Ever questioned what it takes to self-publish a kids’s e-book? Nicely, Women that Scuba founder, Sarah, did precisely that to launch her new e-book, My Mum’s a Scuba Diver.
Right here’s the total story in Sarah’s phrases – from the preliminary thought, the highs and the lows, all the way in which to publication!
The Concept
I bear in mind precisely the place I used to be once I had the concept for this children e-book. It was late 2021. I used to be in a taxi in Istanbul, having had an unbelievable few months of travelling with Women that Scuba on journeys and analysis. This was following a earlier powerful patch, with that C phrase almost closing down the group journey aspect of Women that Scuba.
Regardless of not having my very own baby but (quick ahead to at this time – I’ve a 2 12 months outdated son), I had nearly a maternal feeling of desirous to go on the empowerment I felt being a feminine scuba diver on to the following technology. I needed children to see their Mums, or different feminine figures, doing what we do.
I suppose I additionally actually needed to discover a option to introduce Women that Scuba to a brand new technology, and a e-book felt like a really natural manner to do this.
With no thought how one can publish or create a e-book, I did what all of us do. I went down a search engine rabbit gap, which led me to pitching to publishers.
The Pitch
My first pitch went a bit one thing like this:
“In Women that Scuba’s current being pregnant survey, 51.4% of feminine divers stated childcare was the explanation they couldn’t get again to diving after having children, and not too long ago, new statistics of the ratio of male to feminine divers have taken a drop with a ratio of 35% girls to 65% males.
What’s extra, of most divers we all know, if it was their dad and mom who inspired or helped them to dive, it was their Dad who did that.
At GTS we really feel that the stress of childcare and elevating children means feminine divers take a again seat. For us, displaying scuba diver Mums is tremendous essential. That begins from start, having constructive position fashions to look as much as.
My new children e-book thought, ‘My Mum’s a Scuba Diver’, can be a visible e-book with a brief poem-story highlighting the amazement a child sees watching their mum go scuba diving.”
I acquired one reply.
It was constructive, however with suggestions that it’s doubtless not going to be successful.
Nevertheless, I didn’t ever want it to be “successful”. It was extra about making a constructive picture of a Mum following her ardour as her child watched on. Even so, I can’t deny that it knocked my confidence. I really gave up on the concept altogether for almost 2 years.
However this 12 months – 2024 – I used to be impressed by my very own son, who beloved me studying books to him.
I made a decision to attempt once more, and take a distinct route by self-publishing. This meant I didn’t must get my thought accredited by brokers or publishers. I knew whereas I could not get the nationwide or international viewers they’d entry to, I did have already got entry to our audience, which is us – Women that Scuba.
The Course of
So now my web searches modified. I began in search of an organization who may join me with designers and illustrators and assist me with the self-publishing route. At first, this appeared favored an absolute minefield.
It took some time to seek out the precise illustrator. I actually needed a feminine scuba diver illustrator, however I couldn’t discover one (message me if that’s you!). Nevertheless, I used to be fortunate to ultimately discover Elisa Varetti. She loves the ocean, and you possibly can inform together with her illustrations.
When engaged on scuba-specific tasks, it’s at all times difficult working with professionals who aren’t scuba divers themselves. A lot of edits are wanted to ensure drawings are correct, as a result of everyone knows what scuba divers are like! Nevertheless, because it’s a child’s e-book and never a e-book for skilled divers, we discovered a pleasant center floor. I like how the Mum character got here out.
The kid character additionally took some time to get to the ultimate one we see now. I needed them to haven’t any apparent gender. It wasn’t mandatory for them to have a gender, simply that they have been a child wanting as much as their mom. We did this by having a mid-length hair reduce and a shortie wetsuit.
From there it took round 3 months to work on the pages and put the phrases in. I really acquired the primary draft by way of and didn’t join with the entrance cowl in any respect, so it was re-done. This put the undertaking again by a couple of weeks, however was SO price it!
The Consequence
In October 2024 we have been formally able to go, with two variations of the identical e-book, ‘Mother’ and ‘Mum’. I knew this is able to be tremendous essential for our worldwide neighborhood to essentially join with the e-book. So right here we’re – over 2 years, set backs, investments, and curations, and my first ever children e-book has been launched.
This e-book – which you’ll assume can be devoted to my very own baby – is definitely devoted to you:
This e-book is devoted to the neighborhood of Women that Scuba.
Right here’s to sturdy girls: could we all know them, could we be them, could we increase them.
Spot the Women that Scuba emblem? As a nod to our GTS neighborhood there are 5 GTS logos subtly scattered across the e-book, can you discover them?
Wish to know extra about ‘My Mum’s a Scuba Diver’?
Women that Scuba, the world’s largest scuba diving neighborhood for ladies, is thrilled to announce the discharge of a brand new kids’s e-book, My Mum’s a Scuba Diver/My Mother’s a Scuba Diver written by Founder Sarah Richard.
This vibrant and galvanizing image e-book is designed to captivate younger readers and introduce them to the ocean’s wonders whereas celebrating the position of sturdy, adventurous girls in marine exploration. My Mum’s a Scuba Diver is accessible now by way of the Women that Scuba on-line retailer and through Amazon Worldwide with the spelling as ‘Mum’ or Mother’.
Written to empower kids and encourage curiosity, My Mum’s a Scuba Diver takes readers on an unforgettable underwater journey led by a fearless mom who dives into the ocean as a interest.
The e-book invitations younger readers to discover the underwater world with participating illustrations, sparking an early curiosity in scuba diving and marine life.
The e-book is a part of Women that Scuba’s bigger mission to advertise range and inclusion in scuba diving, aiming to introduce a brand new technology to underwater exploration. Via books like My Mum’s a Scuba Diver, the neighborhood hopes to encourage younger kids to dream huge and see that they, too, can turn into stewards of the ocean.
My Mum’s a Scuba Diver is ideal for kids ages 0-8 and serves as a great reward for younger ocean lovers and future divers. The e-book is at the moment obtainable for buy by way of the Women that Scuba on-line retailer (one of the best ways to help us!), in addition to Amazon.com
