Long Overdue Newsletter: January 2021
Before we dive into our story, we wanted to quickly share the main pre-order page and the direct pre-order form where you can reserve your signed copy of Vicki and Kristie's book or the gift bundle. We'll be delivering these orders just in time for Easter baskets. More info on the pre-order page, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us - library@longoverduestories.com
Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the tale of how this all came together!
From Family Lullaby to Children's Board Book:
How "Oh Mother How Funny" Came to Life
When Vicki Toups Sheaffer found out she was going to be a grandma, she had an immediate lightbulb moment. Her idea: There's a lullaby in her family that's been passed down for four generations. She wanted to turn this lullaby into a children's board book. (terminology - An example of a board book would be "Goodnight Moon")
Why do this project? Because the lullaby would reach a fifth generation and be preserved in a really meaningful way. Because how awesome would that moment be reading a children's book - that you created - to your first grandson. It's almost silly clarifying a Why. It's like asking, "Why do you like pizza?" or "Why do you love your family?" The answer is simply: "I just do."
"Why" comes natural to all of us. But then comes the pesky "How." How blows the whistle like a hyper referee, rushing in to break up all the excitement.
"Okay, Vicki, just how are you going to do this? How do you make a children's board book? How are you going to get illustrations done? How do you get it printed? How do you do all this during a Pandemic? How? How? How?"
With every great Why, there's a dragon of a How that needs to be slain. So when Vicki reached out to us with her idea, we packed our bags. It was time for a Lord of the Rings style quest.
Finding an Artist
Vicki already had the lullaby. No editing was necessary. And the format fit perfectly for a children's board book.
Vicki shared what she was picturing for the cover and gave a few ideas for illustrations. Long Overdue Books Co-Founder, Chris O'Brien, is about as far away from an artist as it gets. And this isn't false humility like Vincent Van Gogh saying, "I'm no good at this." Nope. Here's what Chris scribbled down during the call: