How I Illustrated and Published a Children's Book!

ABCs for Americans Born Chinese on Amazon!
www.amazon.com/dp/B08QGJBT7Y
Selling my books with my first pop-up shop!
• My Children's Book Pop...
Support me here (posters, autographed version, and more!):
ko-fi.com/gotcathy/shop
Connect with me on Insta: / abcsforabcs
Email abcsforabcs @ gmail.com for questions, letters, and collaborations.
Stay tuned to the end for a Read-Along and the reveal of my entire children's book.
In this video I walk you through why I decided to write a children's book, my research process, a failed attempt to write a manuscript and draw storyboards, the idea that evolved from that failed attempt, how I discovered my art style and the look of my children's book, drawing all the fruits, vegetables, and other foods (with time lapses using my iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Procreate), and how I published it and printed it through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing in three simple pages.
Timestamps:
0:00 abcs for abcs intro
1:31 why i wrote a book
2:13 research
2:28 manuscripts and storyboards
3:12 developing an art style
3:33 final artwork time lapses
4:00 the cover
4:29 publishing through amazon's kdp and pricing
5:44 read-along and reveal
Music:
♪ Sunset (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : • (no copyright music) j...

[@gotcathy]

Thanks so much for the support! My latest video is all about how to setup a pop up shop to sell my book! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZLFaYuKlLyrlcU

[@ItsAshaMac]

I can't help but notice that you don't have a copyright page. I would consider adding one. This seems like a creation you should protect. Also, I love the alphabet page you did at the end. Perfect!

[@gotcathy]

I actually did add a copyright on the back cover!

[@gregorybullock5953]

@@gotcathy And it's essentially automatically copyrighted by default anyway.

[@allisonstone6748]

Adorable book! Lovely illustrations and colours in general. This book is so cool and bright 💛 Thanks for telling us about process, it was so interesting to learn about your experience. 💛💛💛

[@Godisglorious1]

You did very beautiful artwork. Illustrating food that looks good enough to eat is a rare gift. Congratulations! 🎉 I hope you keep it up, even just for fun and thank you for sharing about the process. ☺️

[@sershinnaicker4633]

Well done on your publication. It sounds like an awesome book.

[@kitsuness83]

Thank for sharing for your book and my favorite is the last page. The colors pop but pleasing to the eyes. Totally a perfect wrap up. Hugs . congratulations on your success

[@byslowstudio]

I absolutely love your editing style and how creative you are! Seeing your whole process and how much work you put into this project was super super cool. Will definitely be purchasing one and congrats on your publication! :)

[@gotcathy]

Aw thank you for all your kind words!! 😊

[@ageretube3035]

I’m so proud of you!! Thank you for sharing is informative video!

[@camillatubertini6322]

Great idea, beautiful book and well-made, inspiring video! Thanks for showing your process!

[@mikebeights5653]

This is so great! What a wonderful niche and fun way to share your culture and story! Congrat's on the book- good luck on your next endeavor!

[@wendytai7309]

Thanks for the video Cathy. I’m a primary chinese teacher in Australia I and found this very interesting and easy to follow. I also love your book and will purchase to read to the children in my classes.

[@gotcathy]

Great to hear! Go ABCs (Australian Born Chinese)!

[@polinaraw]

That is absolutely amazing!! Love the idea and the execution 😍

[@gotcathy]

Thank you so much!!

[@christinachampion1219]

Love the title and concept! Your book is great and your video about it was interesting. All the best!

[@vickiesmith5682]

I am so impressed! I just thought about actually being an illustrator myself.. so much to learn!

[@gotcathy]

definitely, i hope you learned a little bit about illustrating!

[@gregorybullock5953]

Your book & idea are brilliant.

[@kayleighogut]

This video was phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing your process with such beautiful presentation. This really impressed me

[@jumalencar]

I just loved the book, and the whole idea and creative process! Congratulations! You just helped me a lot right now, I was stuck in my profession, and this gave me a new breath! Keep ir up!

[@gotcathy]

Glad I could help!

[@julial.4476]

Thank you for sharing 🙂 your book is lovely!

[@sydneyrearick5396]

You did awesome on your first book!! I wish I had your foresight to not make my first book so complex with characters, a full narrative, and hand painting combined with photoshop edits, but we all have a different process :). My second book is a more simple format with digital illustration only and I am enjoying the process so much more - I think you nailed it on the first try!

[@gotcathy]

That's so nice of you to say. Ya, my first try was definitely very complex and had a narrative as well. I just got so overwhelmed. Kudos to you for doing that on your first try!

