Embracing the Journey: My Adventures in Children's Book Illustration

Feeling terrible not sure where to go next

After illustrating my first children's book, “A World Within,” I found myself in a whirlwind of emotions. For seven months, I poured my heart and soul into this project. I became a proud member of SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), devoured countless YouTube videos of talented children's book illustrators, and followed successful creators on Substack.

I felt like I had mastered the art of self-publishing! I illustrated, wrote, edited, designed, and even tackled the social media marketing all by myself. I read every blog, book, and article I could find on self-publishing. Sure, I decided to keep my marketing budget tight because, let's face it, I was a bit cash-strapped. But I felt like I could teach a class on self-publishing!

The Countdown to Launch

Now, with just two weeks until my book hits the shelves, I should be bursting with pride and excitement. But instead, I’m caught in a fog of uncertainty. “What’s next?” I keep asking myself. Should I focus on job hunting, grow my social media presence, or reach out to literary agents? My brain feels like a jumbled mess!

To be honest, the options for children's book illustrators seem pretty limited right now. I could dive into social media and follow hashtags like #selfpublishingjourney, #indieauthor, and #selfpublishedauthor to connect with others, but how long would that take? Who knows…

Exploring New Avenues

Then, I stumbled upon Reedsy.com. I didn’t dig too deep, but I figured it was like Upwork for authors and illustrators. So, I created my profile, feeling all kinds of confident and excited for this new chapter! I even made a short video showcasing my 10+ years of experience as a graphic designer and illustrator, along with links to my book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and my website.

But then came the waiting game. I was filled with optimism until I received the dreaded message: “Our team has decided not to activate your profile on the Marketplace.” Ouch! The wording hit me hard. After quitting my job and pouring my heart into this book, I broke down. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for breath, overwhelmed by the realization that I’m nowhere near where I thought I was.

This was the message I got

The Harsh Requirements

I took a deep breath and looked over the requirements for Reedsy. They were pretty intense:

• At least three years of professional experience in the service they’re applying for (cover design, book interior design, illustration, typography, or production management).

• A strong portfolio of quality work for print or digital media, including a minimum of five published books that are well-reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads, Apple Books, or Google Books.

  
  

Wait, what? Five published books with good reviews? That’s a tall order! I get it; they want high-quality talent. But come on! What if someone publishes just one book that becomes a bestseller? They wouldn’t even be allowed to create a profile!

Let’s be real! A person with five well-reviewed books probably doesn’t need to search for work. They likely have a steady stream of projects lined up. What about those passionate individuals who have done their homework and practice but haven’t published yet? This kind of gatekeeping really grinds my gears! It stops people from chasing their dreams.

Reflecting on Past Struggles

This rejection took me back to my post-college days. I graduated from a fantastic art school with a BA in Visual Merchandising, equipped with tons of knowledge about marketing, design, and textiles. But when I started job hunting, every application screamed, “You must have at least two years of experience to apply!” for low-paying or unpaid internships.

It took me over a year of hustling, doing unpaid design work, and networking like crazy to finally land my first paid contract job at Williams Sonoma. I was beyond grateful! It’s funny because the work I did there wasn’t even that hard. It was mostly about putting images in templates the right way.

I remember almost giving up before getting hired. I was so close to packing my bags and heading back home to Hawaii, jobless and defeated.

I’ll never forget the day I got hired. I cried, thanked the universe, and fell to my knees in my room. I was over the moon to finally snag a job I was passionate about!

Back to the Present

Fast forward to now, and I’m feeling SO BEHIND! I need to publish four more books to catch up! The weight of defeat is heavy. But once the tears dried, a fire ignited within me! It was STRONG!

I’ve faced SO MANY MOMENTS OF REJECTION before, so I thought, “What can I do to prove to myself that I am a good children's book illustrator?”

As I pondered my next steps, it finally clicked! I’m going to work on another book and finish it by the end of the year! Sure, that gives me only about two months, but I just wrapped up Inktober, where I illustrated 31 pieces in a month. I’ve definitely gotten faster at illustrating! Plus, I’ve already been subconsciously brainstorming ideas for my next book.

A New Direction

I’m not going to lie; this timeline is tight! I just spent seven months on my first book, and I’m not sure if I can finish this next one in two months (it might stretch to three months, aiming for the end of January 2026). But I’m determined to give it my all!

This time, I want to create a simpler illustrated book. My first book was detailed and took countless hours of texturing and learning. It was like my training wheels for this next project.

I want to make a cute, simple, fun illustrated book for my next one! And this time, I’m ready to share my entire thought process and experience along the way.

For my first book, “A World Within”, I kept everything under wraps. I didn’t post on social media, write blogs, or make videos because I wasn’t ready to share. I was cocooning, learning about my style, and figuring things out. Now, I feel confident and eager to share my knowledge and experiences!

Honestly, this feels right. I was already getting small nudges to work on another book, but this rejection experience has fully confirmed it. So, if you’re interested in self-publishing a children’s book and want to follow along, I’ll be sharing my entire journey! I’m genuinely excited to open up this conversation and learn from each other along the way.

A New Perspective on Failure

I truly hope this blog inspires you to view failure differently. Let it be the catalyst that propels you to the next level in your life!