Empower the Child
Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy
We at Dara Publishing know how important it is to fuel a child’s love for books, art, and storytelling. Most children naturally gravitate toward these activities, but research shows that many students struggle in school with basic reading and writing skills. The recent pandemic and school closures have made this struggle even worse.
Dara Publishing Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy is an “un-school” outlet for creative youth with a story to tell. Our program participants will not only learn to write and publish their stories but also improve their academic ability in reading and writing and overall communication. Improvement in these areas will positively impact and change their attitudes toward school and motivate them to learn more.
In addition, they will gain an appreciation for writing and the amount of time, effort, and planning that goes into publishing a book. They will also gain real-world experience by working on various assignments each week that involve reading, writing, storytelling, and critical thinking. Our students will work personally with a publisher, book coach, and editor, who are also professional authors in the field.
Dara Publishing Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy not only gives youth the opportunity to go from aspiring writers to published authors, it also teaches them how to BE authors, how to talk about their books, how to promote their books, and even how to manage the income earned.
Each child enrolled in our Empower the Child: Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy Program will write and publish their very own softcover book, using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), making our program a top choice for creative children. It brings your child’s imagination to life through a fun and educational process of planning, writing, editing, and producing their own book.
This program helps kids build self-esteem and self-confidence, spark creativity, advance their literacy skills, and inspire entrepreneurship, all while productively practicing a positive mindset. We don’t know of any other program for adults or children that includes all this!
The program gives youth the opportunity to
- Improve reading and creative writing skills.
- Boost their self-confidence and overall mindset.
- Write a double-/single-spread children’s picture book.
- Use their imagination, creativity, experiences, and critical thinking skills outside the box to create their own masterpieces for sharing.
In addition…
- They will become real writers, authors, and entrepreneurs.
- They will have the choice to choose what they are writing and publishing.
- They will use creativity, interests, and experiences to hone writing and improve writing skills.
- They will engage in activities that help in the writing process.
- They will engage in activities that help to build their overall mindset.
- They will learn how to set and accomplish their goals.
- They will gain knowledge that will equip them with money management and financial literacy skills.
- They will become inspired to be creative and to be problem-solvers.
- They will develop better communication and people skills.
- They will build attributes like confidence and independence.
What you will get in this program…
Empower the Child: Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy.
Includes:
- Ten (10) group sessions with a combined total of 40 hours
- Book coaching, mentoring, accountability, and personal development support
- Twice weekly live group sessions, duration 4 hours each via Zoom
- Mindset and confidence-building coaching
- Fully published softcover children’s book
- Certification of Completion of the Empower the Child: Literary and Creative Arts Children’s Publishing Summer Academy Program
Program Bonuses
- Media Press Release (focused on the entire program and not an individual)
- Amazon bestseller marketing campaign support
- Professional author digital media kit
- Book sale plan to sell your first 100 books
Children’s Book Packages and Payment Plan Options
Children’s Picture Book Package #1
Recommended for authors who want to self-publish a 24-page illustrated children’s picture book using double-spread illustrations
- Up to 10 double-spread illustrations
- Up to 500–800 words
- Book cover creation
- Copyright registration
- Manuscript editing
- Full-color interior
- Dara Publishing imprint ISBN
- Book typesetting
- Book formatting
- Setup for on-demand printing & shipping
- Basic marketing support
Total Cost — $2,204.00 USD
OR
4 interest-free payments of $551.00 USD
Common KDP children’s book sizes
8.5″ x 8.5″ | 8″ x 10″ | 8.5″ x 11″
Children’s Picture Book Package #2
Recommended for authors who want to self-publish a 24-page illustrated children’s picture book using single-spread illustrations
- Up to 10 single-spread illustrations
- Up to 500–800 words
- Book cover creation
- Copyright registration
- Manuscript editing
- Full-color interior
- Dara Publishing imprint ISBN
