Palm Harbor Local

From Palm Harbor to the Moon How a Local Family Created the Children’s Book Howl

• Donnie Hathaway • Episode 209

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In this episode of Palm Harbor Local, we sit down with Palm Harbor-based author Erin O’Brien, the writer behind Howl, a family-created children’s book about a wolf and the moon. Erin shares how a simple idea at the Palm Harbor Library turned into a fully illustrated book and the launch of her family publishing brand, Gran Apple Books.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How a casual idea became the story for Howl
  • Why Erin chose to keep the writing, illustration, and editing inside the family
  • What goes into self-publishing a children’s book on Amazon
  • The realities of marketing a kids’ book as an indie author
  • What’s next for Howl, Gran Apple Books, and future children’s titles

About Erin O’Brien:
Erin O’Brien is a Palm Harbor author and cofounder of Gran Apple Books, a family-run children’s publishing brand. She wrote Howl, a whimsical picture book about a wolf who longs to be with the moon, and collaborates with her brother Clint and niece Elise on the watercolor illustrations. Erin is passionate about storytelling, reading with kids, and creating the kind of timeless picture books she grew up loving.

Links & Resources:

  • Buy Howl on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F37QQZ52

  • Follow Gran Apple Books on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61573932335988/

  • Palm Harbor Local newsletter: https://palmharborlocal.com

  • Follow Palm Harbor Local on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmharborlocal

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves local stories and children’s books.

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SPEAKER_02:

Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, the podcast dedicated to building community and sharing inspiring stories from the heart of Palm Harbor. I'm your host, Donnie Hathaway, and today we are joined by Aaron O'Brien, who is the author of How, a children's book, now available on Amazon. Palm Harbor Local is all about spotlighting individuals and businesses who are making a difference, overcoming challenges, and fostering connections right here in our hometown. Now, if you're passionate about growing together, getting involved, and celebrating the people who are making Palm Harbor thrive, you're exactly where you need to be. In today's episode, we'll talk about why Aaron decided to write a children's book and why they decided to keep the entire production process within the family. We'll also talk about what goes into creating a children's book and what they have planned for their future children's book series. Now, don't forget to connect with us on Instagram at Palm Harbor Local for behind the scenes highlights and join our weekly newsletter at PalmaborLocal.com. Now let's dive in and build community together. So, Aaron, welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm excited to chat with you. And um the first, like we were just talking about, the first children's author on the podcast.

SPEAKER_00:

Yay!

SPEAKER_02:

So um the first book you you writ uh wro wrote in is is Hal.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And um tell us a little bit about the the process of of that book and and like where the the idea came from of like, hey, let's let's write children's books.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. So yeah, um I've always wanted to be a writer. I went to school for writing and I love it. It's my passion. Um and my friend one day was like, hey, you know what would be a really cool children's book is if the wolf was in love with the moon. A wolf, I'm sorry, was in love with the moon. And so um I was like, hey, that is a really cool idea. So I went to our local library, Palm Harbor Library, and I sat down and started typing away on my computer, and um that's where Hal was born. And then um my brother agreed to do the illustrations, and uh we just kind of got together um virtually because he's in Virginia.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so we got together virtually and started working out like a storyboard, and uh my niece is also an artist, and she joined in, and that's how Hal was born.

SPEAKER_02:

So talk to me about like your background. Like, did you um like growing up, were you always into books? Did you read a lot of books growing up?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah. So um my family kind of moved a lot. Um I'm from West Virginia, we moved to Virginia, moved to Tennessee, and then we moved down here. Um, so I was the new kid a lot. So books kind of became friends until I made my new friends in the new places. So yeah, that's kind of how my love of reading. Plus, my mom always read to me, and even my brother read to me um when I was little. So cool.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And you you remember that like as a as a kid, like then. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah, my mom. I remember um up until like I was even older, we were reading like Indian in the Cupboard. I don't know if you remember that book. Um, but we were reading that even when I was in my like I don't know, double digits.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, but yeah, uh both of them love reading. My mom especially is a big reader, and my grandma, who's um 95, is a avid reader as well. Cool, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And um more like fictional or non-fictional. Fiction. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of like a little escape, yeah, you know?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Are you guys speaking of movies too? Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah. My brother is super into movies. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, cool.

SPEAKER_00:

Me too.

