An inside page showing the artist’s work

While I was distributing copies of Harry’s Trees to my family, and sharing my story with other writers, I had further interest in my book. Others who knew Dad and our family wanted to purchase a copy as well. I had taken that into account for my order and expanded it somewhat.

Fellow writer and friend Glynis M. Belec encouraged me to take the book to a general audience. I gave it serious thought and considered her as my means to that end. As a small publisher, she’d certainly be able to offer her expertise and she had successfully published books of her own and others. And so I asked if she was interested. I don’t know if she saw this coming, but she was delighted with my approach. Angel Hope Publishing would be the publisher of this new book.

To make my book similar to others in the picture book market, we needed to take a few different steps. The art and the story would remain the same, but the back cover would change to reflect the author and illustrator. And a short blurb, which she is very good at writing, I might add.

On the back cover of my family version is a dedication. Glynis suggested writing a new one and placing it inside of the back cover. I knew that much was needed for my audience would be different, and so I set about rewriting it to a general audience. Letting them know where the book started and incorporating those ideas.

Amanda Belec, a professional photographer and graphic designer, and daughter of Glynis, expertly trimmed the photo, taking out the darkness around the original old photo (one of the few we had of Dad by himself as a young boy). She set it up and added my new dedication to the page, nicely fitting it in.

I had a professional photo taken the fall before my first book, Once Upon a Sandbox, came out (James Woo of Clickr Photography). I’d use that. I encouraged my illustrator. Maja Wizor, to get one as well. We each wrote our bio and abbreviated it further.

Glynis looked after the ISBN and setting up the copyright page and looked over the whole project, making any tweaks as necessary.

Since illustrator Maja Wizor put the book together in her program, she needed to make a few necessary changes to text. We preserved the size and shape of the original version. Then Amanda adjusted the art just a bit on the front so it would be easy to tell one book from another. There would be no white highlighting around the letters, while the rest of the art remained the same.

When my new copy came off the press, I was delighted and so was Angel Hope Publishing when I invited them to attend events with me. Although Glynis was not able to attend them all, she was at Belgian Nursery with me the following spring when I promoted the book to a new audience.

I am perhaps most proud of the article in the Ontario Farmer publication. The writer, Helen Lammers-Helps, interviewed me and wrote not just one article, but two. I can credit her for introducing me to an new audience of people who especially cared about trees—Ontario farmers. And she included in the article that I would people looking for the book would find me at our home-town fair in September. And they did! People I didn’t know as well as home-town people who knew Dad through various organizations came and purchased a copy. It was such an exciting thing to be a part of.

After the fair promotion and success of that event, I began to think of other places where I could promote my book.

Book launch with children front and centre. It was for them. Artist Maja Wizor to the right at the Tavistock Public Library

My illustrator showed up for other promotions after the book launch at my home town library too. She came to Sheridan Nursery and Belgian Nursery the following spring. I have been blessed by her interest and creative efforts in Harry’s Trees, with artistic bookmarks and then her colouring page, from her original art, which I continue to use.

Carolyn and Zoe at Belgian Nursery May 2018

In searching out other nurseries, I was invited to set up a table and sell my books also at St. Jacobs Country Gardens, and invited to return again and again. With the turtle pond on one side and the fish pond next to it, it was the perfect draw for parents with young children and the staff were most welcoming as they had been at the other nurseries.