Elle Cole is a homeschool mom, podcaster, health advocate who just added author to her resume. She just completed her newest project, A Sickle Cell Coloring Book for Kids. In this informative Q&A, Elle will walk us through her inspiration for the coloring book, how long it took to make her dream a reality and how she’s spreading the word about its upcoming launch. Be sure to follow her online and tune in to her insightful podcast.
Meet Author & Podcaster: Elle Cole
How did you come up with the idea for this book?
I wrote the book after my daughter’s first sickle cell pain crisis when she was five years old. Watching her in pain and not being able to do anything to help her worried me. I worried about her and her future. At the time, I didn’t know where to go for encouragement or reassurance so I processed all of the information I had learned and I wrote out my thoughts. Writing helps soothe me, and when I was done I had the first draft of the book.
Who is this book designed for?
The book is for children who have sickle cell disease and their parents. Last year, I spoke at two conferences and shared my experience as a mom and a caregiver. The audiences at the conferences wanted something tangible, so I decided that I would follow through and publish my book. I got the idea to create a coloring book from a fellow blogger, Brandi Riley.
Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the world, so I wanted a book that reflected diversity, because this blood disorder, doesn’t only affect people who are Black. I also wanted moms and dads who have kids with sickle cell disease know that they are not alone and I wanted to give them hope for their child’s future. Additionally, I wanted to give both the child and parents a tool to teach them terms and instill confidence, using words that even a child could understand.
Describe the moment you saw the cover & illustrations.
So I hired an illustrator. I knew that I wanted creative control over everything. Therefore, I looked for an illustrator that I could connect with, I described the pictures with words and gave Kate Hamernik my feedback. It was a long process but it was amazing to see how she captured what I was thinking on, took my words and created sketches. She sent me each one, sometimes one at a time, for paper. It was magical really.
As she created the illustrations, I also realized how much I needed different types of people to be represented. I wanted the people in the book to represent different weights, ages, and ethnicities. I also wanted the health professionals represented to be diverse as well because all children should be able to see that they can grow up to become doctors, radiologists, hematologists, etc.
There were times when I wanted hairstyles changed and Kate was patient as I described the details of the character’s hair. Amazingly, she created what I envisioned and the illustrations came out great.
The cover was the last illustration that was completed. In my mind, I wanted the book to reflect my husband and me with our daughter. I wanted it to show us talking to her and holding the book. After many revisions and talking with friends, I went with the cover of a boy with his parents.
What’s been your family’s reaction to seeing this book go from dream to reality?
So, this is where I get teary-eyed. I first read the words to my daughters when they were five. They are now 11, so six whole years have passed. My daughters helped with the book by sharing their illustration ideas and critiques. My husband has also been very, very supportive. He did the layout and design of my book. Without his assistance, this project would still only be a dream. When the proof of my book arrived, I showed them, and one of my daughters, Maya said, “Mom, I’m so proud of you.”
Hearing her words brought tears to my eyes. I want to leave a legacy in this world, and this book is the beginning of it. It is my way of saying to moms who worry about their kid’s health that I too have been there, but the best thing we can do for our children is to love and care for them as they grow and make sure we all have the knowledge to care of each other.
How will you work to spread the word about your book?
I plan to spread the word on all social media platforms. On June 18, I am having a virtual book party. I want to give everyone who has helped make this dream a reality a chance to tell the world how much the book means to them. I also want people to know that the Sickle Cell Community is fighting for a universal cure so that children born with it will not have to experience pain or other health problems.
June 18, I will have an official launch party to celebrate the completion and release of “A Sickle Cell Book for Kids” you can order your copy now at https://t.co/V8PQXJZa1h so we can celebrate together one day before #WorldSickleCellDay.#parenting #sicklecellawareness #SCD pic.twitter.com/cpTcnqWH9b
— Cleverly Changing (@Cleverlychangin) June 3, 2020
It is my goal that hospitals, sickle cell foundations, and clinics across the USA, and even the world will purchase copies of my book for children who are growing up with Sickle Cell Disease. So far, I have been discussing my book every opportunity that I get, because you never know who is affected by sickle cell.
June 19 is World Sickle Cell Day so my virtual book celebration on June 18th will be an opportunity to celebrate. On that day, I want to educate others about the disease, but give them hope about the future of sickle cell patients through my coloring book. I will also be selling copies during the Sickle Cell Community Consortium Virtual Conference on June 10th.
How can our community of influencers support you?
I’d love for people to buy the book especially if you know someone who has sickle cell disease and leave an Amazon review. I’d also like people to follow me on social media because I will be sharing updates about the book and new books as I release them. On Facebook and Twitter, people can reshare my pinned post with their own audiences. Sickle cell disease is very prevalent, even though people may not be discussing it. The book is great for classrooms too because there are children who attend school you often struggle with sickle cell.
Word of mouth and resharing is powerful. In fact, one day I was scrolling on Facebook and I saw a child holding my book. I said to myself, “That’s my book!” with a big smile on my face. The mom was telling other moms in a Facebook group about how much she loved the book. She said, “We love it . . . it is seriously the cutest! I think I’m going to order a second one and not let my fou-year-old color that one, lol.”
When I read her words, I felt like all of the hard work that I had put into working on the book from start to finish was completely worth it. What’s astonishing is that I saw her picture literally 2 days after I had casually shared my coloring book on my Facebook page. Someone else shared the post, and that’s how the mom purchased the book.
What’s your advice to bloggers who’d like to write their own books?
Go for it. I received inquiries in the past to write a book, which is common for bloggers, but I decided to self-publish. I made the ultimate decision to self-publish because this book was so close to my heart, and I knew that the finished product really mattered to me.
What’s next for you?
More books. Seriously, I am already working on an activity book for kids that will teach them about Sickle Cell Disease, and I am working on a journal for caregivers.
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