Category: Self-Publishing

Storytelling • Creativity • Reader Engagement

Dillybean Books

October is that special time of year when storytelling comes alive in ways no other month can match. Ghoulish monsters, sneaky ghosts, and dark, moody atmospheres begin to ooze from every corner, making the strange and wonderfully weird just feel right. Writers feel freer to experiment, and illustrators lean more into the dramatic and unusual. This is the month when storytelling takes on a creepy edge of mystery.

For young readers, activities such as school events, pumpkin patch visits, and fall festivals deepen their engagement with stories set during this time of year. Costumes and spooky tales, falling leaves, cooler air, and shorter days create a sensory world that pulls them into books, helping them visualize settings more easily. This is why children’s literature thrives this time of year. Artists have everything they need: atmosphere, emotion, and a sense of play. October is a natural gateway to fantasy, folklore, and creative storytelling.

For indie publishers, seasonal engagement is a must. Spooky atmospheres and eerie madness draw readers toward ghouls and ghosts, offering us a unique opportunity to highlight stories and artwork that resonate with the season’s excitement. Did you know that the United States recognizes October as National Book Month? This recognition offers indie publishers a great opportunity to connect with readers, even without seasonal releases.

During National Book Month, indie authors can share what’s happening behind the scenes, spotlight favorite titles, encourage readers to explore new genres, or invite them into conversations about what they’re reading as the days grow moodier. October’s atmosphere makes even our smallest updates feel cozy and intentional, turning everyday routines into shareable, seasonal experiences. This is a month for us to step back, reconnect with our mission, and celebrate the stories we’ve already brought to the world.

If you’d like to receive more indie-inspired updates and behind-the-scenes insights–or just love a good picture book–join our monthly Reading List.

Picture Book Creation

Dillybean Books

Journey into Picture Book Creation •

Upon deciding to become a children’s book author, I had no idea just how much goes into creating a picture book. As a “newbie” in the publishing world, I quickly realized that hiring a professional illustrator was out of the question. So, I rolled up my sleeves, purchased a Canva license, and designed my very first picture book using their pre‑made elements.

And honestly? It was a lot of fun.

I learned so much — not just about illustration, but about writing, formatting, barcodes, copyright, marketing, publishing, uploading, downloading, EPUBs, PDFs… the list goes on and on. There is truly a LOT involved in self‑publishing a book. But I stuck with it, step by step, and seeing my first book come to life made every challenge worth it.

Now I’m deep into my second book. This time, I wanted to push myself further and create the illustrations digitally from scratch. After some research, I decided to try Affinity — a free, easy‑to‑use program that works similarly to Canva. So far, I’m loving it. The entire book is formatted, the text is locked in, and I’m currently illustrating pages 22–23. Things are moving right along!

It’s been a wild, wonderful learning experience so far, and I can’t wait to share more of this journey with you as I grow into the world of children’s books.

Happy Reading!

Picture Book Thumbnails

Dillybean Books

Where the Story Begins •

Before picture books ever become fully illustrated, text-filled, polished pages, they start as thumbnails. Thumbnails are tiny, rough sketches that help me plan the whole story, page by page. With these little drawings, one can map out where the text will go, shape the illustrations to better tell the story, and build the rhythm of the book, including those exciting page turns that keep little ones reading.

Thumbnails get erased and redrawn so much that the paper is wears thin, but that’s okay. It means the story is getting clearer, stronger, and coming together in a way that feels right.

Here’s a thumbnail from a first picture book. It’s a great example of how tiny and rough these sketches are, and how much they help plan the story long before the illustrations begin.

It’s exciting to watch a picture book start small, like a thumbnail, and then grow into something big and wonderful for children. All the erasing and redrawing is just a natural part of that growth. The story will find its shape, one tiny sketch at a time.

Happy Reading!