Today we’d like to introduce you to Deana Charcalla
Deana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Buckle up for an inspiring journey! It all began in 2019 during a conversation with a dear friend who challenged me to write my own book. Unsure of what exactly to write about, my husband encouraged me to focus on child care, a topic I knew well. At the time, most of my career had been in early childhood education. Throughout the years I had observed daily how children’s behavior was profoundly affected by their parents’ emotional states during drop-offs and pickups. With a topic, and my family and friend’s encouragement, I was ready to channel my knowledge into a book that could guide parents through these challenging moments. That original book was “A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Child Care”.
Somewhere around October of 2019, I took the leap and began writing. The words flowed freely, and by March 2020, I completed the manuscript just as the world entered lockdown!
During that challenging time, I recall having a phone call with my father about the power of positive thinking. This conversation made me realize the profound impact it could have on children navigating the turbulence of puberty. With the lockdown in full effect, I began creating a children’s books series designed to instill positivity and resilience in young readers.
By May of 2020, my first children’s chapter book “The Paris Lane gang” was born. I continued to draft four additional books for the series over the next six months. The writing process transported me to a world where my imagination and hope flourished, a much-needed escape from the reality of COVID life.
Books need covers, so I contacted my cousin who is an extremely talented tattoo artist about creating them for this book series.
During the conversation he mentioned wanting to write a book to educate children on how to responsibly care for a Green Tree Python snake as a pet. We decided to collaborate with me writing and him hand painting each page. In what seemed like record time, we had created “Lucy’s Lost in the Everglades”, my first fully illustrated children’s book. The two of us had so much fun creating that book, that we decided to collaborate on a few more.
Like a faucet of creativity, children’s books started flowing out of me. I had found my new calling. I’ve since worked with several other artists from around the world and have published 13 illustrated books, with another in the works.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“Writing is the easy part, there is so much more that goes into making books visible to the world. I had to learn how to start and run my own business, find illustrators, editors, graphic designers, and figure out the ins and outs of self publishing.
I’d say the biggest hurdle so far has been learning to market my books. It took me years of trial and error to realize the importance of social media marketing. I’ve learned that simply posting pictures or updates isn’t enough to truly connect with readers. I also had to step out of my comfort zone and embrace creating video content to promote my brand.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
From the very first word, my mission has been to bring joy, positivity, and learning to children and their parents through the power of books.
I am the founder of DeanaBean, where I wear many hats: writer, publisher, and mentor to other authors and illustrators looking to bring their self publishing dreams to life.
What sets our books apart is our focus on creating books that spark imagination, introduce exciting characters, and teach valuable lessons while fostering a love for reading. Every DeanaBean book is crafted with care, blending whimsical storytelling with meaningful themes that resonate with readers of all ages.
I am deeply proud of DeanaBean and have enjoyed helping other authors and illustrators turn their visions into reality. Through my services, I provide guidance, resources, and support to make the self publishing journey smoother and more fulfilling.
If you’re an author or illustrator ready to embark on your own self publishing adventure, DeanaBean is here to guide you every step of the way. It’s a passion I’m deeply grateful for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I was lucky in finding that some of my closest family and friends had the skills and desire to help me with creating this business. Everything I needed from editing to design, and even artists were right at my finger tips.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deanabean.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanabeanbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeanaBean-112224460645991
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80542812/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deanabeanbooks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyLQLXA__TgK6XRVC8D_Ctg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@deana.bean.books
