Guest author: Sarah O'Sullivan

Sharing her journey as a self-published author is the wonderful Sarah!
Connect with her on Instagram @sosceramics or via her website www.sosceramics.co.nz

Book(s) you have written:
I am in the process of publishing my first children’s book called “Calm the Farm” - and I have quite a few more waiting patiently in the wings, if this one goes well.

What inspired you to write your book?
I started to learn about mindfulness and it helped me so much. I taught a programme in schools called Pause Breathe Smile. I just wanted the ideas and concepts to be spread as far and wide as possible. So this story came to me one day as a fun way for younger children to learn about mindfulness alongside their parents and teachers within a “day in a life” tale of some cute farm animals.

Do you have a method/process when writing the text?
In this story I needed to cover the three main mindfulness practices and I also wanted the animals to show kids some steps you can follow to process difficult feelings … so the story was based around getting these things across to the reader. I love rhyme, can’t get enough of it, so that’s a feature of the story.
I don’t really have a method. I might think of the concept I want to get across then usually I’ll be either driving or in the shower and the book will come to me in one hit. I’ll have to pull the car over or leap out of the shower, dry myself quickly write it all down before I forget !!

Was there anything you struggled with?
Self-doubt. I feel nervous but hopeful about the book, but sometimes I think, is it too long, is it interesting enough, are people going to like it?!! Is it going to make them want to try mindfulness? Is it going to help them? Or should I have just kept it hidden on my laptop !!! Then I breathe in, breathe out, follow the steps in the book and I feel much better

What were the biggest highlights?
Well a big part of the self-doubt disappears when I look at the illustrations that Bec has done of my characters. At the end of the day if the people don’t like the story, they will LOVE the pictures!!!! So that’s the highlight for me. I love art, I love illustrations and I love seeing the cute farm animals and all the gorgeous natural details Bec has drawn to set the “Calm the Farm” scene.

Did you have any formal training? Courses or books you may have used?
No, but I have always enjoyed writing. It’s much easier than talking for me. I did do some Google research on publishing children’s books after I wrote the story, but to be honest it wasn’t particularly encouraging! I have had a lot help and encouragement from Sophia and Anna at Mary Egan publishing who I contacted to find out about self-publishing.

Do you have any tips for other aspiring authors?
Be brave.

Anything extra:
Look out for Calm the Farm coming into the world soon!!!!