All About the book, “It’s Okay To Cry”

TA-DA!!! I self-published my first children’s book called, “It’s Okay To Cry.” 👏 So I guess I’m an author and illustrator now?! LOL but I’m super excited to finally release this book! When I was younger, I wanted to write my own storybook; now here I am full-circle with a whole children’s book. Wow! Without further ado, here’s all about “It’s Okay To Cry.”

Summary

So here’s a quick synopsis of the book:

There’s an introduction to the different types of tears that one might encounter. Then we see different scenarios where the tears are in action. Finally, we learn some strategies on how to cope with how we are feeling.

Questions From You

Here are the answers to questions sent in from YOU guys! Thanks so much for sending in your questions!

K.C. asked, “How are you self-publishing the book? What is the overall theme?”

1. I am self-publishing the book through Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu Press, and Barnes & Noble Press. I also have the books available on my website!
2. The overall theme of the book is that it’s okay to cry. Everyone cries and that’s okay! Crying and tears are also a form of communication (nonverbal communication), so they can also be a tool in identifying the deeper issue.

L.L. asked, “What inspired you to write about crying/emotions?”

Growing up (and even now!), I was prone to crying. I don’t know how or why, but I was (and still am). I used to view it as something negative and embarrassing; but after an encounter where somebody told me that my emotions and feelings are what makes me unique, I decided to embrace them. This book is for everybody, especially those who are empathic like me and more apt to cry. Through this process of writing, I felt validated. There are some situations in life where I might cry, and that is totally okay! That was a way for me to cope with whatever was happening… and (say it with me now) it’s okay!!! I also wanted this book to spark conversations and have a chance for people to check in with themselves and with others.

K.L. asked, “Was it a long process to make a book?”

So, I had the idea to write a story about tears and crying back in mid-February of 2021. Overall, the ideas of what I wanted to include in the book came to me quickly. I started sketching out the spreads for the book and planned out what I wanted to write about. The illustrations took the longest because I’m actually not an illustrator haha I ended up scrolling on Pinterest trying to look for simple shapes to use for the drawings. I finished the main story outline at the beginning of March 2021. From then on, I got the books printed a few times, fixed any typos, and made some edits. The book was officially published on May 15, 2021.

J.A. asked, “Has it been really difficult trying to publish your book?”

Yes! I didn’t realize how much goes into publishing. I really enjoy the “creative” aspect of building a storybook. Nobody really taught me HOW to publish a story, so I had to research the technicalities, legal, and business side of creating a book (YouTube definitely came in clutch!). I had to learn how to create a copyright page, make sure to format the book correctly, own the ISBN, and much more! I also had to make sure the books were printed correctly, which meant I ordered many copies (hardcover and paperback)! But it’s all worth it! I learned so much within the past few months and I feel really accomplished!

Availability

The book is available for sale on June 1, 2021, on my website, Amazon, and Lulu. Here are the links:

Read Aloud Video

Here is a link to a read aloud video of “It’s Okay To Cry.”

YouTube: Read Aloud Video

*Hey! Just wanted to let you know that this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links, I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!*