Q. What does your family think of your writing?

Troy: “A Little Fish Finds New Friends” was a book written for my kids – and in some regards by my kids. Throughout the process, they were shown illustrations and the song, and even at their young ages, they provided feedback on every aspect of the book. Now that ‘it’s a finished piece, they are the biggest fans of the song and the story. My four-year-old constantly sings it, and even my two-year-old knows the book quite well.

Q. What was the most surprising thing you learned about creating books?

Troy: Kids books may seem easy to write, and in some ways they are (i.e., they are shorter with much fewer words), but I soon realized that there are embedded complexities that quickly come to the surface – especially if you are self-publishing. These hurdles are likely the reason why ‘it’s so difficult to evolve a ‘children’s book from idea to reality.

Beyond the story, the illustrations are a key component when it comes to kids books. ‘It’s crucial to ensure that the illustrator is aligned with the author so that the story is told in the richest way possible. I was fortunate to have a good friend who could help me bring life to the story.

I also quickly learned that self-publishing is a journey. There are lots of considerations and details that you ‘don’t necessarily think about, and the process takes much longer than anticipated.

Lastly, it became apparent that marketing and selling the book is much more difficult than creating it. 

Q. What do you think makes a good story?

Troy: As I was writing this book, I wanted to make sure it was a story that had a positive message (making even the unlikeliest of friends), promoted family and friends and introduced the concept of “days” (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner, and then bedtime). 

Beyond the story and fantastic illustrations, I wanted my book to have a third element: Music. I noticed that my kids and their friends LOVE music. It seems to be an innate appreciation that almost every kid has, but that is sometimes diluted as we get older. But sometimes music can be yet another channel to further unlock the imagination, so I wanted to make that a part of my book.

As such, I thought that if I could incorporate a fun song to tell a well-illustrated story, kids would be more engaged and want to read more. Additionally, because kids are memory-driven beings, I hoped that if they memorized the song and associated it with the book, they could also grasp the concept of reading much more quickly.

Q. What advice do you have for writers?

Troy: My advice is mainly targeted for those who are looking to self-publish because I believe that if you are contracted with a publisher, you will have a different experience. 

For new writers who are navigating the process, my biggest advice is to stay focused and be disciplined. Recognize that the process will take considerably longer than you initially expect, so be patient. It is easy to start the process but increasingly difficult to finish. Also, be sure to do your research on the self-publishing companies because there are hundreds of companies out there. 

Writers, feel free to email me with questions about the process at alittlefishbook@gmail.com. 

Q. How did you become involved in the subject or theme of your book?

Troy: “A Little Fish Finds New Friends” was the product of a labor of love inspired by my kids and their love for bedtime stories for kids. 

The chorus of the song (“I’m a little fishy swimming in the sea. Please, Mr. Octopus, don’t eat me!”) was created during the kids’ bath time. What started as a fun bath-time game, turned into weeks of different song variations that they couldn’t get out of their heads!

From that “catchy” chorus, I wrote the rest of the children’s book that chronicles the day of a little fish exploring the wonders of the magnificent ocean and making the unlikeliest of friends. I then asked one of my childhood friends, Lindsey Nauta, to provide the illustrations.

The story ultimately evolved into a complete song and book that was paired with illustrations featuring captivating pictures of the most popular sea creatures. 

The result is a fun bedtime story that can be read, listened to, and sung by little “fishes” around the world.

Q. Can you tell us about one of the most rewarding moments you have had as an author?

 Troy: For me, the most rewarding part is the feedback I get from other parents and kids who truly love the book and the song. I was told that one kid brought the book into her classroom to showcase it as her “favorite book.” Knowing that other kids appreciate it as much as my kids do makes it rewarding.

Q. Are you working on anything at the present that you would like to share with your readers about?

Troy: I’ve got a few other ideas, but I’m focused on getting this book off the ground. As I mentioned before, it’s a lot of work to self-publish and I don’t want to sacrifice excellence. If I had a publisher, I would have a few other titles in the works. For now, I’m keeping them in the archives.

Q. Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

Troy: I hit on this a bit earlier, but there are a few different messages in the book. The most obvious one is that anyone can be a friend – we should be open to all types of people, even those that may initially seem to be against us. The little fish was presented with a lot of scary challenges, but he made the most of it and kept an open mind. 

Some other messages are:

1. Stay curious and keep exploring. The world is an amazing place, and we should never lose our sense of adventure. 
2. Family is so important. Cherish them, love them, and keep them a priority.
3. The book takes readers through a full day – morning, afternoon, and night (ending at bedtime). It teaches them about the concept of time and the importance of getting a good ‘night’s sleep to take on the next day.

Q. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Troy: I have gotten a lot of feedback, mostly from parents. All of my feedback has been quite positive, especially with the song. People also love illustration. 

The best feedback I get is when I hear from kids (like the example I gave above) who love reading the book and have it top of mind when they want to read or share their favorite story. 

The most consistent feedback I have gotten across the board is that many people didn’t realize there was a song. Once they understand that you can play the song through the QR code on the front of the book or the title page inside, they gain a completely new appreciation of the book and reading experience.