SPEAKER_02:

Um what what's some of your favorite books from like growing up, like your your childhood?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, okay, I would say, oh man, there's a lot. Um, Indian in the Cupboard was one I really remember that stands out with my mom. Um, my brother used to read uh Stephen King to me when I was a little bit older, because we like kind of creepy stuff, um, which is a little weird, but um, so I loved I loved scary stories, like scary stories to tell in the dark and like all those different books. Um, but then before that, um, Good Night Moon is classic, and um now I read to my kids Room on the Broom and different, you know, um I like uh Jan Brett a lot and uh Margaret Weiss Brown. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So I remember I I was never a big reader growing up, and I I picked up reading uh later on and stuff, but more nonfiction than than fictional books. But as a kid, I remember the only but one book I one series I remember reading was Goosebumps.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah, yeah. R. L. Stein.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah. So like that was that was the one thing I remember reading. I don't think there was anything else.

SPEAKER_00:

Um I read a few of those as well. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And then like as our our we read to our daughters before, you know, children's books like like howl and stuff before going to bed and stuff. And and sometimes they'll they'll get into it um and they go through phases, you know, where they're like, Yeah, let's read a book every single night, and sometimes they're not really paying attention or whatever. But yeah, um, it is cool to read, uh, to read to them. And I think reading's important, you know, for for development and just, you know, our brains in general.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. I would say um I kind of think of it as like islands of um not communication but um connection. Because we're always on screens and um, you know, not always connecting with each other and books like your phone is not in your hand, the book is in your hand, and you're both like looking at it, reading it together, experiencing it together.

SPEAKER_02:

And it's magic. So, what do you think about audiobooks then? Do you listen to audiobooks?

SPEAKER_00:

I drink them.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So my j my other job is I work at my friend's company and we do um like packaging and um filling lotion bottles and things, and we're all on our audiobooks all day. Yeah, it's awesome.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Do you have a preference? Like if you were gonna sit down and and and read or listen to a book, or like which one are you choosing?

SPEAKER_00:

Um probably something like a thriller or something. It's maybe a little spooky, I think, because I was exposed to it when I was little, so I really love that stuff. And it and it kind of like forces you into like a different uh mindset. So like if you're you know reading something kind of like light, it doesn't do the same thing as like, you know, you kind of get pushed into another world.

SPEAKER_02:

So yeah. Yeah, it's interesting. All right, so let's let's circle back to your your uh book and and kind of like a little family business there, right? So your brother and your niece are involved in in creating the books.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Talk to us about like that process and and how that works of for for creating how.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, so um my brother does the illustrations. Um my mom actually did the storyboard for our new book that's coming out uh in a few months. Um but this one we did the storyboard together. Um he'll do the illustrations, like sketch everything out, and then um he puts those illustrations under a glass table, and then he uses like a tracing paper and puts the illustration onto that paper and um paints with watercolor. And then my niece will come back through and like for Hal, she did the night skies. So, like my brother would sketch out the wolf and the moon and kind of paint all that, and then she would go through and do the sky afterward. Cool. Yeah, and they'll like I don't know what the material is, but they actually cover the drawings with the material so that they can paint around it.

SPEAKER_02:

Around it. It's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00:

Interesting, yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And was that um was that kind of always a part of the plan was to to keep your family involved, or was it, you know, um, do you have any illustration experience? Like you've ever thought about thought about doing that yourself?

SPEAKER_00:

I have like dabbled, but I'm not anywhere near my brother's um level. He's been doing art since he I remember there's a uh a picture of a horse, a horse's head hanging in our hallway, my parents' hallway still, that he did when he was seven.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00:

So like he's like a prodigy.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So I kind of like can't even touch what he does. So I'm kind of the writer and he's the artist.

SPEAKER_02:

Is that what what does he do for for his career? Is it does he do artwork?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, he's actually going to school right now to for like a teaching degree. Um, but we're hoping, you know, eventually that our publishing company would take off and we could do that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's cool. So you have another book in the works right now?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. It's um oh sorry. Go ahead. It's a Christmas book.

SPEAKER_02:

Cool.

SPEAKER_00:

Um we were hoping to have it done, um, but he is finishing up his classes um and he's graduating in December, so it's taking a little bit longer. Um, but we're hoping to have it out for the holiday season. If not, it'll be out for Christmas next year.

SPEAKER_02:

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SPEAKER_00:

Um, honestly, it's it's kind of weird. It's kind of like magic. I know it sounds weird, but it's uh I get like a like an idea, and then it just I have to like shut myself in a room and then it just like flows. Like it's just like like it comes out from my head, like through my fingertips, and I'm just going. Like, and I it's it's bizarre. Like it's such a cool feeling. I know I probably sound weird saying that, but I get that.

SPEAKER_02:

It is um, do you are the ideas random or it's like okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna write a book and or I have an idea and you just wait until you kind of get into that that space where you can create that and finish that thought.

