Have a youngster who loves outer space? Then you need a copy of Megan Erin Hamilton’s debut picture book, Zoom to the Stars. Keep reading to find out what inspires Megan and what she learned along her publishing journey.
Let’s get started learning about you. Who is Megan Erin Hamilton?
I’m a mother, writer, teacher, and puppeteer in the Minneapolis area. I have two amazing daughters and two cats who think they run the home. I also have a gang of fun-loving puppets. You can learn more about them (and me) at MeganErinHamilton.com. I thank God for my family, the beauty of nature, dark chocolate, and wonderful books!
Tell us a bit about Zoom to the Stars. What is it about and what inspired you to write your book?
Zoom to the Stars is a lively bedtime-space adventure about a boy who doesn’t want to go to bed because he wants to fly a toy rocket to the stars. A fun, imaginative bedtime battle ensues with his parents and dog. It’s all about creative play, family togetherness, and STEM discovery.
I was inspired to write this story by crazy bedtime experiences with my daughters when they were young. They were full of energy and playfulness and the best way to help them (and me!) get to bed was to play along and to end up snuggling in storytime to help everyone calm down enough to reach Dreamland.
I wanted to recreate that sense of childhood fun and discovery, along with the coziness of family. My daughters and I love science, nature, and stargazing, so that inspired the parts about rockets and space. The dog in the story is based on my oldest daughter’s favorite childhood stuffed animal.
Talk about how you found Argyle Fox Publishing and why you felt we were the right publisher for you.
I knew I wanted to self-publish but needed help with editing, design, finding an artist, and understanding the whole huge publishing process. I researched many hybrid publishers and was intrigued by your website. You were honest, to-the-point, and upfront about costs, timelines, etc. You were also one of the least expensive options while publishing quality picture books. I scheduled an intro call with you to learn more and see if we would be a good fit, and it was a pretty easy decision after that.
Who is your target audience, and what do you hope readers get out of your book?
Picture books are aimed at two audiences—both children and adults, which makes them more difficult to write than they first appear. My book is geared for ages 3–7 along with their parents, caregivers, and teachers. I hope to make storytime fun and engaging for all of these readers, with a lot of warm feelings and a little space education thrown in.
Your publishing journey hit an obstacle with illustrations early on. Talk about what happened, how you decided another artist would be a better fit, and how well Christopher Fowler met your vision for Zoom to the Stars.
Yes, I had found an illustrator online I really wanted to work with even though she wasn’t one you had vetted. I didn’t know much about what to look for as far as references and what constitutes really good art in a picture book at the time. But it didn’t take long for us to realize she wasn’t making edits we requested, and that her characters weren’t changing facial expressions or poses. Then we discovered she was copying work from previous books and possibly using AI. What a disappointment to lose those two months of time/work, but I sure learned a LOT in the process!
After that, I was very happy that you had a group of vetted artists you had worked with previously and a contract to keep a clear understanding. Chris Fowler’s initial sketches were great, and his artwork captured the spirit of my vision. I love the vibrant, happy colors and the energy of his pictures! Kids are loving the characters, especially the alien dog!
What are you doing to market your book and let folks know it is available?
I launched my book in November via my author website, social media and Amazon, and had formed a launch team to help spread the word. I made the eBook free for the first several days so folks could try it out and leave reviews. I held a launch party at our local library as well as virtual storytime on Facebook. Both of these were a lot of fun! I had been posting on social media and counting down to the book launch for several weeks, so many people knew it was coming. And I ran a holiday discount on my books through IngramSpark for Christmas and New Year’s.
Marketing has slowed down a bit now. I continue to post on my social media pages and have begun reaching out to libraries, elementary schools, and bookstores about doing author visits and storytimes. I’m also working on my next stories.
What feedback have you received so far on your book?
I’ve been thrilled that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! It makes me so happy to hear that kids are loving it and requesting it for storytime, and that their parents enjoy it, too. The reviews have been wonderful and I’m so grateful. My favorite feedback was that a little special needs girl, who is too young to really understand the story, often chooses it for storytime. That warms my heart to know that she can feel the warmth and joy of the story through the pictures and words!
What do you now know about book publishing that you wish you knew before getting started?
It comes with a HUGE learning curve, and nothing happens quickly. People will come out of the woodwork offering services—for a fee—and you have to be careful whom you work with. It is so helpful to have a writing community and knowledgeable people to help. It takes a lot of perseverance and patience to push through the whole process and make a million decisions, but it’s so worth it if this is your dream.
What would you say to other children’s book writers who have a story they’re considering publishing?
Learn as much as you can. Join author groups online, attend writing webinars and conferences, learn about your craft and the publishing process. Swap manuscript critiques with other writers and be open to honest feedback—every bit of it is to make your story the best it can be. Don’t be in a rush. A quality product takes time, but it will be worth it. And I heartily recommend working with Argyle Fox Publishing if you’re considering self-publishing!
Do you have another book up your sleeve? If so, can you give us a sneak preview of what it’s about and when you plan to present it to the world?
I have several books up my sleeve. A few picture books as well as a chapter book or two, and a devotional. I’m trying to decide which one to focus on next. It may be a coloring activity book to go along with Zoom to the Stars that I would love to publish before summer. I also have three faith-based short stories that will be published by Guideposts this year!
Where can readers find you online?
Come find me (and fun resources for kids and families) at MeganErinHamilton.com. I love to connect with folks on Instagram and on Facebook. You can also find my puppet videos on YouTube if you search for “Megan and Friends Puppets.”
Is there anything else the world should know about you or your writing?
My heart is to create stories that spark joy, wonder, and learning. We can all use more joy in life!
Thanks so much, and here’s to success!