How We Turned Kids’ Books Into a Full-Time Income
There’s a lot of mystery around writing and publishing kids’ books, especially when it comes to turning it into an actual career. How long does it take? What does the process really look like? And is it even realistic to make money doing it?
We sat down with a husband-and-wife team who not only figured it out, but built a thriving business around it starting in one of the most unexpected ways: during COVID, with five kids at home and zero grand plan.
What started as an effort to help their own reluctant reader turned into multiple books, a global audience, and a full-time career.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what first led you to start writing kids’ chapter books? Was it something you always wanted to do, or did the idea come later?
COVID is actually what propelled the idea, and it didn’t even start as a business. My husband lost his sales job the day the governor shut down restaurants, and our kids were home from school.
Our then 8-year-old hated reading. He was a good reader, but he just didn’t enjoy it.
After a month or two of struggling to get him to complete his reading at home, we sat down and told him we wanted to write the kind of book he would actually want to read.
As a family (with our older kids, who were 10 and 8), we brainstormed what that might look like.
My husband and I wrote the first book, and our son loved it. We shared it with friends who had kids of similar ages, and they loved it too. Later that year, we put it on Amazon, and my husband never had to go back to work.
By the time we released it, we already had three books written, and readers from all over the world were reaching out asking for more.
It took a few months for us to realize it was a very feasible business, and we never looked back.
What did your timeline look like from “I want to write a book” to actually having a finished chapter book? What surprised you most in that early stage?
It was pretty quick. Keep in mind that neither of us were employed at the time, though with five kids, “free time” is a bit of a misnomer. Still, we had more time than usual and spent a lot of it working on the book.
Since these are kids’ chapter books written for reluctant readers, we kept them short, especially the early ones. The first book was around 12,000 words, about the length of a Magic Tree House book.
What surprised us most was that editing (which we did ourselves) took longer than writing. We wanted the story to be simple but fast-paced and action-packed, and that required a lot of careful trimming.
Writing is fun. Cutting ideas and deleting scenes is not, but the end result is worth it when kids stay engaged and keep turning pages.
For someone who’s never thought about writing kids’ chapter books, can you explain how it works in simple terms? What are the main steps from idea to published book, and who’s typically involved?
We self-publish (with the exception of audio), so our process looks different from traditional publishing.
While some people frown upon self-publishing, we love it. It gives us full ownership of our work and allows us to move at our own pace. Plus, we only share profits with Amazon instead of multiple parties.
We release books quickly, about 10 per year, and even then our readers want them faster. Traditional publishing just wouldn’t allow that pace.
We usually start by creating a preorder. While this isn’t required, it works best for us because it gives us a hard deadline and helps build excitement with our audience. My husband and I brainstorm what will happen in the book and create a simple, bulleted plot outline.
The book is written over a couple of weeks, averaging 4,000–5,000 words per day. Once it’s finished, we move into developmental editing.
This is when we add or remove scenes, look for plot holes, and check clarity, pacing, and character growth. Then we move to line editing, focusing on word choice and sentence structure. Editing usually takes about another week.
After that, we send it to a proofreader who reviews it with fresh eyes for typos and grammatical errors. During the writing process, we also request a cover from our artist, who typically delivers within a couple of days. Our books are image-free, so we don’t need an illustrator.
Finding the right proofreader and artist took time. We needed people who were both talented and fast.
Once the book is complete, we upload it to Amazon KDP, choose our keywords and SEO, and Amazon handles distribution. Promotion, however, is up to us
Can you walk us through what a typical month looks like when you’re actively writing a book?
In total, it takes about a month per book, which sounds crazy, even to us. But the books are short, and we write long-running series, so we’re very familiar with the characters and overall story direction.
Think of it like a TV series: there’s a larger overarching plot, but each book has its own smaller problem to solve.
We typically work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. If a deadline is approaching, we’ll work longer hours or weekends.
Starting a new series takes much longer. We often do a “writers retreat,” where grandparents watch the kids and we get an Airbnb to brainstorm and develop characters.
The first book in a new series can take months, but once the tone and characters are established, the process speeds up significantly.
People are always curious about the money side. How does income work, and what can someone expect starting out?
There are many ways to earn income, but since we self-publish, we don’t receive advances (aside from small ones for audio).
Our main income comes from Amazon. About 60% is from Kindle Unlimited, where we’re paid per page read, and the remaining 40% is split between paperback and ebook sales.
We also earn from audiobooks (shared with publishers), in-person events like comic cons, and especially from our back catalog. Translations, bundled collections, and special formats like dyslexia-adapted editions all generate additional income often without requiring new writing.
Income in the arts can vary widely, but if you approach it like a business, there is definitely an audience out there.
What were the biggest requirements to get your first book out into the world? What helps people actually follow through?
The biggest hurdle is simply finishing the book. Many people get stuck chasing perfection, but readers don’t want perfection, they want a compelling story.
Our advice is to write every day. Even one sentence counts. Writing is a muscle, and it strengthens with use. Reading is equally important. We focus on getting words on the page first and refining them later.
What were the hardest parts creatively and emotionally?
Getting started can be intimidating. Staring at a blank page is tough. Emotionally, it can also be hard to cut scenes you enjoyed writing, but if they don’t serve the story, they have to go.
Learning what’s essential versus what’s just extra is a key skill.
What are common misconceptions or mistakes beginners make?
Kids are not adults, but they’re not unintelligent either. They can follow complex plots, connect with characters, and enjoy both humor and depth.
Common mistakes include poor formatting, weak covers, skipping editing, and rushing publication. The cover draws readers in, the blurb gets them interested, and quality keeps them coming back.
How demanding is this work week to week, and what helps you stay consistent?
It can be a lonely job, but we’re fortunate to work together. We also rely on family support when needed.
We try to work during school hours and keep family time separate. Preorders give us firm deadlines, and we hold weekly planning meetings to stay on track. After five years, we haven’t missed a deadline.
What would you say to someone who feels intimidated or unsure about writing?
There is an audience for every book. Even now, we sometimes feel like imposters. But readers continue to connect with the stories, and that’s what matters.
Can you give a simple step-by-step breakdown of your process?
We brainstorm freely and develop strong, believable characters. We create a flexible plot and set up a preorder to establish a deadline.
Then we write every day, revise thoroughly, and cut anything unnecessary.
We order cover art, use beta readers when needed, complete final edits and proofreading, format the manuscript, upload it, and continue promoting the book.
