Ashley Reiter

10 Lessons I Learned From Publishing My Children’s Book on Amazon
🧸
This is the article I never found, before I began designing this book. It sure would have saved me a lot of trial and error, but hey: mistakes are the best way to learn!
🧸
If you’ve been following along, or are thinking of publishing your own book, I hope this guide proves interesting and helpful. If anything, it’s been an insightful post-mortem. Life’s too short to muddle through the same lessons; learn from mine!
🧸
Feel free to reach out with any questions, I’m happy to answer.

We don’t barter much these days. Maybe we’re supposed to learn it from our siblings, after a big Hallowe’en haul and you hope someone actually likes candy corn.
•
But now, it’s cash or card, and hard to put a price on the work of our hands. What’s the cost of homemade sourdough bread, with love folded in and made with organic, locally milled ancient grains? $8? $10? $15?
•
I’d love to trade more with friends; to exchange the work of our hands so that we don’t have to become solo experts in everything. That was not how it was ever meant to be. Sure, we can dabble, we can experiment, but why try to do it all when someone does it so much better?
•
‘s rosemary bread is legendary.
and ‘s drinks are nectar from heaven. makes incredible jams. I keep them all well supplied with pesto and garlic, and they spoil me back.
•
So here’s an experiment I’m opening to all who read this. I have ugly tubers (read: magic beans) that I have grown and stored over winter that will transform your garden from July-frost in a parade of colour and beauty. Whatcha got to trade?
💐

“CHECK THIRDS” — I only ever took one graphic design course at Emily Carr, but I’ve used every bit of those 6 weeks in the 12+ years since (remember this, ?).
—
A couple days ago, I shared the rough story board mockup you’re supposed to start with. “Thumbnail drawings”, I think our instructor called them. Don’t spend hours chasing shapes around the screen; start small, on paper, 15 seconds or less per sketch.
—
Then, once you’ve got a plan so you can save time in Adobe, build your design. All the zooming in never replaces a print proof; you see much better in 3D.
—
You don’t need a fancy colour printer; in fact, I’ve used B&W laser for a decade of design. You see what’s missing just fine.
—
So, back to thirds. I always set up my page with guide lines, 3 equal third segments horizontally and vertically. I mark the center point of these 3 segments, too, and set a background grid for one square every 0.25 inches, and then you have all kinds of “money spots” to place your objects. I’m pleased with how every one of the 26 pages visually “sings”, because of the invisible thirds guiding everything compositionally.
—
Typically, your main subject isn’t dead center. I also had the added challenge of the text exclusively inside speech bubbles, as part of the illustration. I had to design with their leeway in mind.
—
*Spoiler*— I didn’t end up adding a picnic basket. Instead, a snail with a house on its shell…
—
Stay tuned for the launch of Tell Me A Story, Mumma!

REFRESH, REFRESH— I’ve been checking my Inbox compulsively today, waiting for the confirmation that my Amazon page is live. Soon, soon!
—
Dane just had his 4th birthday, and now Bianca’s 7th is in a week. I, too, am experiencing this childlike anticipation— although B was NOT impressed when I explained how anxiety and excitement feel very similar.
—
Let good things come to those who wait. Waiting is the hardest part. < fill in with other waiting cliché that makes it more relatable but not easier… 🫠> 🙏🧸📚
—