First Word

    “Sometimes Happiness is a feeling… sometimes it’s a decision.” ~ Unknown   “Choose to be happy – that is the only way you’ll find happiness.” ~ Debasish Mridha   Ant Trails and Butterfly Dreams by Selwa Berbawy Hamati now available for sale on Amazon!

  Mary Lannie Video Review: Ant Trails and Butterfly Dreams Watch: https://youtu.be/D_2MBO2NAug Purchase: https://3l-publishing.myshopify.com/products/ant-trails-and-butterfly-dreams-a-story-about-happiness-pre-sales Summary of Book: Arney the Ant feels sad and wants to be happy like his three buddies, Manny Monarch, Terry Swallowtail, and Breezy Bee. His friends explain how he can use a super magical trick to easily switch from sad to happy. Soon, Arney uses the magic trick and he, too, becomes happy – and the garden is full of glee. In this gorgeously colorful world, the four friends teach readers how to “choose” to be happy.     “Sometimes Happiness is a feeling… sometimes it’s a decision.” ~ Unknown

  Illustrator Interview Michelle Gamble   Q. What drew you to illustrate Ant Trails and Butterfly Dreams – A Story About Happiness ?   A. The author Selwa Berbawy Hamati had published three other books with my company, 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com). I painted on the side, and I rarely shared about my paintings. We were talking one day, and she mentioned her desire to write this children’s book based on her new book Real Resilience – Once Upon a Pandemic . I showed her some paintings, but cautioned I don’t like to paint cartoons. She loved my work and soon hired me to illustrate her children’s book. I was happy that she liked fine art and wouldn’t push to create cartoon-like characters, but more fun and beautiful paintings. In fact, she loved the cover so much she bought the original. Q. How did you decide on the style of the paintings? A. I wanted the illustrations to create a fun, bright, happy world to convey the theme of the book,...

It's frozen outside -- the roofs and cars and grass all crystal white this morning. I felt inspired with Christmas upon us to review the 3L Publishing books I think would make marvelous Christmas gifts. Let's start with our latest children's book just released in time for Santa's sack: Princess Josie . This stunning children's book is perfect for little boys and girls between the ages of 4-10. Younger children will enjoy a parent reading it to them and older children can read aloud to parents. I took my little girl to the book launch, and she absolutely loved the Princess Josie bundle that includes a puppy dog and aptly scripted "Princess Josie" dog dish. The little plush toy looks exactly like the dog in the book. As the publisher, I was thrilled with the final product. What makes Princess Josie stand out is the impressionistic art style of the dog and family. I would go so far as to call the book a true work of art. The story about a puppy who think...

Dear Jeaninne: Congratulations! The epic results are in for The 2012 USA Best Book Awards! Your book has been honored as a "Finalist" in the "Children's Picture Book: Softcover Fiction" category: Manuel's Murals by Jeaninne Escallier Kato, illustrated by Rachel Smith 3L Publishing, LLC 978-0615575438 Your title will be listed live on USABookNews.com for an additional ten (10) months. A complete list of winners and finalists in each category can be found at: http://www.usabooknews.com/ 201 3usabestbookawards/ 2012usabest bookawards.html

We have a lot of writers who approach us about publishing their children's book. Here is what always both amuses and confounds me. Nine times out 10, these writers have not studied what children like. They are convinced that having been a child at one time in their own lives, they understand today's children. Well, today's breed of young children are not yesterday's. These are kids who fondest wish for their birthdays is an iPad. Yes, my now teenage son wanted an iPad. My daughter who just turned 7 plays on it. She would rather play Club Penguin than crack a book, which we don't allow in this house. She has to show a healthy interest in books too. And with the paradigm shift in interests, and most importantly, expectations, kids expect more from their books too. Flat pictures just don't always carry the show anymore. And the books my kids do love are often not what you would expect. This week's favorite is Bad Kitty Gets a Bath -- a black-and-white illustr...