Why It’s No Longer Enough to Just Write a Book: Go Beyond the Book, Sis!

Children’s authors, let me holla at you real quick.

Writing a great story used to be enough. You could drop a children’s book, do a little school tour, maybe a library reading, and boom—you had momentum. But times have changed, and let’s keep it all the way real: a good story alone won’t cut it anymore.

Because while you're lovingly reading your manuscript aloud to your spouse or your plant, kids are out here watching animated shorts, swiping on YouTube, playing Roblox, dancing on TikTok, and begging for merch with their favorite characters on it. If you're not showing up where they are, you're missing the moment.

So here’s the truth no one wants to say:

👉🏾You need a brand, not just a book.
👉🏾You need strategy, not just a storyline.
👉🏾You need characters that live beyond the pages.

The Game Has Changed—Literally.

Kids are gamers. They're content creators. They're digital natives. They aren’t just reading books—they’re experiencing them. Your book needs to become an experience. That means:

• Creating animated shorts or character intros

• Designing activities and printables

• Making your characters dance (yes, literally—give 'em a beat!)

• Giving them their own Instagram or YouTube channel

And I already hear someone saying, “But I’m not a tech person.” Listen, God didn’t ask if you knew the algorithm. He asked if you were willing to be used. Because here’s the thing:

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

If you’ve got characters with a message that can shift atmospheres and inspire this next generation—you owe it to them to show up boldly and creatively. God gave you that story for this generation, and this generation lives online.

Let’s Talk Reach.

In the past, a publisher gave you the green light and you hit the shelves. Now? Everyone can publish a book. Everyone has access. So the playing field is flooded—but you can stand out. How? By building a brand around your book:

• Post your characters on TikTok doing silly skits

• Read chapters aloud on YouTube Kids

• Create coloring books, journals, or even plushies

• Offer your book as part of a bundle experience—think games, music, animations

And here’s your confirmation verse:

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back...” — Isaiah 54:2

Don’t hold back. If your book is powerful enough to reach the hearts of kids, then your brand is powerful enough to change them. This is your moment to GO BEYOND THE BOOK.

Because truth is, you’re not just a children’s book author anymore… you’re a storyteller, a digital creator, a brand builder, and a Kingdom content distributor.

Now go build something that lives beyond the last page. The kids are waiting.

Let’s get to work.