Figure 1 –  Children Reading Under September's Harvest Moon

"September is the other January." - Gretchen Rubin

In This Issue:

Quick Highlights This Month:

✨ EARLY LAUNCH: "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room" released August 21st
📚 DOUBLE FEATURE: September 27th brings two new releases
🎯 BESTSELLER CAMPAIGN: Paul Brodie launches promotional campaigns
🍎 HARVEST SEASON: New beginnings and confidence tools
❤️ MISSION: 15 months until retirement and a switch to full-time educational advocacy 

• From the Heart: September's Sacred Transitions
• LAUNCH CELEBRATION: August and September Book Releases
• Happiness Hack #13: The Circus Music Memory Method
• Literary Giants: September Authors Who Inspire
• Mythology Corner: Persephone's September Lesson
• September Back-to-School Wellness
• Family Activity: September Fun for Everyone
• September's Key Celebrations
• Question for Readers
• Call to Action: September "New Beginnings" Challenge

From the Heart: September's Sacred Transitions

"Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that autumnal beginning, as if last year's mistakes had been wiped clean by summer." - Wallace Stegner

Figure 2 - A Confident Child Standing in Front of School

September arrived like that moment in July when the HR specialist finally called back about my military records.

"Mr. Zarek? I uploaded your files. You're approved for retirement October 4th, 2025."

My first emotion wasn't excitement. The federal government requires paying back prior military service—in my case, over $12,000. The good news? I can make affordable monthly payments and retire without penalty by January 1, 2027.

That brought soul-deep relief—whew, breathing room to pay a debt I didn't know I had, and a path forward to successfully manage that debt down.

That same feeling I'd had back in June when that Stowe Story Labs rejection email arrived. Sometimes the universe protects you from distractions you didn't realize would derail your true mission.

As children across America head back to school carrying invisible backpacks filled with worry—Will I be smart enough? Will kids like me? Am I enough? —I'm reminded that I've been carrying my own invisible backpack for years.

The difference is, now I know exactly what's in it: 15 months to build the platform that will let me visit schools full-time and show sensitive, curious, brave-hearted children they are enough, exactly as they are.

That divine calling from October 2021 that sent me on a butterfly road trip across America finally makes perfect sense.

The manuscript that sat for two years evolved into ten Bella Brown books after my near-death hospital stay in summer 2024.

By May 2025, I'd written "The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed." By July 2025, I wrote and sent the revised manuscript of Pip's Epic Treasure Hunt to my editor.

Sometimes life's biggest interruptions become the perfect redirection

LAUNCH CELEBRATION: August and September Book Releases

"All the months are crude experiments, out of which the perfect September is made." - Virginia Woolf

AUGUST 21ST - "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room"

The book went live earlier than the planned September 3rd release. Paul Brodie recommended moving up the timeline, and Amazon confirmed August 21st as the earliest possible release date. We seized the opportunity.

Here's what I love about this story: Eight-year-old Bella Brown can't go to the town's butterfly garden until she's cleaned her room. She's overwhelmed about what to do. Can a phone call from Grandma Yetta help Bella turn her chores into fun entertainment so she gets to visit the butterfly garden?

Bella's messy room isn't a character flaw to fix—it's a starting point for discovery. Sometimes the best solutions come from patient guidance and creative thinking, not criticism.

Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner - Industry recognition before launch proves these stories resonate.

SEPTEMBER 27TH - Double Feature Launch

"Bella Brown—Grandma's Missing Butterfly Locket" celebrates the irreplaceable bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Perfect timing for Grandparents Day (September 7th), this story shows how family treasures carry more than monetary value—they carry love, memory, and connection across generations.

"The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed" revolutionizes how children see their fears. What if the monster under your bed was actually afraid of YOU? This perspective-shifting story empowers children to understand that not all monsters are scary, and when you try understanding and kindness, everyone wins and gets along better.

BESTSELLER CAMPAIGNS: 21-time bestselling author Paul Brodie, who has helped 197 other authors reach bestseller status, will run bestseller campaigns for both "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room" and "The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed."

Publishing Update: This month involved working with formatting specialists and bestselling author Geoff Affleck's design team to create enhanced Amazon presentations for the first three Bella Brown books, ensuring parents can easily discover what makes these stories special for their young readers.

Happiness Hack #13: the Circus Music Memory Method

"The windows are open, admitting the September breeze: a month that smells like notepaper and pencil shavings, autumn leaves and car oil. A month that smells like progress and moving on." - Lauren Oliver

Figure 3 - A Child Transforms a Sad Memory With Imagination

During my school visits, I take children through a complete transformation process beyond just reading stories. We start with physical movement—clapping, stomping, even wiggling their butts—to shift their energy.

Then I teach them how to instantly boost their happiness using strategic questions like "Why am I happy?" The subconscious doesn't care what information you feed it—it only wants to prove what you've said is true. When a room of children and adults ask this aloud, you can see mouths curving into smiles. It's contagious.

We practice the circus music memory method, participate in fast/slow bubble-pop races, and finish with progressive "I am enough" affirmations—building from whispers to their loudest indoor voices. The transformation is visible.

Here's the simple technique you can try at home:

When a sad or scary memory bothers you:

1. Picture the memory in your mind like watching a movie
2. Replay that memory with silly circus music in the background - bouncy, fun carnival sounds
3. Notice how the memory feels different, less scary or sad

Why this works: Changing how you remember something changes how it affects you. The memory stays, but it loses its power to upset you.

During presentations, I demonstrate this live. It's remarkable watching kids giggle as they add circus music to a memory, followed by genuine amazement that they can change how something feels.