- Book typesetting
- Book formatting
- Setup for on-demand printing & shipping
- Basic Marketing Support
Total Cost — $1,929.00 USD
OR
4 interest-free payments of $482.25 USD
Common KDP children’s book sizes
8.5″ x 8.5″ | 8″ x 10″ | 8.5″ x 11″
Children’s Picture Book Package #3
Recommended for authors who want to self-publish a 32-page illustrated children’s picture book using double-spread illustrations
- Up to 14 double-spread illustrations
- Up to 600–1,000 words
- Book cover creation
- Copyright registration
- Manuscript editing
- Full-color interior
- Dara Publishing imprint ISBN
- Setup for on-demand printing & shipping
- Book typesetting
- Book formatting
- Basic Marketing Support
Children’s Book Package $2,484.00 USD
OR
4 interest-free payments of $621.00 USD
Common KDP children’s book sizes
8.5″ x 8.5″ | 8″ x 10″ | 8.5″ x 11″
Children’s Picture Book Package #4
Recommended for authors who want to self-publish a 32-page illustrated children’s picture book using single-spread illustrations
- Up to 14 single-spread illustrations
- Up to 600–1,000 words
- Book cover creation
- Copyright registration
- Manuscript editing
- Full-color interior
- Dara Publishing imprint ISBN
- Setup for on-demand printing & shipping
- Book typesetting
- Book formatting
- Basic Marketing Support
Children’s Book Package $2,109.00 USD
OR
4 interest-free payments of $527.25 USD
Common KDP children’s book sizes
8.5″ x 8.5″ | 8″ x 10″ | 8.5″ x 11″
Program Weekly Schedule
| MONDAY SESSIONS | THURSDAY SESSIONS | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 11th July | Thursday 14th July | 10:00am – 2:00pm EST |
| Monday 18th July | Thursday 21st July | 10:00am – 2:00pm EST |
| Monday 25th July | Thursday 28th July | 10:00am – 2:00pm EST |
| Monday 1st August | Thursday 4th August | 10:00am – 2:00pm EST |
| Monday 8th August | Thursday 11th August | 10:00am – 2:00pm EST |
Additional Services and Information
Eye-Catching, Custom-Designed Cover
One of our professional book cover designers will create a beautiful, unique cover for your child’s book.
Professional Interior Formatting
Our design team will provide custom interior formatting to ensure that your child’s book looks as elegant on the inside as it does on the outside. The interior fonts, typography, and layout will coordinate with the cover to achieve a smooth, cohesive look and feel for each book.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Keyword Research
Keywords are words or phrases your child’s target audience is searching online, seeking more information or a solution. Kindle keywords allow your book to be discovered by hungry shoppers on the world’s largest book market, Amazon, even while you sleep.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Category Research
Using specific software that provides us with real stats on Amazon categories, we will select the right categories for your child’s book. As a result, their book’s visibility will improve on Amazon, which can lead to an Amazon Bestseller if done correctly.
Back Cover and Author Bio Review and Development
Our copywriters will help develop your child’s author bio and book description to ensure their book is interesting and appealing to its ideal readers.
Registration with the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is a national catalogue of print books and assigns a number that is used by librarians to discover and purchase books.
Registration with Bowker’s Books in Print
Registration optimizes book discovery across a wide range of book discoverability. Bowker’s provides bibliographic data, so your title is exposed to many facets of the book industry.
ISBN with Dara Publishing Imprint
Dara Publishing will provide an ISBN (international standard book number). If you want to purchase your own ISBN, you can but you will do so independently. The cost for a single ISBN is $125.00.
Setup for Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand means that Amazon, for instance, will always show books in stock. Customers will also be able to order through other online sites and bookstores, with delivery in a matter of days. This will be set up in your name, and you’ll keep 100 percent of the royalties.
100% Royalties to the Author
You and your child will retain all the rights and the royalties from your book sales. Dara Publishing will not take a cut of your profit.
Physical Proof Copy
Before your child’s book is published, you’ll receive a printed proof copy for a final evaluation.
Distribution through Major Retail Outlets
Your child’s book will be available for distribution through major online retailers and bookstores.
Marketing and Promotion
Dara Publishing will provide you with ways to reach your audience. We will talk about niche audiences and avenues you can establish to reach readers.
Amazon Central Author Page Setup
We will create your child’s Author Central personal profile page, which is designed to gather all the info about them as an author as well as their book(s). This is one more tool in your marketing plan to increase visibility with search engines.
