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Welcome to February.
What do you think of when you think of February?
Valentine's Day, President's Day, Black History Month, Susan B. Anthony Day?
For myself, I think of Ground Hog Day, and not so much the celebration on February Second, but the meaning beyond the movie starring Bill Murray—which is all about second chances. As a side note, my wife Alicia hates and I love the movie. But love or hate, getting the opportunity to relive the same day over until you get everything right is something that many of us would love to get.
"Sometimes you need to write other stories first to find the right way to tell the one that's been waiting."
This became startlingly clear last summer when Alicia insisted I go to the emergency room.
What started as a little redness on my leg the night before had ballooned to four times its normal size by the time she got home from work the next day.
Had I not listened to Alicia, I wouldn't be here today. That unplanned hospital stay became my personal "Groundhog Day" moment—the wake-up call and catalyst that made me revisit a manuscript gathering dust for two years in a folder on my laptop.
That forgotten manuscript didn't just get a second chance; it transformed into something bigger than I'd ever imagined. Back in twenty-twenty, I woke up with a divine calling to write a book for children about butterflies, which resulted in a zany cross-country drive across America visiting butterfly farms from Virginia to Arizona. What started as a single story evolved into an eight-book picture book series that I didn't even know I would write.
In fact, during my research trip, I met Rachel Barger at the Idlewild Butterfly Farm in Louisville, whose insights became the spark for "Grandma's Missing Butterfly Locket"—the second book in the Bella Brown series. Just like Bill Murray's character Phil Connors needed countless February 2nds to become his best self, that manuscript needed time to evolve into what it was meant to be.
Upcoming in the Bella Brown Series
Readers can look forward to these magical adventures:
- Bella Brown’s Messier Than Messy Room
- Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket
- Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm
- Bella Brown Meets Pip the Domovoi
- Bella Brown—Dragonfly-Dragonfly-Dragonfly
- Bella Brown’s Ten-Moon Mysteries
- Bella Brown’s Baking Bedlam
And speaking of trying again—maybe it's time for another movie night with Alicia. I hear "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988) is pretty good...
...yes, my secret's out—I love B Flicks and proud of it, dang nabbit. (Though she'll probably hate that one too.)
Happiness Hack #6: Love Your Story's Journey
When I co-authored the bestseller, The Happiness Code, I included five happiness hacks I shared with readers. However, the list shall forever be incomplete because there will always be another happiness hack to share or discover.
Here's what I've learned about loving your story's journey:
- First drafts are like first dates—awkward but full of potential. That original butterfly manuscript wasn't ready for the world yet, but it held the seeds of something special.
- Sometimes your story needs to marinate. What feels like giving up might actually be giving your creativity space to breathe.
- Magic happens in the unexpected. Who knew that a near-death experience would breathe new life into an old manuscript? Or that one story about butterflies would multiply into an eight-book series?
"Stories are as short or as long as they need to be, and with picture books, each word carefully chosen to advance the narrative and capture young imaginations best."
Behind the Scenes: The Bella Brown Pre-Launch Journey
Remember in "Groundhog Day" when Bill Murray's character finally learns to play the piano? He didn't master it in one day—even though technically, it was always February 2nd. Like mastering any skill, bringing Bella Brown's world to life has been a journey of continuous refinement and delightful surprises.
With "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room" set to launch this September, I thought I'd share some behind-the-scenes magic:
The Evolution of Pip
While working with Pip's character development, I learned that sometimes the most profound creative decisions come from unexpected places. That accidental purple splotch on his stuffed animal prototype wasn't a manufacturing error—it was inspiration waiting to be discovered. That "mistake" inspired an entire new book in the series: "Bella Brown—Pip's Perfect Purple Present."
A Stuffed Surprise
Thanks to Budsies, Pip isn't just living in our pages anymore—he's become a huggable reality. Having a physical Pip sitting on my desk while I write helps keep his personality consistent across all eight books. Plus, he's an excellent listener when I'm working through a new story.
What's Next?
As we count down to the September launch, we're planning some exciting activities:
- School visit program development
- Virtual reading sessions
- Butterfly garden events
- Interactive storytelling workshops
Author's Education Corner: The Picture Book Dance
Writing picture books is like the movie "Groundhog Day"—it's all about perfect timing and knowing exactly where to place each moment. Just as Bill Murray's character learned to catch that falling kid with precision, I've learned that every page turn should feel like unwrapping a gift.
When I started the Bella Brown series, I discovered that storytelling is a carefully choreographed dance. Take "Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room"—we crafted each spread to build anticipation. Will Bella clean her room in time to visit the butterfly garden? The answer isn't just in the words—it's in the pacing.
The Changing Landscape of Picture Books
Picture book word counts have dramatically evolved. While books from the 1940s-1970s often stretched to 1,000+ words, today's market demands more concise storytelling:
- Board books (ages 0-3): 0-100 words
- Picture books for toddlers (ages 2-5): 100-500 words
- Picture books for older children (ages 4-8): 500-800 words
The publishing world breaks down differently for traditional and self-published authors:
- Traditional Publishers prefer shorter word counts, responding to readers' shorter attention spans
- Self-Published authors have more flexibility, potentially extending to 800-1000 words, but with a critical caveat: every single word must earn its place
"Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room" landed at 382 words—not by aiming for a specific count, but because that's exactly what the story needed to soar.
The Illustration Dance
Collaborating with illustrators is like learning a delicate partner dance. The key steps:
- Trust their creative vision
- Leave room for their interpretation
- Know when to lead and when to follow
- Recognize that the most magical moments often happen in the spaces between words
As Neil Gaiman wisely noted, "When people tell you something's wrong, they're almost always right. When they tell you exactly how to fix it, they're almost always wrong."
Your perspective as a writer continues to evolve, connecting with readers in ways both expected and unexpected.
Writer Facts, News, and Metrics
Picture Book Market Insights for 2025
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, or help one lonely person into happiness again, I shall not live in vain."
Three statistics that matter for children's book authors:
- Picture book sales continue strong growth (325.5M units)
- School visit programs increase sales by 40%
- Series books outperform standalone titles by 65%
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