This month's practice: Teach this technique to a child in your life. Watch how quickly they discover they have more control over their feelings than they realized.

Literary Giants: September Authors Who Inspire

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." - Jorge Luis Borges

Roald Dahl (September 13, 1916) - "The World's Number 1 Storyteller" never talked down to children. His characters face real challenges with courage, creativity, and often a touch of rebellious spirit. Like Bella Brown, Dahl's protagonists prove that being different isn't a flaw—it's a superpower.

Jon Scieszka (September 8, 1954) - Master of perspective shifts, Scieszka showed us familiar stories from completely new angles, inspiring my own innovations like monsters afraid of children. His approach of taking classic tales and revealing hidden truths mirrors what children's literature can do at its best.

Tomie dePaola (September 15, 1934) - Captured childhood experiences and folklore with warmth, influencing my own mythological work with Pip's domovoi adventures. His dedication to authentic cultural stories while celebrating universal themes guides my approach to expanding Slavic folklore respectfully.

These authors respected children's intelligence while addressing their emotional needs, showing children they can handle life's complexity..

Mythology Corner: Persephone's September Lesson

"September: it was the most beautiful of words, he'd always felt, evoking orange-flowers, swallows, and regret." - Alexander Theroux

September's mythology centers on Persephone's return to the underworld, beginning autumn's cycle. But here's the deeper lesson for children: transitions aren't punishments—they're natural parts of growth.

Persephone's story teaches us that change is inevitable and often contains hidden gifts, that transitions require courage but lead to new wisdom, and that seasons of challenge prepare us for seasons of abundance. Most importantly, someone always believes in our return to light and growth.

This mirrors every child's September experience—leaving summer's freedom for school's structure. The story reminds them that growth often requires brave steps into unknown territories

 September Back-to-School Wellness

"Outside the leaves on the trees constricted slightly; they were the deep done green of the beginning of autumn. It was a Sunday in September." - Ali Smith

September Awareness: Supporting Mental Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. During my Navy service, I learned to recognize signs of mental distress. I helped four military members connect with professionals who saved their lives and careers. Now I apply this preventive approach with children and families, building resilience before crisis points develop.

During author visits, I conduct activities where everyone experiences both winning and losing, plus cheering and booing. This teaches that external reactions don't define their worth. When we reach the progressive "I am enough" affirmations—building from whispers to their loudest indoor voices—the transformation is visible. These tools stay with them forever.

Crisis Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 | Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 | For immediate danger: Call 911

For Educators: Download 36 lesson plans at jwzarek.com, designed to build confidence while teaching curriculum standards.

Family Activity: September Fun for Everyone

 "This is, in a sense, my season—sometimes warm and, when the wind blows an alert, sometimes cold. But there is a clarity about September." - Faith Baldwin

1) September Gratitude Harvest Create a "gratitude tree" using brown paper as trunk and branches. Throughout September, have children write or draw things they're grateful for on leaf-shaped cutouts in autumn colors. At month's end, read through all the leaves together. This develops appreciation while reinforcing "I am enough."

2) Apple Science Experiment Cut an apple into slices. Leave some exposed to air, brush others with lemon juice, place some in water, and seal others in plastic bags. Have children observe which slices turn brown fastest and which stay fresh longest. This teaches basic chemistry while connecting to September's apple harvest.

3) Mini Pumpkin Hunt Hide small pumpkins indoors or outside for children to find. Add learning by labeling pumpkins with numbers or letters—children say the label name as they find each pumpkin. Perfect for developing both motor skills and early literacy.

September Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Celebrating September's apple harvest with warm, comforting treats

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 egg beaten, 1 cup milk
• 1 cup diced apples (Granny Smith or Honey crisp)
• Topping: 2 tbsp sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix dry ingredients, combine wet ingredients separately, then fold together with apples. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, bake 20-25 minutes until golden. Perfect for school lunches and fills homes with autumn aromas!

September's Key Celebrations

Educational & Literary:

• International Literacy Day (September 8) - Our mission day!
• Grandparents Day (September 7) - Celebrating inter-generational wisdom
• Labor Day (September 2) - Honoring hard work and fresh starts

Cultural & Awareness:

• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) - Diversity celebration
• National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - Supporting emotional wellness
• World Gratitude Day (September 21) - "I am enough" practice
• Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19) - Family fun!
• Harvest festivals worldwide - Celebrating abundance

Question for Readers

"September was a thirty-days long goodbye to summer, to the season that left everybody both happy and weary." - Lea Malot

As children everywhere navigate new beginnings, I'm curious:

What would you tell your September self—the child facing new challenges—if you could go back and whisper one message of encouragement?

Share using #SeptemberWisdom - I'll feature responses in October's newsletter.

Call to Action: "New Beginnings" Challenge

1. Support Literary - Pre-Order September  releases for young readers in your life
2. Help Sad Memories - Teach a child the "Circus Music" Memory Method 
3. Offer Encouragement - Offer encouragement with someone experience change 
4. Build Community - Visit your local library during back-to-school season
5. Spread the message - Use #IAmEnoughStories to share positive affirmations such as I am enough

Share your #IAmEnoughStories: 📱 Social Media: Use #IAmEnoughStories on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook 📧 Email: Send directly to jwzarek@gmail.com 🎯 Goal: 100 stories by September for next month's newsletter feature.

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 October

"Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm Official launch, mythology deep dive with Pip's adventures, holiday preparation tips, and updates on the path to 2027 educational mission. 

J.W. Zarek is a Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author of "Writer's Success Secrets" and "The Happiness Code." His first three Bella Brown Books that all won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, additional Bella Brown books, The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed, Pip’s Epic Treasure Hunt, and "The Devil Pulls the Strings."