Things I Learned from Making My First Children’s Book

When I started working on Tom the Capybara, I had no idea where it would take me or how much I would learn from the process.

Originally, this story began as a university assignment. I had to create a children's book for class, and I’ll be honest, it was a bit rushed at the time. But even in that early stage, I loved the characters and the world I was building. And to my surprise, so did everyone else. After the project was handed in, I kept getting lovely feedback from classmates and teachers who told me they really enjoyed it. That stuck with me.

So, after graduating, I decided to bring Tom the Capybara to life for real.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and I was right. I had to finalise the story, completely rework the illustrations, and polish everything until it felt ready to share with the world. Since I’m self-publishing, that meant I had to handle everything: the writing, the illustrating, the designing, the promoting, the logistics... all on my own.

I did a lot of research and discovered Kickstarter, which seemed like the perfect way to get support for a first-time project like mine. I set a small goal of $500 AUD and was absolutely blown away when we hit over 306% of the goal. In total, 34 incredible backers pledged $1,530 AUD to help me publish Tom the Capybara. I used IngramSpark to produce both softcover and hardcover editions, and we officially launched on August 14, 2024.

It was surreal holding the first printed copy in my hands.

Since then, I’ve been promoting the book myself through social media and email marketing. I’ve done book talks, and I had plans to sell at markets, but with everything happening online through my business, Arttay Designs, I found it easier to keep things digital.

This journey has been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve done.

I’ve learned that I’m capable of more than I thought. That it’s okay to take things slow and figure it out as you go. And most importantly, I’ve learned just how supportive my family, friends, and community are. None of this would have been possible without them, and I’ll always be grateful.

If you’ve ever dreamed of making your own book, here’s your sign. It’s hard, messy, and unpredictable… but it’s also incredibly special.

Thanks for being part of my journey. 💛

Shop Tom the capybara now on my website! Click here.