Today's the day!
A day that's been in the making for over a year.
We wrote a book and it's FINISHED, it's PUBLISHED, and it's on Amazon RIGHT NOW!
Aubrey (my little sister and book illustrator) and I joke that "I am STRONG like MOM" is like another baby (that would make 6 for us combined...if you're counting!) So much preparation, excitement and nerves. And so much heart poured into it.
This book carries so much meaning for both Aubrey and I, in terms of our families and in our professional lives! Most people who read this book will just enjoy the adorable illustrations and the empowering story, but it's the story behind the book that makes this so important to us, personally. We thought we'd share a piece of that with you today!
A day that's been in the making for over a year.
We wrote a book and it's FINISHED, it's PUBLISHED, and it's on Amazon RIGHT NOW!
Aubrey (my little sister and book illustrator) and I joke that "I am STRONG like MOM" is like another baby (that would make 6 for us combined...if you're counting!) So much preparation, excitement and nerves. And so much heart poured into it.
This book carries so much meaning for both Aubrey and I, in terms of our families and in our professional lives! Most people who read this book will just enjoy the adorable illustrations and the empowering story, but it's the story behind the book that makes this so important to us, personally. We thought we'd share a piece of that with you today!
First, I have to give a huge thanks to our husbands who helped us with our kiddos, with the production, with brain dumps and for just being the best cheerleaders ever. And to all of the people who are helping to make this book a success. Thank you for your shares, your reviews and your support!
Over a year ago, this book was a tiny little idea in my brain. Today it's a real life, hold it in your hands book! We DID this! Seriously! 2 moms who knew NOTHING about book publishing.
The whole idea of writing a book was honestly a random idea that popped into my head one night while I was cooking dinner. In between boiling noodles and browning hamburger, I started furiously typing. What you read in this book today is actually very close to what I wrote down that very first night! While I was still toying with the idea of actually writing a book, I asked my sister if she thought she could illustrate something like that.
Honest Disclaimer: I REALLY didn't think she'd be a good fit, but I did think it would be cool to work on a project together.
The whole idea of writing a book was honestly a random idea that popped into my head one night while I was cooking dinner. In between boiling noodles and browning hamburger, I started furiously typing. What you read in this book today is actually very close to what I wrote down that very first night! While I was still toying with the idea of actually writing a book, I asked my sister if she thought she could illustrate something like that.
Honest Disclaimer: I REALLY didn't think she'd be a good fit, but I did think it would be cool to work on a project together.
She said she would send me some drawings and you guys...if this book isn't a testament to PERSISTENCE, I don't know what is. Let's just be real. They weren't what I had in mind. I kinda put it all on hold, but she said she'd keep trying, and honestly I had no one else to ask. I was worried that if we kept working together it might come between us. I figured this would be another project that just lived in my Google docs forever. Aubrey kept drawing.
Thank God we didn't shut it down.
What Aubrey has created has turned my short, simple words into something BEAUTIFUL. She has brought life to it in a way I couldn't have even imagined! The fact that we're sisters makes it even more personal. If you know either of us very well, you will see the obvious similarities between the characters in the book and our own kids. We didn't base either kid off of one specific one of ours, but there are pieces of each one of them in there! I have laughed so many times when I'm scrolling through my endless iPhone camera roll and see pictures of my kids that are so similar to the book illustrations - completely unintentionally!
Thank God we didn't shut it down.
What Aubrey has created has turned my short, simple words into something BEAUTIFUL. She has brought life to it in a way I couldn't have even imagined! The fact that we're sisters makes it even more personal. If you know either of us very well, you will see the obvious similarities between the characters in the book and our own kids. We didn't base either kid off of one specific one of ours, but there are pieces of each one of them in there! I have laughed so many times when I'm scrolling through my endless iPhone camera roll and see pictures of my kids that are so similar to the book illustrations - completely unintentionally!
I have seen Aubrey's confidence as an artist SOAR since taking on this project! Her own design business is finally getting off the ground, all while making this book more personal that I could have dreamed! She has taken small little pieces of motherhood, like the ever-present coffee mug, the mom bun, the baby wearing, the bravery of taking 2 kids to the swimming pool WHILE wearing a 2 piece suit...and woven them seamlessly into a book for KIDS!
For me, writing this book has been a test of patience with myself. I can get really wrapped up in busyness and getting stuff done. But through this process, I've learned the beauty of being in a slower season. This book could have been done much faster than it was, but when Aubrey started illustrating she had a toddler and a newborn and I was pregnant with baby #3. Our husbands both work incredibly demanding jobs. We live half a continent AND AND OCEAN apart. In fact, about 90% of our communication over the past year has been over video chats while nursing!
We truly wanted to do this as a symbol of dreaming big while living in the middle of hard core mom-life. Yes, there were some late nights spent. But we both made it a priority to put those baby snuggles first, and for that I'm eternally grateful. On top of it all - this project has NOT come between us. It has brought Aubrey and I closer than we ever have been before! It has been so fun going through this season of motherhood together - while pouring our hearts into this project together too!
For me, writing this book has been a test of patience with myself. I can get really wrapped up in busyness and getting stuff done. But through this process, I've learned the beauty of being in a slower season. This book could have been done much faster than it was, but when Aubrey started illustrating she had a toddler and a newborn and I was pregnant with baby #3. Our husbands both work incredibly demanding jobs. We live half a continent AND AND OCEAN apart. In fact, about 90% of our communication over the past year has been over video chats while nursing!
We truly wanted to do this as a symbol of dreaming big while living in the middle of hard core mom-life. Yes, there were some late nights spent. But we both made it a priority to put those baby snuggles first, and for that I'm eternally grateful. On top of it all - this project has NOT come between us. It has brought Aubrey and I closer than we ever have been before! It has been so fun going through this season of motherhood together - while pouring our hearts into this project together too!
Holding this book in our hands and reading it to our kids is enough for us. It truly is a gift to our kids that we hope they will read for years to come. But, we do hope that other parents will love reading this to their kids as well.
Moms, you put a lot of pressure on yourself. You could read the words in this book like CONFIDENT, STRONG and BRAVE and think "I'm none of those things". But guess what? You are! And your kids think you're a freaking super star! That's the joy and the beauty of this book. I hope it's a chance for you as a mom to see yourself from your child's point of view. They don't see the anxious thoughts or intricate planning in your head. They see a BRAVE mom. They see you making fitness a priority and know they have a STRONG mom. They want to grab your hand and jump in the puddles with you because you're a FUN mom. You really, really are. So, while I hope your kids like this book as much as mine do, I hope reading it reminds you of how awesome you are too!!
Moms, you put a lot of pressure on yourself. You could read the words in this book like CONFIDENT, STRONG and BRAVE and think "I'm none of those things". But guess what? You are! And your kids think you're a freaking super star! That's the joy and the beauty of this book. I hope it's a chance for you as a mom to see yourself from your child's point of view. They don't see the anxious thoughts or intricate planning in your head. They see a BRAVE mom. They see you making fitness a priority and know they have a STRONG mom. They want to grab your hand and jump in the puddles with you because you're a FUN mom. You really, really are. So, while I hope your kids like this book as much as mine do, I hope reading it reminds you of how awesome you are too!!
Thanks for being a supporter of i am STRONG like MOM!
If you'd like to help us make this book a success, there are many ways you can help!
Go check out the book on Amazon and leave a review!
Share this blog or our social media posts with your friends!
If you'd like to help us make this book a success, there are many ways you can help!
Go check out the book on Amazon and leave a review!
Share this blog or our social media posts with your friends!
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