Thanks so much for the support! My latest video is all about how to setup a pop up shop to sell my book! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Oab8XT_Wx_c.html
I can't help but notice that you don't have a copyright page. I would consider adding one. This seems like a creation you should protect. Also, I love the alphabet page you did at the end. Perfect!
I think it would have been a cool addition to include the name of each vegetable or fruit written in Chinese characters for an additional cultural education. Congrats on the book!
You did awesome on your first book!! I wish I had your foresight to not make my first book so complex with characters, a full narrative, and hand painting combined with photoshop edits, but we all have a different process :). My second book is a more simple format with digital illustration only and I am enjoying the process so much more - I think you nailed it on the first try!
That's so nice of you to say. Ya, my first try was definitely very complex and had a narrative as well. I just got so overwhelmed. Kudos to you for doing that on your first try!
You did very beautiful artwork. Illustrating food that looks good enough to eat is a rare gift. Congratulations! 🎉 I hope you keep it up, even just for fun and thank you for sharing about the process. ☺️
Adorable book! Lovely illustrations and colours in general. This book is so cool and bright 💛 Thanks for telling us about process, it was so interesting to learn about your experience. 💛💛💛
Thanks for the video Cathy. I’m a primary chinese teacher in Australia I and found this very interesting and easy to follow. I also love your book and will purchase to read to the children in my classes.
I’m not Asian but I am fascinated by your Culture. I like to learn and cook authentic Asian food. My sister-in-law is Thai and has taught me some of her recipes. And my kids are quite a custom to eating these types of Foods. I’m totally buying your book. LOVE THIS IDEA! Also I hope to be a Published children’s author as well. That’s how I found this video.
I’m not an ABC and I absolutely love this! Teaching Chinese kids using their cultural foods and educating non-Chinese kids about another culture. All around excellent idea!
I absolutely love your editing style and how creative you are! Seeing your whole process and how much work you put into this project was super super cool. Will definitely be purchasing one and congrats on your publication! :)
This is so cool! :D I drew and published four coloring books so far, and now I am working on a fifth. A picture book is in conception as well, hopefully I can make it eventually as well :)
Thank you for writing this book! I love the illustrations. Would be perfect if the pin yin and Chinese characters were on there in addition to making it a board book. Thank you
Hi Cathy! I love this! My name is Ruby and I am a freelance illustrator trying to break into children’s literature! I’m also currently working on writing my first book as well! I used to teach preschool and I always thought it would be so cool if one of my books was read during circle time! I love how detailed and organized your process is and i’m definitely taking notes on that! I will for sure be picking up your book! (Saw a lot of my favorite foods in there as well! 😊) Thanks again for sharing! 💜
Thank for sharing for your book and my favorite is the last page. The colors pop but pleasing to the eyes. Totally a perfect wrap up. Hugs . congratulations on your success
I don't know how to use fancy art technology. So I am proud of you. My ebooks are on Amazon. For some reason, I cannot get past the stage of transforming my ebook into an actual book. So I say congratulations
Thank you for making this video! I am looking to create a kid's ABC book and it was helpful to see your process. I hope you hear back from the traditional publishers!
I learned about your book through SAT and just bought it on Amazon even though I’m also 25 and don’t even have kids yet 😂 I love this concept so much!! This is such a creative idea and one that speaks so directly and uniquely to the ABC-experience. I’m definitely going to read this story to my future kids! On another note, I’ve always loved art and have started drawing more regularly during the pandemic. My dream is to create a children’s book someday too, and this video was super helpful in understanding how you developed this book. It actually gave me more confidence that this is something I can achieve one day too, and not just some crazy pipe dream. Congrats on the book and thank you for sharing this process with us!!
Oh I'm glad! I didn't find many videos that shared the entire process when I was starting, so I didn't want to hide any details. Best of luck with your book, can't wait to see it!