[@yunidiar]

this was so helpful! congrats on your first book!

[@mamom3]

This was wonderful-I listened to the entire video! Great advise too

[@naelync629]

Great work, I love the concept of the book. I'm sure traditional publishers would love it too!

[@tristanb.1074]

What a thoughtful overview and a huge congrats, quite the accomplishment!

[@gotcathy]

thanks so much!

[@gryph3714]

I think it would have been a cool addition to include the name of each vegetable or fruit written in Chinese characters for an additional cultural education. Congrats on the book!

[@gotcathy]

That's a great suggestion. Maybe for a future edition of the book!

[@pawsoffriendship5007]

I was going to say the same !

[@purelystef]

Yes my brother would love that

[@CicelyReneeDoesLife]

@@gotcathy Ooo and another addition would be to add your favorite recipes for each letter.

[@MariJadeWrites]

This is so cool! :D I drew and published four coloring books so far, and now I am working on a fifth. A picture book is in conception as well, hopefully I can make it eventually as well :)

[@rdiwu1947]

wow, thanks so much for that candid insight into publishing! we bought the book for our little girl. love it!

[@gotcathy]

You are so welcome! Thanks for buying it!

[@boyandbelugee]

Lovely book! Thank you for sharing your journey! ❤️

[@lilyazaleamc]

I learned about your book through SAT and just bought it on Amazon even though I’m also 25 and don’t even have kids yet 😂 I love this concept so much!! This is such a creative idea and one that speaks so directly and uniquely to the ABC-experience. I’m definitely going to read this story to my future kids! On another note, I’ve always loved art and have started drawing more regularly during the pandemic. My dream is to create a children’s book someday too, and this video was super helpful in understanding how you developed this book. It actually gave me more confidence that this is something I can achieve one day too, and not just some crazy pipe dream. Congrats on the book and thank you for sharing this process with us!!

[@gotcathy]

Oh I'm glad! I didn't find many videos that shared the entire process when I was starting, so I didn't want to hide any details. Best of luck with your book, can't wait to see it!

[@funchi777]

great job and thanks for all the info, good luck

[@babybbbb]

I looooooooove this. I’m making a children’s board book. I’m pumped and excited...

[@melissamendez7042]

Love your book! You are an amazing illustrator!

[@gotcathy]

Thank you very much!

[@lilacdoodz]

Thank you for making this video! I am looking to create a kid's ABC book and it was helpful to see your process. I hope you hear back from the traditional publishers!

[@blueberrypancakes7330]

Thanks for this useful information. Very cute story how you decided to publish your book.😊

[@callmequasha]

Girl I’m so proud of you! This is great. The character studies are TOUGH. Glad u pointed that out bc that’s where I’m at AND STRUGGLING UGH. Love this book! Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@gotcathy]

super tough, i definitely need to work on drawing people, best of luck to you!

[@gigipaquette]

I am So Proud of You! What a wonderful way to connect and share culture and the love of food we all have. Great job and your illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! Have a wonderful day!

[@gotcathy]

Thank you so much for your nice words!

[@gotcathy]

And thank you for supporting me on ko-fi. That was so nice of you, I really appreciate it ❤️❤️❤️

[@fbee2555]

Than you for the sharing your journey . Love your editing and video style 😊

[@gotcathy]

Aw glad you enjoyed the editing and video!

[@lexislittlenook2861]

You are so talented and this is such a creative fun book!! I'm a children's author/illustrator too :) I'm glad you made this video!

[@gotcathy]

Congratulations Lexi on the book!!

[@jackienoland78]

Absolutely beautiful. I especially loved your reading of your book. I'd buy your books for my grandchildren.

[@gotcathy]

Aw thank you for the support!

[@Kind_Rebel]

You’re so thorough and amazing! Well done & thank you 🤗

[@gotcathy]

Thank you so much!

[@BCGraphixArt]

Amazing idea!!!!!

[@tiffanyblackman8603]

That is awesome! Congrats on your hard work. Beautiful book. I plan to buy it as I try to promote diversity of books. Just gorgeous.

[@gotcathy]

Thank you! I agree, diversity in children's books is so important!

[@SomethingYouSee]

Excellent book! powerful concepts! thank you

[@lindadelangis5211]

Absolutely adorable ❤

[@zeroamericanhero]

This is so simple and amazing

[@tammydouglas1012]

Congratulations!🎉 Wonderful book!

[@modernmusicstudio303]

Great video and great book! I love that you chose to incorperate foods that you grew up with. I think it's a great way for kids that don't grow up with these foods to learn more about other foods and cusines from other cultures. amazing artwork and such a great idea!

