Behind the Scenes: From Sample Book to Final Production

One of the things I've learned while bringing On the Way Back: A Discovery of Nature to life is that creating a children's book involves so much more than writing a story and bringing illustrations to life. Once the artwork is complete, an entirely new adventure begins—printing, binding, production, and making sure the final book is something readers will treasure for years to come.

Over the past few weeks, I've been working closely with my printer as we moved from sample copies into full-scale production.

The good news? The sample book turned out beautifully! Seeing the story come to life in a printed book for the first time was an incredible moment.

As we prepared for a larger print run, however, the printer identified some challenges with one of my favorite features of the book: the fold-out pages. The original version included ten fold-out pages, which looked wonderful in the hand-assembled sample copy. However, producing hundreds of copies with that many fold-outs would create quality and manufacturing challenges that could affect the consistency and durability of the finished books.

Rather than move forward with a version that didn't meet the standards I have for this project, I worked closely with my printer and illustrator to find the best solution.

After reviewing several options, we redesigned portions of the book and created a revised edition that includes four fold-out pages, while transforming some of the remaining content into full-page interactive spreads. This approach preserves the spirit of the original design while ensuring that every copy can be produced with the quality and durability young readers deserve.

I'm also excited to share that these revisions have now been completed, approved, and submitted for printing!

There is another exciting piece of news as well. Because I fell in love with the original proof copy, I've decided to print a very small batch of 25 special edition books featuring the original fold-out design. These copies will be reserved as a special thank-you for a limited number of early supporters who helped make this project possible.

This journey has included plenty of learning, problem-solving, and behind-the-scenes decisions, but every step has brought us closer to the finished book.

Most importantly, On the Way Back: A Discovery of Nature is now officially in production and remains on track for its planned mid-July release.

Thank you for following along on this adventure. I can't wait to hold the finished books in my hands—and even more excited to get them into yours.

With gratitude,

Gloria O'Hare

Author, On the Way Back: A Discovery of Nature