Hi Cathy, I have wanted to write a children's book forever but could never come up with a good storyline until now. I need your advice on how to do my own illustrations. Finding the right digital medium is my problem. Firstly, there are hundreds to choose from with ranging prices from $$ To $$$$. I'm not an artist, but surly I can trace. Looking for a digital form/software to learn to develop my characters. Not sure if I can do it myself so i don't want to jump into real expense. I have an android phone, a nice laptop (I never use). What advice do you have? BTW...nice video on your journey to publishing your ABC book.
I am So Proud of You! What a wonderful way to connect and share culture and the love of food we all have. Great job and your illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! Have a wonderful day!
I'm getting lots of questions of people interested in even more specifics about the process of writing, illustrating, and publishing your own book. If you're interested, you can now book 1-on-1 counseling session where I share all my secrets: ko-fi.com/gotcathy/shop
In the $30 session do you answer the question…what did you use to move your images from procreate into KDP? My two daughters and I have done illustrations for a female astronaut book we’ve done and we’re ready to move it into KDP but I’m lost on the next step, help with this would be great! Thank you! It’s a lot of work to build a book, yours is beautiful I love it! I also want to make board books, I love how little kids can learn and still have a lot of movement with them.
@@gotcathy I think I figured it out, just need to do a test run. Thank you for being willing to answer questions! I think my next concept to work through is layout. To test to see if the how the pages layout when I move the content/images from procreate to KDP I’m Going to buy your book Because I want a closer look at your work and I love books!;0)
I just loved the book, and the whole idea and creative process! Congratulations! You just helped me a lot right now, I was stuck in my profession, and this gave me a new breath! Keep ir up!
I really love this book! It may be beneficial to apply for writer/ illustrator grants and get your books printed through a manufacturer. I noticed that most books are made in China. You can easily search online for a book manufacturer. Grant money, if you win, could pay for your prints....just a thought :)
Here from AHN! Congratulations on completing this project, Cathy. I will admit that when I first saw the post I was like oh man another person out here trying to capitalize on Asian identity 🙄🙄 but I see now through your video that this was truly an artistic project for you and you absolutely deserve to be published traditionally!! I am going to be starting as an elementary school teacher next year, and I will definitely save this to use as a resource and hopefully recommend to parents. (hope by that time you're available more widely too) look forward to seeing where else you go, and amazing job with the video too!!
Hey again Christine! Oh interesting that you thought that, ya definitely not trying to capitalize it, just trying to share what I know, what I grew up eating. And an elementary school teacher? That's awesome! I'm sure you'll be able to impart a lot of your own identity and culture onto your kids!
Girl I’m so proud of you! This is great. The character studies are TOUGH. Glad u pointed that out bc that’s where I’m at AND STRUGGLING UGH. Love this book! Thanks for sharing ❤️
I am curious about how to become a childrens book author and the pros and cons on publishing traditionally through someone else and how to do that besides Amazon. Or how to self publish. I have heard from other Authors that it is extremely important to market and promote your book BEFORE you publish it. Now as kid before i could read zi loved being read to and heaeing stories so much that I started drawing picture books that told a story. As time went on as a kid I use to draw and sketch alot but I eventually stop drawing as much and got rusty. Ive never been to art school or had studied art. I dont know the first thing aboit how to pursue it. Im an 80s baby and I spent the first 20 years of my life with no internet. There is alot I just dont know about computers. To be honest, Ive never even seen somebody do digital art until you showed a small clip of you doing it. That looked so cool! I am curious on what ipads and what peograms are best to download for digital art for childrens books. I would like to start drawing again. But Im no professional and Im in the dark on all the tools out there. But I would really like to leadn more information and tool's and advice for both writing and illustrating your own childrens picture book. I dont know what all you need as a new author other than a good editor after you write the book. Infact there is a chikdrens book author who is a professional editor, yet she always has somebody else edit her books because shes too close to the project and might niss something. For example, she thought she was doje with her book and she sent it off to have it edited howevwr the editor said the book was good but there was no conflict. And so the author forgot and had to had that in. So I know you need an editor and a illutrator unless you are educated and know how to do it yourself. I am curious on what education you have to have helped you gain these skills. I nean I have heard most illustrators go to college to gain more art skills etc. But the thought of going to college and paying alot of money just to write and illustrate a book when I hear yoir not going to be paid alot for writing a childrens novel. Your basically just doing it for fun and to help kids. Not to get rich. Unkess your super talented and become famous and go on to write romance novels or something. But I want to learn about what I need mainly as beginnger childrens author and what I should study and how I can check out books today too see what kids are into today and see if there is an area and subject matter that I feel passionate about talking about. I also dont know how much money it will cost me to have the right type of ipad and programs etc that I need to write the book but also how to learn techniques for illustration. Im looking at this as a side hobby. Since I dont see a stable career path and income. So can somebody point me in the right direction on how to create not only a childrens book, but also a cookbook? Maybe even a cook book for kids? And how to go aboit leadning the art skills needed to become a childrens illustrator. And perhaps not have to share your work with a actual illustrator or traditional publisher. And how do you go aboit copyrighting it so nohody steals it? Im so in the daek because ive never known anybody personally who was an author. Nor have I ever thought Id have the guts to even look into it. I never had alot of faith in myself. But Id like to try to step out of my comfort zone and maybe write some childrens books.
