Figure 1 – Then Versus Now

 "Independence is happiness." - Susan B. Anthony

In This Issue:

• From the Heart: Declaring Creative Independence
• Happiness Hack #11: Chose Your Own Revolution
• The Bella Brown Series Update: Summer Reading Magic
• July's Literary Legends: Born to Create
• Independence Days Around the World
• Behind the Scenes: The Freedom to Write What Matters
• July's Magical Celebrations & Fun Facts 
• Author's Education Corner: The Economics of Creative Freedom
• Writer Facts, News, and Metrics
• Question for Readers
• Call to Action
• Connect With Me

From the Heart: Declaring Creative Independence

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Two hundred and forty-nine years ago this month, a group of brave souls declared their independence from a system that no longer served them. They risked everything for the chance to create something better, something true to their values and vision.

Sound familiar?

As I write this newsletter during what locals call the "dog days of summer" - that period from early July when the star Sirius rises with the sun, named by ancient Romans who believed it brought evil omens, drought, and madness - I can't help but think about my own declaration of creative independence.

 The workplace chaos continues. Last week, they announced that our "temporary" return-to-office mandate is now permanent, despite having 84 people fighting for 16 available desks daily. The commute situation hasn't improved. You can pay for parking a mile from work, and either take the shuttle upon “availability”, or walk. And the whole situation just reinforces why I'm ready for creative independence.

But here's the thing about dog days and difficult times - sometimes they force clarity.

Breaking Update: Independence Timeline

Figure 2 – New Opportunities

As I'm writing this newsletter, the workplace chaos reached a crescendo. When many organizations faced Reduction in Force (RIF), my agency offered three separation packages for employees leaving between September and October 2025: a severance package up to $25K, retirement at age 62, or early retirement with full benefits.

With over 21 years of federal service (including military time), I should qualify for early retirement. So I applied - and was denied because HR failed to upload my military service records to the retirement system. They told me I'd have to work until 2035.

But here's where it gets interesting. When I contacted the HR specialist who handles military personnel, they finally uploaded my records, which immediately triggered a reversal - I was approved for retirement on October 4th, 2025.

To count my military service, I'd need to pay back over $12,000 before October 4th - money I don't have lying around. But that same HR specialist who created this mess offered a solution: I could retire without penalty on January 1st, 2027, and make monthly payments on the $12K

So instead of being forced out under RIF with no compensation, I get to choose my independence timeline. And here's the brilliant part - I'm using these remaining months to fund my creative freedom, paying for all the illustrations and book covers for my entire series before I retire.

Just like those founding fathers who realized they couldn't keep trying to work within a broken system, I'm declaring my own creative independence. Not just from distractions and creative rabbit holes, but with an actual strategic plan and timeline.

This July, I'm not just signing a Declaration of Creative Independence - I'm implementing it with a 2027 target date.

Happiness Hack #11: Choose Your Own Revolution

"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." - Albert Camus

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826 - exactly fifty years after they signed the Declaration of Independence. They lived to see their revolutionary vision become reality. James Monroe joined them five years later, also dying on July 4th, 1831.

Talk about commitment to a cause.

Here's how to stage your own creative revolution:

1. Identify what you're rebelling against - Is it others' expectations? Your own limiting beliefs? Systems that don't serve your authentic self?
2. Write your personal declaration - What creative freedoms are you claiming? What will you no longer tolerate?
3. Find your fellow revolutionaries - Surround yourself with people who support your authentic creative vision.
4. Take small acts of rebellion daily - Every choice to write what matters instead of what sells is revolutionary.
5. Celebrate your independence regularly - Don't wait for permission to honor your creative journey.

Daily practice: Each morning in July, ask yourself: "What would I create today if I were completely free?" Then take one small step toward that vision.

The Bella Brown Series Update: 

Summer Reading Magic

     Figure 3 – Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm

"Books fall open, you fall in, delighted where you've never been." - David Mitchell

Speaking of creative independence, nothing feels more freeing than watching the Bella Brown series come to life exactly as envisioned.

BREAKING NEWS: As I'm writing this newsletter, my Illustrations Manager just sent me all the final book files for "Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm"! Book Three is officially complete and ready to buzz into the world. The files are being uploaded to Amazon and Ingram Sparks platforms for pre-sale, with a scheduled launch date of October 1st, 2025.

