing, choosing an editor, launching a Kickstarter campaign, and discovering communities like Reedsy. That was the beginning of my journey.

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:

1. Trusting beta readers with a manuscript that has been more than a decade in the making.
2. Wrestling with cover design and learning how to make the outside of a book feel as true as the inside.

My son Jack experiencing flight for the first time, the same feeling I had when I sent the manuscript to beta readers.

Trusting Others With the Story

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.

One of my early cover drafts. Beautiful, but not the right fit.

Finding the Outside of the Book

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.

Lessons for Any Writer

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:

• Trust others with your story. Beta readers, editors, and critique partners are essential to the writing process.
• Stay grounded in truth. Do not chase trends. Make sure the inside and outside of the book reflect the story you believe in.

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.

A glimpse at my work over the past thirteen years, from drafts to research notes to cover iterations.

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?

Everything I’ve Learned So Far About Independent Publishing by Todd Burleson

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.

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?

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.

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If you’ve walked the independent publishing path yourself, what’s one lesson you wish you had known at the beginning?

My Name is Hamburger--Interview with Author Jacqueline Jules by Julie Phend

 

 

My Name is Hamburger

By Jacqueline Jules

 

Trudie Hamburger is the only Jewish kid living in the small town of Colburn, Virginia in 1962. Nobody else at her school has a father who speaks with a German accent or a last name that means chopped meat. Trudie doesn't want to be the girl who cries when Daniel Reynolds makes fun of her. Or the girl who hides in the library to avoid singing Christian songs in music class. She doesn't want to be different. But over the course of a few pivotal months, as Trudie confronts her fear and embraces what she loves--including things that make her different--she finally finds a way to say her name with pride. Julie’s Review I loved My Name is Hamburger, a middle grade verse novel published in October 2022 by Kar-Ben Publishing. Jacqueline Jules tells Trudie’s story in lyrical, impactful verse that puts us in Trudie's heart as she navigates a confusing year at her new school and emerges stronger for it. I had the pleasure of interviewing author Jacqueline Jules about the book and her writing career.   Interview with Jacqueline Jules Julie: You’ve written a lot of books for young people, many of them about Jewish life and culture. What’s new and different about this book?   Jacqueline: All my other books of Jewish interest are picture books written for younger children. I worked as an elementary school librarian in both public and religious settings. Story time was a big part of my job, and for many years I focused on capturing the attention of young listeners with books for adults to read aloud. My Name is Hamburger is my first middle grade novel. It is a book for reading alone by students old enough to handle mature topics like self-esteem, bullying, and antisemitism. I am excited to share that My Name is Hamburger is a PJ Our Way Selection and was distributed to families through this program. https://www.pjourway.org/story-central/My-Name-Is-Hamburger   Julie: Though this story is set in the 1960s, the topic and issues seem relevant and timely for young people today. Can you comment on that? Jacqueline: The main character, Trudie Hamburger, is intimidated by a bully and has misunderstandings with friends. Her family is both a source of comfort and embarrassment. She dreams of winning prizes and being admired. Many childhood emotions are universal in every generation.   Julie: You say the book was inspired by your own childhood. What are some of the parallels between your story and Trudie’s? Jacqueline: My father was a Jewish German-speaking immigrant who came to the United States after World War II. We lived in a small Virginia town. Growing up, I experienced exclusion as a minority. But like Trudie, I also had friends and a strong relationship with my father. And like Trudie, I loved to sing, and I loved to read.   Julie: I love that the book is written in verse. It captures Trudie’s voice so well. I feel her need to prove herself, her hurt when she is teased or rejected, the conflicting feelings she has about how her religion makes her different. At the same time, the poems move the reader through the story with a compelling plotline. Can you comment on your decision to write in verse?   Jacqueline: Thank you for your kind words about Trudie’s voice in the poetry. My Name is Hamburger was originally written in prose. I went through many drafts and none of them quite worked until I began writing the story as a series of poems. At first, it was just an experiment, but as one poem followed another, the main character emerged to tell her story with a stronger, more authentic voice. I love to play with words. When I write, I arrange and rearrange words like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes I have to turn small, jagged pieces around and around until they fit together. I knew the plot elements of Trudie’s story so I knew what the picture should look like. Finding the words to make that picture clear to the reader was a bigger challenge. Poetry turned out to be the right format because it prompted me to use imagery to express Trudie’s emotions. Each poem focuses on a particular moment and uses metaphor to convey the meaning of that moment. I never considered writing a novel in verse before My Name is Hamburger. In retrospect, it is surprising because poetry is my first love as a writer. I have well over a hundred poems in literary journals and anthologies. I am the author of three chapbooks and one full-length collection of poems for adults. My poetry collection for children, Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence, was published by Albert Whitman in 2020.          Julie: Tell us about your publisher, Kar-Ben Publishing. Have you published with this press before? Jacqueline: I have been a Kar-Ben author since 1998 with the publication of Once Upon a Shabbos. I have twenty books with Kar-Ben. They produce lovely titles and I feel lucky to have found them in the early stages of my career when it was easier to submit without an agent. Once I established a relationship with the editors, I was able to submit new manuscripts, which were luckily accepted.   Julie: Anything else you’d like to share with our readers about writing, publishing, or life? Jacqueline: Publishing is a hard business. Perseverance is the key to success. There have been many times over the years when I felt discouraged, when I had to force myself to hold on to my dreams of a writing career. The following poem, “Tag Your Dreams” is the title poem of my book, Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence. It was written during a low period in my writing career when I worried that I would not sell another book. The poem was a pep talk to myself. Since I wrote this poem, I have sold twenty-five more books. Believe in yourself. Chase your dreams until you’re breathless.   TAG YOUR DREAMS by Jacqueline Jules   Play tag with your dreams. Chase them till you’re breathless. Dreams have strong legs, but so do you. Keep running, with your arm out, fingers reaching. Don’t let them get away.     Thank you, Jacqueline, for sharing your inspiring story.      Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of over fifty books for young readers including the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Duck for Turkey Day, Feathers for Peacock, Never Say a Mean Word Again, and The Porridge-Pot Goblin. Visit her website at www.jacquelinejules.com