[@gotcathy]

Aw thank you, I agree, exposing kids to other cultures is super important

[@The_nqeen]

Awesome JOB. Congratulations 🎉🎊

[@MeziahRuby]

This is so cool!! That timelapse of the process 😍

[@gotcathy]

Thanks, glad you liked the time lapses

[@becomingandgoingbooks]

This book is brilliant! I am so happy I came across your channel. I really liked G ginger and O octopus. Thank you for sharing your skill. 😀👍🏾

[@rubymichelle]

Hi Cathy! I love this! My name is Ruby and I am a freelance illustrator trying to break into children’s literature! I’m also currently working on writing my first book as well! I used to teach preschool and I always thought it would be so cool if one of my books was read during circle time! I love how detailed and organized your process is and i’m definitely taking notes on that! I will for sure be picking up your book! (Saw a lot of my favorite foods in there as well! 😊) Thanks again for sharing! 💜

[@gotcathy]

I agree, that would be so cool to read your own book to kids! Best of luck!

[@christina413]

Congrats on your book! What an amazing accomplishment 🤩🎉

[@gotcathy]

Thank you so much!!

[@coleycole77]

I’m not an ABC and I absolutely love this! Teaching Chinese kids using their cultural foods and educating non-Chinese kids about another culture. All around excellent idea!

[@ChristineChern]

Here from AHN! Congratulations on completing this project, Cathy. I will admit that when I first saw the post I was like oh man another person out here trying to capitalize on Asian identity 🙄🙄 but I see now through your video that this was truly an artistic project for you and you absolutely deserve to be published traditionally!! I am going to be starting as an elementary school teacher next year, and I will definitely save this to use as a resource and hopefully recommend to parents. (hope by that time you're available more widely too) look forward to seeing where else you go, and amazing job with the video too!!

[@gotcathy]

Hey again Christine! Oh interesting that you thought that, ya definitely not trying to capitalize it, just trying to share what I know, what I grew up eating. And an elementary school teacher? That's awesome! I'm sure you'll be able to impart a lot of your own identity and culture onto your kids!

[@relaxaationvibes8502]

Love your book! 😍

[@jessicasmith6938]

That’s awesome !!

[@Liars1992]

I love this!!

[@tiffsonline]

Love this! I saw Michelle's instagram post and stalked you and binged your vids 😂 love the way you film and edit 👌 subscribedddd

[@gotcathy]

Aw thank you! That's so nice, glad you like my videos

[@kevchristian]

Thank you for writing this book! I love the illustrations. Would be perfect if the pin yin and Chinese characters were on there in addition to making it a board book. Thank you

[@tamaradestefano8955]

LOVE THIS SO MUCH! Thanks for sharing

[@jecamartinez]

Found you through the children's book Facebook group--this is incredible and I loved watching the process! Congratulations!!

[@gotcathy]

I'm glad you enjoyed watching the process!

[@thesky4eva]

Your book is lovely. Congratulations on your first!!! I can’t pick my favourite food, they’re all too yummy. The cover is probably my favourite art wise.

[@xy4669]

great stuff, you go girl!

[@CamrynDuBose]

This is amazing!

[@cloudstarclaudia]

I love that, I am going to structure my art style. 🎨

[@strangewater]

You rip! Thanks for taking the time to make this video. About to publish my first children's book and this was super helpful. Congrats on the book it looks and reads great! Love all the colors

[@gotcathy]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for all the nice words!

[@ally5522]

@@gotcathywhat app did you use for drawing!?

[@gotcathy]

procreate! @@ally5522

[@A107S]

I’m not Asian but I am fascinated by your Culture. I like to learn and cook authentic Asian food. My sister-in-law is Thai and has taught me some of her recipes. And my kids are quite a custom to eating these types of Foods. I’m totally buying your book. LOVE THIS IDEA! Also I hope to be a Published children’s author as well. That’s how I found this video.

[@omarhandmade]

Congratulations.. inspiring.. for years I dream of writing and illustrating children books but I've done nothing .. this is encouraging .. good job and hope you publish your second book soon ..

[@AramideLoisOsho]

Hey! Did you eventually write your book? I was like that too for many years and finally I’ve started writing. I will be done writing in a few days/ weeks and will get to publishing. All the best

[@AngelTrazo]

Learned about your book through Asian Hustle Network! 🥰 this is sooo cute :)

[@gotcathy]

I'm glad you liked it!!

[@mmsutantowrites]

Your video was recommended to me by the KZbin algorithm, probably because I've been searching on the writing process for picture books :) What a cute book you made! I live in Indonesia and I wish I could buy it here. My favorite is letter is a tie between Xiao Long Bay and Zong Zi.