Additional exciting news: Chanticleer Reviews has assigned a reviewer for "Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm" with the review expected in 6-9 weeks. Literary Titan is creating a book trailer video for the same book, which should be available by July 8th, 2025.

Buy Pre-sale Books Web Links Available for pre-order on Amazon

Bella Brown’s Messier Than Messy Room

Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket

Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm

Talk about perfect timing - having Book 3 ready during National Bee Month (July) feels like divine coordination. And speaking of perfect timing for National Ice Cream Month, Book Seven in the series, "Bella Brown's Baking Bedlam," features Bella and Pip attempting to make ice cream for Grandma Yetta's birthday. Let's just say things get... interesting when a house spirit tries to help with modern kitchen appliances.

The series has grown from that divine calling back in 2020 into something bigger than I ever imagined - eight books that celebrate diversity, creativity, and the magic of childhood curiosity. Books 1-2 remain available for presale and continue earning awards and five-star reviews.

This is what creative independence looks like: writing stories that matter, staying true to the vision, and trusting the process.

July's Literary Legends: Born to Create

 Figure 4 – Children Reading Books They Love

July is absolutely packed with incredible authors who declared their own creative independence. Check out these literary legends born this month:

Children's Literature Giants:

• Beatrix Potter (July 28, 1866) - Created the beloved Peter Rabbit series and became one of the first authors to understand merchandising
• Natalie Babbitt (July 28, 1932) - Wrote "Tuck Everlasting," exploring themes of immortality and choice
• Brian Selznick (July 14, 1966) - Revolutionary creator of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," blending illustration and text in groundbreaking ways

Literary Powerhouses:

• Ernest Hemingway (July 21, 1899) - Nobel Prize winner who revolutionized prose with his minimalist style
• J.K. Rowling (July 31, 1965) - Created the Harry Potter universe that redefined children's literature and became the wealthiest author on Earth
• Hermann Hesse (July 2, 1877) - Nobel Prize winner and author of "Siddhartha"
• Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883) - Master of absurdist fiction who gave us "The Metamorphosis"

More July Literary Magic:

• Alice Munro (July 10, 1931) - Nobel Prize-winning short story master
• Harper Lee (July 28, 1926) - Gave us "To Kill a Mockingbird"
• Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817) - Transcendentalist who wrote "Walden" while living deliberately
• Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904) - Nobel Prize-winning poet and diplomat

These writers didn't just create stories - they declared independence from conventional thinking and changed literature forever.

 Independence Days Around the World

July isn't just about American independence! Check out these other July independence celebrations:

• Canada Day (July 1) - Celebrating confederation in 1867. Happy 158th birthday, eh!
• Bastille Day (July 14) - France's national day commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, symbolizing the end of monarchy and birth of the republic
• Philippines Independence - Originally celebrated July 4th (they gained independence from the US in 1946), though now celebrated June 12th

Fun fact: Many Danish emigrants brought July 4th celebrations back to Denmark, so they celebrate American Independence Day too!

The theme is universal: the courage to break free from systems that no longer serve and create something better.

Behind the Scenes: The Freedom to Write What Matters

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

The Monster Above the Bed

 Figure 4 – First Draft Images of Fred and His Dust Bunny Companions

Here's what creative independence really looks like in practice: "The Monster Above the Bed" has completed final edits and is now moving into the illustration phase. The illustrator should be starting storyboards this month, and once approved, will create all illustrations and the book cover, finishing by August 25th for our September 27th launch date. It's exactly the story I was meant to write - no committee decisions, no focus groups, no second-guessing - just authentic storytelling from personal experience.

I've already received the first rough drafts of Monster Fred and the three dust bunnies from my illustrator, though I've requested some revisions to better capture their personalities. I'll share the final character designs once they're perfected.

The dedication mentions Uncle Larry taking me to see "Carrie" when I was ten (thanks for the lifelong under-bed checking habit, Uncle Larry), and that voice who said, "So you think you're an artist now?" when my artwork hung in Congress.

Those experiences could have silenced me. Instead, they became fuel for stories that inspire, give hope, and spark imagination. That's the power of creative independence - transforming wounds into wisdom, obstacles into opportunities.

Website Updates

I've also enhanced my website with clickable filters, allowing teachers and educational professionals to quickly search through 36 lesson plans by grade level or specific book - both comprehensive and single-topic focused plans are now easily accessible. This upgrade makes it easier for educators to find exactly what they need for their classrooms.

