A Boyd's Eye View: Publishing a Kid's Book

I have long wanted to write a book, the big question was always what it would be about. To most that know me, the obvious answer would be to do a book on fishing, since that does seem to be a subject I am known most for and have written about extensively over the years. But that would be too obvious I thought, and quite frankly, the market for "how-to" fishing books is not what it used to be and there are already a ton of really good books out there on fishing and so I have let that idea go to the wayside. It would also be safe to say that in today's world, video has killed the book when it comes to how-to material anyway.

I considered writing an insider's look into the world of professional fishing. After spending 20 plus years in that world I think I could share some interesting insights and stories, as well as advice on what to do and what not to do if you are working to be a professional angler. But again, the audience for such a work as that would be small, but I still think it's a good idea as I watch so many young hopefuls make the same mistakes over and over. Maybe I will do this one someday, if only to save one or two would-be bankruptcies from occurring. 

Then I came up with a couple ideas for novels. My favorite one involved fishing, but was set in the genre of a murder mystery. I quickly discovered that my writing style does not lend itself well to novels. I am going to keep that idea in the "file" however for future consideration.

A big reason I wanted to write a book was to share something of myself with the world, and hopefully something that would bring joy and a positive vibe into other's lives. If it was a successful seller or not has never been a consideration, that's not at all why I wanted to write ... it's never been why I write anything. I write because its my best form of communication and always has been.

It was shortly after my grandson Camden was born that my son-in-law came to me with an idea I had not considered. Marty is an avid outdoorsman, almost to the extent that avid is a gross understatement. When his son was born, he wanted to find books to read to him that would help him instill the love of the outdoors that he had. However, he was disappointed in the lack of outdoors-related story books in the Children's Books section of every source he explored. Oh there are a few good ones out there, mostly geared toward a little older child, but very few that really expressed the adventure and fun that hunting and fishing offer to those of us that love these sports.

That's when he asked if I would be interested in trying my hand at writing a story book for kids. One that a parent could read to a young child sitting in their lap with pictures that would help tell the story and capture the youngster's imagination. It was a challenge I immediately embraced.

The inspiration came naturally. In almost an instant, I began to recall the memories of my earliest fishing and hunting adventures, imagining how they would lay across the pages of an "easy reader" style children's book. It was like a switch was flipped in my brain. I knew the main character's name, I knew what the first story would be about and I was flooded with ideas of follow-up books and the stories they would tell.

That first story poured out with very little effort. I'm not saying it was easy really, because I was having to tell a story in 20 pages with no more than two sentences per page, but in less than forty minutes, there it was, the manuscript of my first kid's book.

Now I had to figure out a way to get the thing published. These days an author has many options. I looked into self-publishing, but I had one major obstacle. With a children's book, illustrations are key. I had to find the right illustrator to bring the story to life. After much research I decided that a publishing house that could provide an illustrator experienced in children's books was the best path to follow.

This in itself turned out to be more than I had bargained for too, in both time and in money. But eventually I came across a small publishing house that had a program I could live with and after many rounds of seeing samples of work from various illustrators I found the one that captured my character and the look I was after perfectly.

To date, the editing on the book is done and the illustrator is doing his magic to bring my story to life. My hope is that the first in a long line of books chronicling Hank's outdoor adventures will be available in time for Christmas. I hope my vision will be stuffed in many stockings and be read to hundreds of youngsters by parents that embrace the joy that the outdoors can bring.

Stay tuned ... I will keep you posted as to how the adventure of being a children's book author is progressing. 

I must say, I am very proud and happy to have been given this inspiration and I am grateful to have the opportunity to bring these stories to others. It's my feeling that by sharing the love of the outdoors with our children, we are ensuring the future of not only the outdoor sports we love, but the very planet we occupy. At least that's my Boyd's Eye View. Carry on.