Thirty-One Books In Six Months

Thirty-one children's books. Written in a creative sprint. Published within months.When Kelly Anne Manuel tells that story, the most surprising part isn't the speed; it's the clarity of purpose behind it. Her mission is to give kids a steady stream of comfort, confidence, and language that feels fun to live in.In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Anne Manuel, a children's book author whose modern nursery rhymes often arrive uninvited. She "hears" them while walking the dog, drifting off to sleep, or moving through a hard moment. We dig into how she flips familiar phrases to help children see the world differently, and how her stories stretch from playful early learning to bigger themes like endings, loss, and personal boundaries.If you care about early childhood development, literacy, or positive self-talk, you'll hear how entertainment and emotional support can share the same page.What we cover:The creative process behind writing 31 books in a single sprintWhy she chose hybrid publishing with Balboa Press over traditional or self-publishing routesHow to write synopses that actually land with parents, teachers, and librariansBuilding an author platform through audiobooks, digital libraries, video read-alouds, and focused PRQuieting the inner critic long enough to createWhy momentum often comes from saying yes to the next right opportunityKelly shares what's worked, what's still unfolding, and the mindset that keeps her writing.Who this episode is for:Children's book authors, writers weighing self-publishing vs. hybrid publishing, and anyone trying to silence their inner critic long enough to put words on the page. You'll walk away with practical ideas — and a mindset reset.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.