Curiosity Killed the Cat… or Did It?

They say time flies when you’re having fun, but does it pass by at warp speed when you have a child?

I cannot believe by the end of the week, I will have a seven-month-old baby. This explains my absence on the blog, as while I’m busy being a mum, I’m also working part-time, running my own side hustle, starting up again with my master’s degree and working on self-publishing a book.

‘You’re self-publishing a book?’

Why, yes I’m glad you asked!

Over the last few months, I’ve been working on a picture book inspired by my dad’s hatred of onions. I excitedly sent it off to publishers in the hopes of it being picked up, instead, I received similar responses…

Sorry for not replying earlier, I have been making a few decisions about my business. Subsequently, I won’t be taking on any more children’s PB authors. I wish you all the best with your manuscript, I do think it has potential but the market is so full right now and I will be focusing more on middle grade to adult fiction. 

and…

While we thought this was a fun idea, unfortunately we are a small agency and have to be extremely selective and strategic about the projects we take on. We currently have a very full picture book list and didn’t feel it was quite right for us.
and…

I’m sorry not to have better news but hope you’ll remember that this is not a criticism of your writing and that our judgement is subjective. I encourage you to keep sending the proposal out to other agents and publishers and hope one of them has room for your project on their list.
and…

We take on very few new picture book texts and have closed our books to new submissions.

Florian, with his endless support for every and all of my ideas- from rearranging the lounge room (again!) to being my soundboard for my thesis project- encouraged me to give a big fat poo-poo to the publishers and take a chance on myself and self-publish. Self-publishing however is no easy (or inexpensive) feat. I’ve been working with an incredible illustrator and have printing costs lined up but have enlisted the help of my friends and family to help me bring the project to life through a GoFundMe page.

If you’re able to help this aspiring author out, please consider checking out the link below.

The proverb, curiosity killed the cat, holds a different meaning to me than its intended purpose. In a nutshell, “Curiosity killed the cat” is a saying used to warn of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation.

For me, I always thought it was the curiosity of not knowing something that kills you. The yearning and desire to try something or take a leap and never fulfilling it, to me, leads to regret, and in the end, the regret you have is what kills you.

After speaking to many people, my interpretation seems to be incorrect, but you know what, I think it’s a much better outlook on life.

So, I’ve decided that the curiosity that will come from never pursuing this book to a tangible state will drive me one day insane, and so, I’m going to be curious and see what happens if I do.

I hope this blog is both a reminder to you to revisit your dreams, and perhaps, inspires you to donate to help me achieve mine.

Be curious!

-tgfs x