SPEAKER_00:

Like for this one, my friend suggested it and I kind of like let it ruminate for a little bit. And it was like maybe like a few weeks later that I wrote it. Because also with having kids and a job and you know, family life, yeah, um, it's finding time. So that's often hard because like if you're trying to write something, it helps if it's super quiet and calm. Um, so sometimes I don't get to write as soon as I would like to. Um, but for our Christmas book, um, I got the idea, I ran it by my brother, I ran it by my parents, everybody was excited about it, and I was like, okay, cool. And then I got super excited about it, and I made time and I like shut the door. And I think it was that day or the day after that I wrote it.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. So how long does it take you when you when you're sitting down writing? Um for this one.

SPEAKER_00:

For for this one, it took me like I mean, I'd say like two to three hours of writing like the bones of it. But then afterward, like my mom is uh was was a is a retired teacher, so she'll go through and edit it. Um and then we go through like a process after that where it's I don't know, I'd say it was like maybe a couple weeks to a month of just like tweaking. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so you kind of have like the framework and then you're just fine-tuning it.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. Cool.

SPEAKER_02:

I like it. I like it. Um and then well, we talked about like the cre the so you write the story and then your brother takes that story and and and uses his ideas and thoughts for the illustrations, or is that a collaboration?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, it's definitely a collaboration. Um, like for the Christmas one, my mom like went through like frame by frame and like did like a rough sketch of what it would look like. Um for this one, I kind of did that for my brother, um, where I went through and I like made like a mock-up copy of the book with like just printer paper, and and he was like, Okay, and like once he saw it, he was able to like make it his own. So yeah, but the first illustration, that was all him, and this was the first one that he did, and um this was all him. It was straight out of his brain. He's amazing.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Does he start with the cover? Is it always like let's do the cover image first?

SPEAKER_00:

And that that he did on this one, but not for the Christmas one. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So each one is its unique. Yeah. Um what about getting it it published, right? So this is it I've I've had this conversation before a couple different times, right? But there's like self-publishing now is way easier than than what it used to be.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Versus going your like through a a traditional publisher, which can be have its own obstacles and and whatnot. Um so you guys self-published. Yeah. How is that process?

SPEAKER_00:

So we went through Amazon. Um it's a lot. Like you have to.

SPEAKER_02:

Is Amazon the only place to like self-publish, or there's other other companies too?

SPEAKER_00:

I think I think there's other companies, but we just went through Amazon because it's the most cost effective and um it reaches so many people.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So um we had to kind of my brother had to put everything into like a PDF form, and then we had to format everything to their standards. And then uh the cover was actually the hardest thing. We had to get it like a certain amount of pixels or something. And um our friend, my friend Bob, uh, well, my husband and I have a really good friend, Bob used a Venice, and he actually went and um edited all of that uh so that it would fit within their standards. So it took a while. Um, and then we would send it in, and then then they would send it back and say, like, it doesn't fit this format or this, and we'd be like, Well, what does that mean? Like, because like we're both like creatives, we're not like technical, and we're like, what? Like, yeah. So we would have to go through and like figure that out. And so it took a couple I'd say like a couple weeks to finally get it live.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah, that's interesting, right? Like, because you know the the creative side now is like advanced into technology and stuff too. Like, so you can you can be creative and and and use text for your creativity, yes, but you guys are going like the the traditional route of like let's you know create the artwork and and everything first, and then we gotta convert it to the technical piece.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, we're kind of like old school, I'd say, because you know, I'm 41 and my brother's 11 years older than I am, so we're kind of like going like 80s, 90s style. And the book I'd say is more like an 80s, 90s style kind of book. Like a lot of the books now, which are great, like and no knocking them, but it's like you know, glitter and farts and like stuff like that, and like that's what's popular. Um, but we're kind of like going back to like roots of like what we felt in our childhood. So just kind of a little more I don't know, something something a little different.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I love it. Thanks. What about um so we go through you you create the you have the story, you create the artwork, you get it published. Now the next step is like, all right, how do we get it out and into into the hands of kids and families and that sort of stuff?

SPEAKER_00:

And that's um and I think every author, any author who sees this is gonna laugh like when you ask that because it's just that is the most mind-numbing, like hard thing about this whole process. Like you would think that creating the book was the hard part. It's actually the marketing. Yeah. Um not that this isn't hard, but like the marketing is the the long game, the endurance game.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Where it's just like you're just throwing stuff at the wall and just seeing what sticks, like over and over and over. Um, so for every like 50 no's, you get a yes. And thank you. That's why I'm here today, because you were a yes, and that's wonderful, and we really appreciate it because you're doing a lot for you know people in the community that yeah, we don't really get a platform other places. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So what what are what are some things you've tried and and you know, things that have that have worked for you and and things that haven't worked for you?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, local newspapers are amazing. Okay. So like um Suncoast News featured us, and then Up Where My Brother Lives, um, the Radford News Journal featured us, and then we were in um Tampa Bay magazine as like a little blurb about it. So like those things have worked. Um, readings. I went to Cosmic Donuts down the street.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, they're wonderful. Um, I did a reading there, and then a reading at um Elisa Nelson Elementary that went really well for my daughter's class. And um, I'm gonna do like a an event at the library, Palm Harbor Library. So those things have been have worked. So like a lot of local, local works way better for us.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah. You eventually want our to reach um across the country?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's the goal. That's the goal. Yeah, that would be the dream. My my like like fantasy is for um our publishing company to work out and that the girls like my niece and my girls could eventually take it over one day.

