I've dreamt of making an impact with my writing for quite some time now. The dream started years ago when I started to journal about the lessons I had learned early on in my adult life. What started off as a journal turned into a self-helpish book that I still dream to get published some day. 

One day as I was going back and forth between writing and daydreaming, I had this urge to write something fun and colorful, and with that, Beach Day was born. After a few unanswered queries to literary agents and about a year or so later, I decided it was time to self-publish. I needed an illustrator. 

Soon after I decided to take an impromptu little trip, a staycay if you may, to San Diego, just an hour or so south of my home in Orange County. It was far enough for a change of pace but close enough for a quick weekend getaway. 

Little did I know this spontaneous trip would turn into one of my favorite serendipitous stories yet. After having spent the day visiting with vendors at the local farmers market and grabbing a latte at a cute little cafe, it was time to get ready for dinner.  I was definitely not too excited about dinner alone but decided to get out of my own head and be open to a night out on the town. 

I chose a fun restaurant near the water and found a seat at the bar. I quickly made friends with a lovely couple that were in town for the night and leaving for a cruise the next morning. We spoke of our lives and of course, I mentioned my dream of self-publishing my children's book. To my surprise, one of their siblings was a children's book illustrator. I was elated. They offered to connect me when they returned from their trip. 

In the meantime, I was also blessed with the accountability partner that I didn't know I needed, my new hairstylist, Lauren Ashley Green at Tress in Newport Beach. Naturally, I updated her on my life and all of the happenings and she did the best thing I could've ever asked for, she gave me a deadline to get things started. I needed to make progress on my book before my next hair appointment. 

I got in touch with the new friends I made in San Diego and of course, as promised, they put me in touch with their sibling. Although he was not able to assist me with the illustrations at the time, we had a wonderful conversation and he referred me to the sweetest woman in Paw Paw, Michigan who had extensive knowledge of the self-publishing space. Her wisdom and support helped me navigate the self-publishing world and also helped me find my amazing (and very patient) book designer from Barbados, Uzuri Designs.

Now, after about year of perfecting, Beach Day, the first book of the My Little Daycay collection, has come to life and is now available for nationwide distribution.

This book was made with lots of love and joy and I hope that it spreads sunshine to anywhere you and your family might be. 

With love, 
Talien