Creating with Emotion: New Ventures, Exciting Updates, and a YouTube Channel!
Hello and welcome to another edition of my art and book blog. I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates from my studio and writing desk. It’s been a busy, creative time here, and I’ve got a lot of news to cover. So, grab a cup of tea and settle in!
A New YouTube Channel in the Making
First, as I mentioned in the previous edition, I’ve been working on developing a brand-new YouTube channel that will highlight my paintings and children’s books. I’ve been researching the best ways to make this channel successful, and one key takeaway is that emotion really drives engagement. Think of video thumbnails with headlines like "Never Again!" paired with an image of me looking shocked or upset (see the image above), set against the backdrop of a cruise ship (and that’s a whole other story for another time!). It’s the sort of thing that makes you curious, right? It certainly works on me—I’ve realised that I click on videos with emotional appeal all the time! Do you?
I’m hoping to use this approach to draw viewers into the world of my art and books. It’s all still in the planning stages, but I’m excited to dive into the world of video content and see how it can complement the stories I’m already sharing through my artwork and writing. So far, I have built the channels (there may be more than one) and am now busy working on getting the branding and messaging right. Once that’s all done, I can move on to developing the videos, but I have much more research to do first. As the saying goes, I have all the gear but no idea!
Progress on Rainbow Sparkles Saves the Day
Now, onto some exciting book news! My upcoming children’s book, Rainbow Sparkles Saves the Day, is coming along beautifully. I’ve received the official seal of approval on the first half of the illustrations from my 6-year-old granddaughter, who is also my artistic director and greatest critic. I have about thirteen more illustrations to complete before I can start assembling the book in its entirety. My goal is to have it published before Christmas, just in time to bring a little magic to the holiday season! Here’s a sneak peek at one of the illustrated pages. Let me know what you think.
I’m also still on the hunt for a friendly literary agent. It’s a long process, and while I haven’t heard back from my initial round of submissions, I’ve been told that patience is key. In the meantime, I’ve been reworking some of my other stories to make them longer, non-rhyming narratives, as it seems that rhyming books are not the current trend with publishers and agents. It’s a fascinating challenge to strike the right balance between engaging text and illustrations, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
Steady Sales and Shifting Focus
It’s not just new books that are keeping me busy. My first two dinosaur books on Amazon continue to sell steadily, even without any paid advertising. The royalty payments from these sales are a lovely bonus that I’m happy to pass on to my grandchildren. It’s wonderful to know that these stories are still finding their way into children’s hands and imaginations.
On the art front, things are also looking bright, although I’ve noticed that my social media posts aren’t driving much traffic to my website these days. I’m now focusing more on direct sales and commissions, which are going strong. This shift has been a great learning experience, showing me the value of adapting and trying new approaches. Hence, my deep dive into YouTube!
Upcoming Art Shows
Speaking of my artwork, I’m gearing up for a series of local arts and crafts shows in the run-up to Christmas. I’ll have a stall at up to four different events, showcasing my latest paintings and connecting with the local community. I’ll share more details about these shows soon, so stay tuned!
I’d Love to Hear From You!
Now, here’s where you come in! I’d love to know what kind of content you’d be most excited to see on my new YouTube channel. Do you want to see behind-the-scenes glimpses of my painting process? Or maybe you’d like a sneak peek into the creation of my children’s books, from sketch to final illustration? How about some live readings or Q&A sessions?
Let me know in the comments or drop me an email with your thoughts. Your input would be invaluable as I plan the channel’s content, and it would mean the world to me to create videos that you’d genuinely enjoy watching.
And one last question to leave you with: Have you ever clicked on a video or read an article simply because the headline or thumbnail sparked an emotion in you? I’d love to hear your experiences!
Warm wishes,
Roy
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my paintings for sale on my website. There might be the perfect piece waiting just for you!
Until next time, happy reading!
Warm regards,
Roy P. Awbery