SPEAKER_02:

Cool.

SPEAKER_00:

That would be amazing.

SPEAKER_02:

Cool. So talking about like that, what is that, what does that look like? Like what what is the expanded version of of Green Apple Books?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, well, we would love to get trademarked.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

That would be wonderful. Um, and then from there, um, you know, getting our books into the hands of children, um, maybe even schools, that would be wonderful. Just um, you know being out on a bigger, in a bigger network will be great.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So you you mentioned like you do readings and stuff at the different schools in the library too.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So what does that what does that look like?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, the the library is actually like a local author showcase in I think it's November 15th, if anybody wants to go. Um so that's more like we just talk to the community about our books. Um, but the readings that or the reading I did at Cosmec and the one in the class, um, we just read the kids and they're the best, like because they'll tell you what they really think about it. So like there's yeah, they're amazing. Like I I showed the like the the cover, and one girl's like, that moon is scary.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

And like so, we talked about it, and I was like, Well, she's startled because she, you know, she hasn't been able to hear the wolf up until now. And then she got super interested, like, okay, so like I'm I'm in, like, you got me, like, let's hear it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So Yeah, that's cool. You enjoy the the reading of it?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh, yeah. The kids are the best part, they all howl, like and I say that like before I read. I'm like, just make sure, like, when I when I say, like, to howl, like, and then they all and it's it's the cutest thing ever, and they all get like super engaged.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Are you do you want to expand beyond children's books, or do you don't you just want to stick with with children's books?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, we've been talking about maybe doing like um like a young adult graphic novel um for spooky stories, since we do like spooky stuff. But uh so far that's just kind of a a thought. But right now we're just focusing on how and then the Christmas book getting published and kind of see where we go from there.

SPEAKER_02:

How long does it take you from um you have the idea and then it's published and and ready to go?

SPEAKER_00:

Um couple months.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

That's not that bad.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, actually, this one was pretty quick because my brother was actually taking a watercolor class, and so his professors like he would do this as an assignment.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, that's great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So that was amazing. So it kind of like got out faster. Um, my brother actually looked it up, and it takes six months to a year for um an artist typically to complete the illustrations for a children's book.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Because they go back and do like the detailing and it's it's a lot of work. Um, so this this one, the Christmas one, is definitely taking a lot more time.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Do you think you can work on multiple books at once, or do you think it's like you you'd rather stick with one? Especially, you know, you have uh right other obligations and stuff like that, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, yeah, we kind of just right now I'm just focused on the marketing of it. Like if some like if an idea hits me, I'll certainly go lock myself in a room and start writing. Yeah. Um, but as of right now, we're just kind of focusing on the two that we've got going.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I like it. I like it. So where can people um find the books?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, you can go on amazon.com. Um, you just look up Howl by Aaron O'Brien, um, and then Clint Hours and Elise Hours are the two illustrators. Um and yeah, you just go on Amazon. And we we also have a website that you can go and check out. Um we offer free coloring pages there as well.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Like from the books or the illustration, like you can color the Yeah, so you can color your own uh wolf and moon. Oh, cool. Yeah, that's fun. Kind of interactive, but that's um granaplebooks.com.

SPEAKER_02:

And then you'll have um I'm assuming like updates on the new book and oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

We have we're pretty um we're pretty active on Facebook and Instagram. Okay. So as things come out, we'll we'll be posting.

SPEAKER_02:

Your Facebook and Instagram is that Grand Apple Books as well, or is it so everything's branded for that? That's great.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome. Cool. Well, thanks for being here. I appreciate you coming to thank you kind of share your story and I love what you're doing. And um, you know, hopefully if you're if you're listening and you got kids, get out there and buy a book.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey, please. Well, thank you. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02:

Of course. Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of Palm Harbor Local. We are incredibly grateful for our sponsors who make this show possible. So be sure to keep supporting these local businesses and let's keep building community together. Until next time, stay connected, stay involved, and keep making Palm Harbor an amazing place to call home.

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