From Thought to Reality
When I finished writing the story for my book, Slow Down Amaya, I had the thought to publish it.
However, I didn't know how it would become a reality.
I didn't know how long it would take to publish my book or how I would get there.
What I did know was that I was motivated to take steps towards turning my thought into a reality.
The timeline of turning this into my reality was as follows…
November 2023- Finished manuscript
January 2024- Hired an editor, publisher and illustrator
April 2024-Published Slow Down Amaya
May 2024- Started author school visits
June 2024- Book stocked in two libraries
June 2024 Finished second book manuscript
I didn't set myself any expectations of what would happen after sharing my book with the world. I simply knew that I wanted it to reach as many children and adults as possible.
The one goal I did have was to find out how I could get Slow Down Amaya stocked in a library.
I had no idea about how long independently publishing a book would take but I was pleasantly surprised with the timescales.
In less than 6 months I had gone from thinking about publishing a children's book to being a published author!
I was delighted to discover my book had been stocked in Sighthill Library in Edinburgh and in a library in Washington State.
In under three months of my debut book release it was in two libraries.
Which means it can reach even more children and introduce them to mindfulness.
How did it end up in an American library?
Through connecting on social media.
Soon after creating my author Instagram page @natasha.iregbu.writes I discovered that there is a huge author community. A very supportive community.
From connecting with different people I started chatting with Mallory Demmer, author of When Snails Play and Little Sweetheart Babies. She had been requesting independently published books to her local library and was looking for more to request that month.
I'm so glad I reached out to her as she requested my book at her local library and they decided to stock Slow Down it.
If you have a thought about something you would like to do, what is one step you can take to bring it into your reality?
What's Next?
As for my second book, the publishing process has begun already. The text has been formatted and work on the illustrations has started.
This book continues the theme of mindfulness with the focus on how mindfulness can help release worries.
The title will be revealed soon.
To be the first to hear about my second book release subscribe to my mailing list here.
Download my free Children's Mindful Breathing Workbook or Children's Yoga Nidra meditation and you will be added to the mailing list.
These are the perfect activities for those busy days during the summer holidays.
I hope you enjoy sharing mindfulness with children as much as I do!