The Bedtime Book was the winner in the Kids category of the 2022 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Kayla Floyd.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Bedtime Book. It was published 11/12/21.
What’s the book’s first line?
“It’s time to let your body rest and slow your busy mind.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Beautifully illustrated with calming nature scenes and a cast of diverse and sleepy little heroes soaring through space, The Bedtime Book walks your child through a guided body scan while inviting peace and relaxation from head to toe. With imagination and ease, they’ll feel their bodies soften and their minds slow as they drift off to sleepy land.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
The book was inspired by my daughter Chloe and our own bedtime rituals.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The cast of characters in this book is meant to reflect all different types of kids. My main goal was for all kids to find someone in the book that at least reminded them of themselves in some small way.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
As parents, bedtime can be one of the toughest parts of the day. This book is a calm, soothing addition to any family’s bedtime routine that will relax both parent and child.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’ve wanted to be an author since I was a little girl. I remember having a poem published in an anthology in the 5th grade and thinking that was the coolest thing ever.
Is this the first book that you’ve written?
The Bedtime Book is my third book. I’ve also written Wondrous You: Empowering Poems for Magical Kids, which was a Moonbeam silver medalist in children’s poetry, as well as Joyful Mornings: Mindful Poems for Inviting Happy Days. I also published a coloring book version of Wondrous You.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work as a Book Coach for a company called Get It Done. We provide writing coaching, editing, proofreading, cover design, publishing, and distribution services for clients who want to write a book.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I tend to write in big bursts. I’m not a daily writer, rather I will be overcome by a wave of inspiration and will write until it’s all on the page.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
I think the best part is the creative control, the speed with which things get done, and the community. I think the hardest part is getting the word out about your books to a larger audience.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes, I would. I believe life is all about collecting experiences. I’ve had the experience of independently publishing, and I think it would be fun to experience traditional publishing.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I love holding my books in my hands. It’s so wild to me that something that was once just a thought in my head can become this real-life thing. I’m also admittedly delighted by book royalties. 🙂 As a creative, I think it’s pretty fantastic that you can put out a piece of work and then have bits of income bless you over and over again for that singular work.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I adore and admire contemporary female poets…Kate Baer, Rupi Kaur, Amanda Gorman. I love seeing strong women speaking important, uncomfortable truths in today’s society. I’m also a huge fan of contemporary YA mysteries/thrillers as well as YA travel romance. I ravenously read anything by Stephanie Perkins, Jenna Evans Welch and Maureen Johnson, just to name a few. I would love to publish a YA novel one day!
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I don’t know if there’s another book I wish I could have written. I have plenty of favorites that I admire. But my hope is that I’ll continue writing books that are distinctly me, and that I’ll do so with the bravery, honesty and polish of some of the authors and poets I admire most.