[@gotcathy]

Glad it helped, good luck with your own picture book!

[@babybojanglesjr]

Very nice and inspiring! I would like to try out the Xiao Long Bao.

[@gotcathy]

You definitely should, even Trader Joe's has some good ones now

[@thewave3953]

Awesome, I live in China and this book is a great melding of our cultures. My kids will love this.

[@michellechang827]

amazing! beautiful! inspirational!

[@gotcathy]

wow! thank! you!

[@kiarahelen6006]

You go girl!

[@surumepopstar8815]

Oh...great book!

[@zelalemtadesse]

Great work!

[@user-fs5nu4jp5f]

Love this as a kindergarten teacher!

[@gotcathy]

yay I'm so glad!

[@parrisink]

I've never tried or heard of a lot of those foods, it would be a really fun video for you to invite a friend who's also never had them and we watch them try them for the first time! Probly also be good book promotion too.

[@SarahKatieLB]

i love this!!!!!

[@JohnSmith-kb3ll]

Good job, thanks for the video.

[@amyyang5432]

The book is very beautiful ❤

[@happycat506]

great idea

[@jamyb1872]

omg ur so awesome, n ur book is cool!!! thanks hun

[@elenakamai2662]

Thank you for sharing!!! :))

[@MaureenRuiz-Cederboom]

You did AMAZING

[@gobstopper0821]

I love your illustrations & really just appreciate how you shared the why/how you ended up creating a children's book... One of my dreams is to be a children's book author and would really love collaborating with illustrators like you and creative minds...! Thanks so much for sharing your art and taking that chance. So glad I stumbled upon this on Subtle Asian Traits.

[@gobstopper0821]

Btw I think the Jackfruit+kumquat pages were my fav 🧡

[@gotcathy]

That's awesome, you should definitely pursue that dream! Haha, jackfruit was pretty tough to draw because the texture of the spikes is so weird

[@itsdaksha]

I am an Illustrator! Send me your budget on @dakshagiri.png on Instagram 😊

[@Graced555]

I love this ❤

[@sanpls]

This is amazing. Great video

[@gotcathy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zanhoward9182]

Beautiful book, great achievement ! It would have been nice to see the Chinese as contrast as well as seeing the English just as you have illustrated on the video.

[@deawinfrey2058]

Print it on Ingram Sparks. I want to do a board book and they are the only option.

[@chanmelody2839]

I love your illustrations!!! Which vector drawing app did you use for your published book?

[@gotcathy]

I didn't use any vectors, just hand-drawn on the ipad with the app procreate

[@adrianapusztai6960]

Well done Cathy. I'm not of Asian origing but your idea is brilliant and versatile. Best wishes to you

[@comehomestoptalkingaboutit3901]

I don't know how to use fancy art technology. So I am proud of you. My ebooks are on Amazon. For some reason, I cannot get past the stage of transforming my ebook into an actual book. So I say congratulations

[@ljones1908]

what is the name of your ebook?

[@hanamufti]

The colours are really beautiful in this too! Did you use RGB in procreate? I've heard KDP needs CMYK but when I print a test at home with RGB the colours are much more dull than they appear on screen. Would really appreciate your advice on this!

[@gotcathy]

Comment below your favorite food from the book, is there one I should have added? I'd love to know

[@AngelTrazo]

Personally would have loved B is for BOBA hehehe 🥰

[@rubymichelle]

My favorite is the Xiao Long Bao! Bao is also the name of my dog lol. 🐶

[@gotcathy]

@@rubymichelle omg love that for a dog name!

[@judymickens4989]

Love it I wrote a similar book

[@krycekuva]

lovely book! your style is great. i hope you make more ABC with maybe other objects or animals? either way I hope u succeed.

[@ninilovenana]

I love your book

[@JKABCreations]

This book is so adorable. Great idea! Can you tell me what program or software you have on your ipad that you can draw with? Sounds like so much fun! thank you!

[@gotcathy]

procreate!

[@JKABCreations]

@@gotcathy Great! Thank you kindly. You are very appreciated. God Bless.

[@mrsoreggio.illustrates]

I really love this book! It may be beneficial to apply for writer/ illustrator grants and get your books printed through a manufacturer. I noticed that most books are made in China. You can easily search online for a book manufacturer. Grant money, if you win, could pay for your prints....just a thought :)

[@christenmijovic2107]

Thanks for making this video Cathy! Very inspiring.. ✨ How did you you create the printable posters?

[@gotcathy]

I used procreate for all my artwork and print them on poster size.