Weekly Modules Breakdown
Part One: How to Start Writing AMAZING Books for Kids: Foundations, Plots, Themes, & More!
You’ll start by working in a group with your Children’s Book Coach to gain an understanding of story—what your book is about, its message, and how best to position it for a young audience.
Part Two: Storyline, Scenes, & the 48-Hour Draft
In this group session, you’ll learn 1) how to get your ideas into writing; 2) how to build an outline using the storyboard method; and 3) how to craft your story and finish a draft in only 48 hours. (Yes, it’s possible!)
Instructor: Author and Book Coach Dara Powers Parker
Part One: Spark Your Creativity by Crafting Your Illustration Instructions
In this session, you will begin by crafting your illustration notes for each scene in your story. You’ll express in writing what you imagine each illustration to look like so that the assigned illustrator can bring your characters and book to life.
Part Two: Get Clear on Your Book Cover Illustration, Design, & Book Size
You’ll review each illustration idea and select one that mirrors your book’s title and the message your book conveys. You’ll choose colors for your cover and text layout. You’ll also select your book trim size.
Instructor: Author and Book Coach Reea Rodney
Part One: Choosing a Title & Writing Your Book Description
In this group session, you’ll finalize your title and build an outline so we can write a strong book description that converts. You’ll also write your inspirational author biography for your Author Central Page and About the Author.
Part Two: Find Your Voice and Identity through Positive Self-Talk, Self-Discovery, & Motivational Speaking
You’ll start by answering ten (10) Interview Questions about yourself and your journey of becoming an author. From this, you’ll create an outline of speaking points for when you share with your audience at your book launch or any appearance you make to promote your book.
Instructor: Author and Book Coach Reea Rodney
Part One: Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, & Money Management
You’ll learn about entrepreneurship and the basics of having a business, managing money, saving, and setting financial goals as an entrepreneur.
Instructor: Debra Greene
Part Two: Building Confidence through Leadership by Identifying Positive Character Traits
In this session, you’ll learn what positive character traits and key qualities are needed to be a positive role model and leader. You’ll identify your definition of success and what you need to do to be successful in your endeavors as an entrepreneur.
Instructor: Author and Book Reea Rodney
Part One: Dare to Dream Big—Writing Your Vision & Mission
Build your self-esteem as a children’s author, leader, speaker, and entrepreneur by identifying your Purpose, Vision, and Mission.
Part Two: The Power of Visualization & Goalsetting Your Way to Success
In this final session, you will establish three goals: a personal goal, a professional goal as an author, and a financial goal as an entrepreneur. Next, you will create your goalsetting plan, which is a step-by-step road map to help you achieve your goals, followed by a vision board, which serves as a visual representation of what you are trying to accomplish.
Instructor: Author and Book Coach Reea Rodney
About Us
Meet the Team
Reea Rodney
Reea Rodney is not only a Self-Publishing Consultant and International Bestselling Author. She’s also a Certified Parent and Children’s Life Coach, Cognitive and Behavioral (CBT) Coach, Motivational Speaker, and the CEO and Founder of Dara Publishing, LLC, and Dara Wisdom and Empowerment Coaching. In addition, she’s a wife and mother of three young adult children ages 25-20 years old. As a life coach and mentor, Reea feels inspired by the proverb “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” She believes that knowledge is POWERFUL and it is the KEY to SUCCESS. As a result of this philosophy, she seeks to mentor and coach aspiring authors so they can learn the ins and outs of publishing after the completion of their first book which is the driving force an inspiration of this program.
Dara Powers Parker
Dara entered the publishing world 21 years ago as the editorial and production manager at a Charlottesville, Virginia, book press. Once becoming a mother (her three sons are ages 17, 15, and 13), she took her skills home to work as a freelance writer, editor, and book coach. Having taught 7th–10th-grade English, Dara now copyedits textbooks for the Core Knowledge Foundation (Charlottesville, Virginia). And, as the author of supernatural fiction, including a middle-grade novel written for her boys, she’s shared her passion for books and storytelling with children, teens, and adults at schools, camps, churches, and conferences.