July's Magical Celebrations & Fun Facts

July brings us an embarrassment of celebratory riches:

Literary & Creative Celebrations:

• International Joke Day (July 1) - Perfect timing! Here's one for fellow writers: "How many mystery writers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two. One to screw it almost all the way in, and the other to give it a surprising twist at the end."
• World Chocolate Day (July 7) - Because writers run on chocolate and caffeine
• World Emoji Day (July 17) - 🎨📚✍️ The modern hieroglyphics
• International Day of Friendship (July 30) - Celebrating the friends who support our creative dreams

Delightfully Quirky July Days:

• Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day (July 27) - Because even plants need adventure
• National Ice Cream Day (Third Sunday) - Growing up I loved French vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet, and I never knew why. As I got older, I'm drawn to anything with berries in it, such as raspberry ice cream, boysenberry ice cream. And the only ice cream I'm sure I don't like is the ice cream a chef made in a cooking program I was in--corn ice cream. They just wanted to show you can make ice cream out of anything, and their corn ice cream proved them wrong. Because, it's corn ice cream. What's wrong with you, chef!?!
• National Hot Dog Day (July 17) - Fun fact: Americans consume 150 million hot dogs on July 4th alone!
• Be a Kid Again Day (July 8) - Perfect for picture book authors

Amazing July Facts:

• July was originally called "Quintilis" (fifth month) but renamed after Julius Caesar
• The "dog days of summer" come from the star Sirius in Canis Major rising with the sun
• Three US Presidents died on July 4th: Adams and Jefferson (both on the 50th anniversary in 1826) and Monroe (1831)
• Calvin Coolidge was the only president born on July 4th
• July babies are said to be more optimistic and have lower risk of certain diseases
• Some studies suggest July babies are more likely to be left-handed

Author's Education Corner: The Economics of Creative Freedom

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." - Mahatma Gandhi

Let's talk numbers, because creative independence requires financial strategy:

Publishing Statistics That Matter:

• Picture book sales typically spike 35% during back-to-school season (August-September)
• Author entrepreneurs are thriving - Self-published authors who treat writing as a business see 40% higher lifetime earnings than those who don't
• Children's content is recession-proof - Parents prioritize their children's education and entertainment even during economic downturns, making picture books a stable market
• International markets are expanding - Picture books translate well globally, with international sales up 23% year-over-year

The Independence Formula:

1. Build your catalog - Multiple books create multiple income streams
2. Develop series - Readers who love Book 1 will buy Books 2-8
3. Diversify formats - Print, digital, audiobook, international rights
4. Create community - Engaged readers become loyal customers
5. Plan your transition - Know your numbers before making the leap

The goal isn't just creative freedom - it's sustainable creative freedom that pays the bills and funds your dreams.

 Question for Readers

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" - Robert H. Schuller

This July 4th, what creative independence are you ready to declare? What would you write, create, or pursue if you knew you couldn't fail? Share your creative declarations using #MyCreativeIndependence - I'll feature the most inspiring responses in next month's newsletter.

Question for Readers

"Sometimes rejection is a blessing in disguise." – Unknown

What's the best rejection you ever received—one that turned out to be a blessing in disguise? Share your stories using #BestRejectionEver. I'll feature the most inspiring responses in next month's newsletter.

Call to Action

Declare Your Creative Independence Challenge:

1. Write your personal creative declaration - What freedoms are you claiming? What limitations are you rejecting?
2. Share one creative independence story on social media using #CreativeIndependence2025
3. Support fellow creative revolutionaries - Buy books, leave reviews, share posts
4. Pre-order "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room, " “Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket,” and “The Monster Above the Bed for the September launches of these books.
5. Visit a local bookstore or library during National Ice Cream Month and treat yourself to both a good book and ice cream

Connect With Me

"Every experience, every word written (even those you think you'll never use), shapes your unique style and voice." - J.W. Zarek

Follow my author journey:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwzarek
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/JoeTweetster
• Facebook: /https://www.facebook.com/joseph.zarek/
• Website: jwzarek.com

Coming in August

Next month, I'll share updates on the workplace independence situation (will sanity prevail?), news about "The Monster Above the Bed" publication timeline, behind-the-scenes magic from the Bella Brown universe, and how this creative independence declaration is playing out in real time.

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J.W. Zarek is a Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author of "Writer's Success Secrets" and "The Happiness Code." His latest works include the Golden Book Award Finalist "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room", and the 41-award winning novel "The Devil Pulls the Strings."