Frustrated Motivation Method to Accomplish Something

Why Tango? Why doing a kids book? Why put all that work into something that might stay as a family project? Those are questions I even asked myself when I first thought that it would be a good idea to write a book. Did I know how to write? Sure! but not my strength. Did I know how to publish a book or even put a book together? NOP! I just knew I wanted to start something and finish it, I also knew there was a gap when it comes to books to teach kids (and adults) about the how's, and why's of sustainability.

IT TOOK ME AN ENTIRE FREAKING YEAR… but I DID IT!

Scene 1: FROM THE BEGINING

It all started at the end of my daughter's bed at bed time (those days I had to stay until they fell asleep, I will be lying if I tell you I miss them) on my iPhone notes. My imagination started to flow and words that rhyme started to pop on my brain and move my fingers with such ease. Honestly I never wrote a book before in my life and the stupid poems I had to write when little in school, where in Spanish, so yes I was impressed!

I believe I read the story to my kids at least one hundred times, that is how my confidence level was... but who better to critique something than a human with a 3 minutes attention span right?

Scene 2: GIVING LIFE TO THE STORY

Next step was to illustrate the book. Being a working parent and little time to do arts and crafts I obviously priced first how much it would be for someone to do it, when I learned the price, time opened up in my calendar, just like that!

I decided to have my two minions help me doing this and take advantage to teach them how we can repurpose trash. We created all the characters with what once was trash and the skills of each of us started to flow like magic. We had all the characters for the book made with recycled materials!😍 (Teaching, quality time opportunity)

Scene 3: EDITING TO THE CORE

Time to put back my architecture school photoshop skills! I took photos of each character and photoshopped the hell out of them. This process I enjoyed since it brought back memories. Not only did I create the characters, I also had to create the pages scenes. Again using two software's and one of them not knowing anything about I came up with all the illustrations of the book. The last page took me a few months since it need it to be epic, c'mon is the end of the book!

The last page has a funny story… the background where the school and home is I drew on my phone on the notes, paint features. When inspiration comes, you have to use whatever you have handy to make it happen.

I honestly got stuck on the cover pages so I had to hire an illustrator for help. He did an amazing job and I am very happy with the final result!

Scene 4: LETS MAKE IT PUBLIC!

Time to publish, self publish? Pay a marketing company? Find a publisher? I learned about the royalties and that scared the shish out of me I decided to publish on Amazon out of convenience and practicality. I don't have inventory and you guys get the book in two days! It was a little difficult to understand the uploading process but with patience and frustrated motivation to finish the project, I figured it out.

One thing I did learn and totally will recommend is to purchase your own ISBN number ( the number that identifies your title) and bar code ( to scan pricing). If you let Amazon give you one for “free” you are tied to only selling your book with them for one year, I think. I wanted to spread my wings and have the freedom to do whatever I wanted with my book.

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Conclusion: MY HONEST THOUGHTS

I wrote a kids book about sustainability because on one hand I gave up on adults, and on the other I truly believe that we need to start teaching the reality of the situation to the young generations. Like I always say, what for you needs to become a new habit, for the kids will be the new normal. Besides, what better than a kids book with kids illustration, for adults to learn too. IT IS OVERWHELMING BUT TOTALLY DOABLE! ( I am talking about the sustainability thing)