Debra Greene
Debra Greene is a Regional Vice President, and former Vice President of Citibank. Debra works with middle income families to secure financial freedom by eliminating debt, planning for retirement, and protecting their income. As a financial professional with over 9 years’ experience and 21 years in banking, Debra educates her clients on the importance of planning for their financial future. She has helped more than 800 families with life insurance, retirement, and debt management. Debra holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and is a Licensed Insurance Agent in several states, and Securities license with FINRA. Her experience and background enable her to assist families in making crucial finance decisions including projections, budget, and cash management.
Kamaljeet Singh
Kamaljeet has nearly two decades of experience in Business Management & Operations in Book Publishing and Ad Production. Endowed with excellent service in delivery management and communication skills he can effectively comprehend our client’s requirement which makes him one of the building blocks that hold us together here at Dara Publishing. Kamaljeet has a proven record of leadership and works in various departments such as Graphic Designing and Production Manager for startup and mature operations. His role at Dara Publishing is Managing Director over our Illustrating and Graphic Designing Team. Each author has a message they want reflected in their book, and I do my best to bring that out in the finished design. In partnership with the author, we find a visual solution that best works for their book title and bring that book to life.
Ravin Kaur
Ravin Kaur was born and raised in New Delhi, INDIA. She started drawing freehand at a very young age. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University. During her time in college, she taught herself how to use Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator and immediately fell in love with it and in 2006, she started her career as a Children Book Illustrator. She is a self-motivated Artist capable of creating a range of multifaceted art styles and is our lead illustrator here at Dara Publishing.
Jahzeel Cara
Jahzeel is a licensed math teacher in the Philippines with years of experience engaging children in learning. In addition, her love for entrepreneurship propelled her to establish her online business as a professional project coordinator and executive administrative assistant here at Dara Publishing. Her years of experience engaging with children, parents and leaders makes her an asset to our team as we want to ensure that we have excellent communication throughout this program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We will meet twice a week as a group via Zoom. Coach Reea and her team of instructors will lead each 4-hour module.
- • Zoom allows your child to participate from the comfort of their own home and is just as effective as in-person sessions.
- • It doesn’t matter where in the world you live, you can still access this program.
- • Zoom coaching eliminates the expense of travel and helps with time management.
- • It allows your child to remain in a safe environment as we navigate the changing COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Other than access to the internet and a word-processing app, your child will need paper, a writing utensil, and a quiet, well-lit space.
Yes! While most of the work will be completed during the program, your child is writing a book, and all the writing can’t be done within our scheduled time together. As a result, there will be work that needs to be completed outside of our sessions.
Eighty-five percent of the work will be done in the virtual classroom during the first two weeks of the program, which is when the students will be writing their stories. However, there may be unfinished work to complete, and each student will be responsible for transferring what is written on paper during class to a word-processing software, such as Google docs, MS Word, or Pages.
- • Show them that you are on their side by supporting their story idea and by allowing them the freedom to express themselves and explore their creativity. This balance of freedom and support will also help them build self-confidence and independence.
- • You can map out a plan for accountability and help them to choose the best suited time to complete their assignments.
All sessions are recorded so if someone misses a session, we will ensure that the recording of that session is emailed to you with clear instructions. Also, Coach Reea will always be available to assist if needed.
- • Yes, payment for this program can be broken down into four interest-free payments with a 90-day payment completion time.
- • You can also try PayPal Credit: PayPal financing is a convenient way to pay for online purchases.You have 6 months to pay off your purchase without interest. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within 6 months. Click here for more information: Apply for PayPal Credit
A children’s book can take up to six (6) months to be completed. However, if your child keeps up with their assignments and completes their tasks on time, their book will be ready within three months from the start of our sessions.
A date for the graduation ceremony will be established once the books are in production. This ceremony will be virtual and open to the public so that the students’ family members can attend.
We accept children ages 9–17 years old.
We welcome the input of the parent, of course, but we also emphasize the importance of allowing your child’s creativity to shine through with the support of the professional book coaches, editors, and designers who are assisting them in bringing their creativity to life.