Exciting News: "Pastor Jay" is Coming Soon!

After a fun camping weekend with my family, I returned home to find the finalized files for my new book, Pastor Jay, from my wonderful book designer. Below is a picture of the 3D book mock-up. Once I submit her files to Amazon's publishing company, KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), it takes about two weeks for Amazon to approve it and add Pastor Jay to their website for purchase. So, watch out for Pastor Jay in September! I'll keep you updated.

Available on Amazon in September 2025

The Journey of Creating "Pastor Jay"

How long did it take to write, illustrate, and design Pastor Jay? I rolled out Pastor Jay in just ten months, my quickest writing project yet. Since I am independently publishing my book through KDP instead of going through a traditional publishing company, the process goes much faster. I am the project manager for this project.

Inspiration Behind the Story

My favorite part of the publishing process is coming up with an idea for a new book. Most of my children's stories are inspired by people or animals that spark my imagination. This year, a very special little lady touched my heart with her love for her younger brother. Despite his silly antics, which kept her awake every night, she showed incredible patience. He would "preach," jump on her bed, and talk nonstop.

I had never heard of a three-year-old preacher before! The thought of a little guy struggling to sleep because he wanted to talk about God warmed my heart. And thus, Pastor Jay was created—my new children's Christian book!

The Characters of "Pastor Jay"

Pastor Jay has a lot to say! He keeps his sister, Ellery, awake every night by preaching to her stuffed animals on her bed. And let me tell you, she has a LOT of stuffed animals! Although Ellery wants to sleep, she patiently listens to her brother as he talks to her stuffies about God's creation.

Pastor Jay is a book designed to encourage kids to look outside for all the things God made. It shows them they can talk about God anytime they want. God isn't just for Sunday; He is for every day, even in the wee hours of the morning.

Finding the Right Illustrator

Once Pastor Jay was written, I got to work hiring the perfect illustrator for the story. I searched through illustrator portfolios on a website called Fiverr and found an illustrator from Ukraine named Alona Baulina. Alona is an expert at giving characters great facial expressions and has a whimsical style that perfectly fits Pastor Jay.

The illustrations took about three months to complete, with minor tweaks made on every page to really bring the story to life.

The Design Process

After the illustrations were complete, I hired a book designer named Vivien Reis. She added the story text to the pictures and formatted everything according to KDP's requirements. This ensures that the book gets printed correctly. Vivien always puts a lot of heart into her projects, and I was thrilled she could work with me on Pastor Jay!

A Heartfelt Thank You

Thank you to everyone who helped put Pastor Jay together! A big thanks goes to my husband, Mike, who continues to support me in my writing hobby.

Final Thoughts

I can't wait for you all to read Pastor Jay! It’s a story that I hope will inspire children to embrace their faith and share it with others. Keep an eye out for updates as we approach the release date.

Thanks for reading my Country Squawk,

Kelly