I asked a manuscript assessor to look over my work. He too came back saying they were lovely stories, but I didn’t have a “Problem & Solution” storyline. He also thought my stories were a little cliché and the title could get confused with Indian clarified butter… Little did he know, I wanted my books to be identified as just that.
We often choose to follow the advice of professionals – they know best, right? In this case, I didn’t agree with the assessor. Young minds don’t need to deal with problems and solutions all the time – do they? A child’s mind is beautifully innocent; children thrive with imagination. Why can’t my book just be fun?
So, taking this advice and with the pushbacks in mind, I had to consider that question, and I decided to put my theory to the test.
I sent my book to a photo book provider. I had it printed in a hard cover, with full colour to resemble a published book. When the book arrived, I was elated. The first little person I wanted to share this with was my granddaughter Harper.
Harper became my absolute driving force. At 3 years old, she was my number one fan. The joy we shared reading The Land of Ghee pushed me into self-publishing. Now nearly 4, Miss Harper is ecstatic to read Grammy the story, paying special attention to sing me the catchy jingle off by heart from the first book.
I have finally self-published The Land of Ghee ‘Welcome to our home’ thanks to Gate Keeper Press in the USA. Our first book is available online across the world and the second book is in production. I hope that children, parents, grandparents and caregivers can immerse themselves in the magic of imagination.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
What a journey pulling this series together has been. It’s been frustrating, difficult and head banging at times. After all the hard work and perseverance, my heart is filled with a real sense of accomplishment. Regardless of how the world reacts to my offerings, I can say “We did it”. I am a published author. Whether it is read by the world or close family and friends, The Land of Ghee is certainly something I am extremely proud of.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
The possibilities are endless, I have had so many ideas…the biggest is seeing The Land of Ghee on the big screen. I can see these delightful critters being the next “Trolls” or “Smurfs” to take the world by storm. How delightful would it be to see Amanda’s characters made into toys for every little person to treasure? Children with The Land of Ghee t-shirts, posters, duvet covers, lunch boxes, etc…the list goes on. The sky’s the limit, my fate is in the hands of children all over the world 😊 and of course the mummies, daddies and grandparents who are going to buy the book!
Visit The Land of Ghee website where you can meet the crazy critters and find out more about the books. You can also follow The Land of Ghee on their Facebook page.
