Creating Our Own Books
Having a child with severe dyslexia inspired Holly Blair to write and self-publish a book to build his self esteem.
It’s about a little boy who comes home from school upset because he’s struggling with reading and writing. He can see other kids doing well and feels like he’s the only one unable to keep up. His mum talks to him about how everyone is good at some things, and everyone struggles with some things. Then the whole family share some of their strengths and weaknesses.
“Just because children like my son Jude struggle with severe dyslexia, it doesn’t mean they’re not smart,” says Holly. “Sometimes it’s still upsetting to not be as good as others at certain things, and that’s normal to feel upset. But if we can teach kids to focus on and celebrate their strengths, and not get hung up on the things they find hard, we can bring a more balanced view.”
Holly wrote the book under her pen name Polly Meadows and found an illustrator on Fiverr – an online platform connecting freelancers all over the world. Everyone is Good at Something is available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback.
Holly says she and her two sons are now having fun writing, designing and publishing books together as part of their homeschooling.
If we can teach kids to focus on and celebrate their strengths, and not get hung up on the things they find hard, we can bring a more balanced view.
“We’ve written low-content journals – a travel journal, a nature journal for taking on nature walks, and a gratitude journal. These don’t have much reading, but encourage writing and reflection.
“We’ve also just released Jude and Haddin’s Dinosaur Adventure where the boys travel back in time to the dino age. This is a mini novel, available as an audio book, e-book and paperback. The plan is for this to be the first in a series.
“Amazon has made a great platform on KDP for self-publishing and print on demand. There is quite a bit that we’ve had to learn: the writing, editing, illustrations or hiring someone to do them for you, sending instructions of what you want and going back and forth until you get exactly what you are after. You need to format the book and put it all together and upload it to Amazon.
“Then there’s the promotion, which we’re just starting on. Who knows if it will make any money, but it’s fun and creative, and a great learning experience for the boys. They get very excited about it!”