Your book is lovely. Congratulations on your first!!! I can’t pick my favourite food, they’re all too yummy. The cover is probably my favourite art wise.
Girlll!!! Love your book! You should double your price. 15.99 at least. Parents aren’t worried about an extra $10 if they think the book is good for their kids. But $10 times 100 might help with books for school, student loans, down payment on a house. Double your price. And if you still don’t want to make money then use the profit to market your book and donate all the proceeds to help ABCs.
Great video and great book! I love that you chose to incorperate foods that you grew up with. I think it's a great way for kids that don't grow up with these foods to learn more about other foods and cusines from other cultures. amazing artwork and such a great idea!
Your video was recommended to me by the RU-vid algorithm, probably because I've been searching on the writing process for picture books :) What a cute book you made! I live in Indonesia and I wish I could buy it here. My favorite is letter is a tie between Xiao Long Bay and Zong Zi.
I've never tried or heard of a lot of those foods, it would be a really fun video for you to invite a friend who's also never had them and we watch them try them for the first time! Probly also be good book promotion too.
I love this! I know it’s been 2 years but could you show the upload process? I have been trying to make a children’s book but getting it from procreate to Amazon is seeming to be a challenge…
Congratulations.. inspiring.. for years I dream of writing and illustrating children books but I've done nothing .. this is encouraging .. good job and hope you publish your second book soon ..
Hey! Did you eventually write your book? I was like that too for many years and finally I’ve started writing. I will be done writing in a few days/ weeks and will get to publishing. All the best
You rip! Thanks for taking the time to make this video. About to publish my first children's book and this was super helpful. Congrats on the book it looks and reads great! Love all the colors
This super helpful thank you so much! I’m in the middle of publishing my own book. But I love your book! My kid is half Chinese so exploring this side of him will be super valuable
Beautiful book, great achievement ! It would have been nice to see the Chinese as contrast as well as seeing the English just as you have illustrated on the video.
Wondering what kind of books would be nice to give to kids? a custom version of educational books such as *personalised childrens books* - something to pique their interest more into learning w/out dropping the fun factor too much especially when themed for the recipient
Great concept book. Why did you not employ someone Stylize your Signature and make it much bigger and Blacker ink so people can read it? To build a brand having a very readable stylized signature would helpful for you.... imho of course
I love your illustrations & really just appreciate how you shared the why/how you ended up creating a children's book... One of my dreams is to be a children's book author and would really love collaborating with illustrators like you and creative minds...! Thanks so much for sharing your art and taking that chance. So glad I stumbled upon this on Subtle Asian Traits.
This may have been commented on already, but it would be wonderful if you included Chinese above, below our on the left of the page. Not only are you providing your heritage, this could also help who ever is reading your book tho learn another language. If not, then consider doing your book in Chinese as well. Great job, wonderful graphics, LOVE your idea and congratulations!!
I wish I had this book when I did my student teaching. I did a week on Asian history for kindergartens and it was hard to find Asian literature for 5 year olds.
