I feel so privileged to pour my heart into the second book of my series!
As soon as I started self-publishing my first book, “Pop Out Loud, First Day of School“, I imagined a full series where my main character, Jimmy the kernel, would be popping his way through different experiences, with deep emotions. After my book launch in October 2024, I had no idea when my next book would come out, or even how to determine when to get started on it.
If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll know that the book launch was quite overwhelming for me. There was a brief period where I couldn’t escape that overwhelm, and then I remembered I can just be in my feelings (it’s funny how we are so quick to forget). So I didn’t force them away, and as I thought about book two, I let go of all timelines. I would think: maybe two years from now will be the right time, but there is no need decide in this moment. Then, one random day toward the end of November, I intuitively had another urge to put pen to paper. It felt right, not daunting, and as I struggled to find a balance between mom-life and author-life, the momentum began to pick up.
Due out later this year(!), my illustrator and book designer, Aline Monjardim, and I have been collaborating on “Pop Out Loud, First Day of Soccer” since December 17th, 2024! We have had two meetings so far; the first where we reviewed the manuscript then broke down logistics, planning, cost and expectations, and the second where we went through the story page by page, conceptualizing the illustrations in depth. Since then, Aline has sketched and coloured a new main character (stay tuned to meet him!). This time, I will be self-publishing my book without help from an agency, on my own with Aline. I look so forward to sharing the new challenges with you as well as what I am doing differently this time in regards to the book and the launch.
All along, I had a theme in my head for this second book, with an entire thought-out storyline. However, as I watched my kindergartener and his peers begin to navigate new, slightly more structured, school-aged extracurricular activities, it became clear that sports or group activities and sensitivity don’t always go hand in hand, and that this story to be the next book. Also, to my delight there were more than a handful of parents asking if I was planning to write another book, and more than a few of them offered up “Sports” as the suggestion for the theme. I was a little sad I didn’t get to use my original second storyline, because it’s packed with vibrant emotion and colour, however it makes me all the more excited for book three!
“First Day of Soccer“. Why?
As a highly sensitive child, the introduction of team sports at a young age was so overwhelming that it destroyed my sense of self-worth. Yes, that was in the 90’s, where in P.E, kick-balls were allowed to be directed at bodies and faces, and established teams of first-graders debating (whispers and pointing included) for ten minutes between the two remaining least athletic/introverted classmates was the norm. Though times have changed, as I witness sensitive children today step into their first extra-curricular activities, filled with new environments, boisterous peers and fast paced direction, it is clear that this can still be a challenging experience.
The first memory I have of a consistent decline in mental health is centred around moments like this (the irony, as sports are intended to improve health). I wrote this book because beginning a new activity – something that is socially decorated by society with excitement and pride – can be packed full of a range of emotion, and that is SO normal; sensitive children are not alone in these deeply overwhelming experiences. I believe those big feelings that come with big transitions do not have to define our days or our worth – and kindness to one’s self goes a long way. With authentic expression and open communication, a strong sense of self-love can be fostered at a young age. In turn, this can allow children to have more fun as they dabble in new things. Lets go Jimmy!⚽💕🍿