By The Numbers: Feeling Lucky

Kelsey Flynn
Mar 18
3 min read

Fifth in the “By The Numbers” series

No, not March 18th, though it's perfectly fitting this is posted today! But 318 is how many days from start to finish to create ABC, Run With Me: Flying Pig Marathon. Less than one year to create this beautiful debut book. I had a few illustrators politely decline the extremely tight turnaround I had in mind and I had printers straight up laugh in my face when I told them my plans.

But - I did it.

Creating a children’s book wasn’t something I had in my 5-year-plan, but looking back, it feels like all the pieces fell into place exactly as they should; luck was on my side! Here’s how this adventure began—one idea, a little persistence, and a whole lot of help from my incredible village.

Why an ABC Book?

I’ve always been a fast writer, typer, and brainstormer. And as someone who collects ABC books, the format was a perfect fit! It felt like a natural way to introduce young readers to the excitement of the Flying Pig Marathon while celebrating literacy.

The Blessing of the Pig

I wanted this book to be more than just an idea—I wanted it to feel official. My sister used to work with the current Race Director, so that connection and a positive meeting with a few members of the PigWorks staff gave me the confidence to move forward.

My Built-In Audience

Every writer needs an audience, and lucky for me, my niece and nephews were ready for the job! They became my test readers, offering their unfiltered, kid-approved reactions along the way. I had a few other friends and family members help along the way as well, and their feedback has been invaluable!

A Team of Advance Readers & Editors

After 14 years of teaching, I had a wonderful network of former students and their families who were excited to help. Their feedback has been invaluable, and it’s been so rewarding to see them involved in this project.

Finding the Right People

I knew I’d need an illustrator, but there was one small problem—I can’t draw a straight line. So, I reached out to local colleges to see if any students were interested. UC’s DAAP coordinator asked to send my request to alumni as well, and that’s how I connected with an incredible illustrator who brought my vision to life, every tiny, specific detail.

Figuring Out Printing & Design

With no experience in publishing, I adopted a “Well, the worst they can do is say no” mentality. After a few cold calls and emails, I had my shortlist of printers. Things started falling into place from there.

On the design side, I figured I’d teach myself Adobe to format the pages—but then I met an amazing designer through an acquaintance who helped bring it all together.

Learning the Business Side

With my husband, a Procurement Manager by day, and a friend who’s an accountant (and loves number crunching) I’ve had some go-to guides for all things business-related. I’m learning as I go, and their expertise has been a huge help.

Is This Book Really Ready?

Every now and then, doubts creep in. Will kids actually like this? Does anyone actually want to read about the Pig? Luckily, my 4-year-old daughter eagerly stands behind my shoulder, excited to see the latest updates—before running laps around the house for her marathon. That’s all the reassurance I need.

Racing to the Finish Line

Tight deadlines, switching printers at the last minute, sending just one more email to my illustrator and designer (okay, maybe a million and a half emails)—it’s been a whirlwind. But every challenge has been worth it, and I can’t wait to share this book with the world.

Thanks for following along on this journey! If you love running, reading, or the Flying Pig Marathon as much as I do, I hope this book finds a special place on your shelf.