Meet Emily Madill
Emily is the author and publisher of the Captain Joe Series of books. The Captain Joe Series© was designed as a tool for adults to teach children about constructive imagination. The four books are a fun and interactive way to introduce the concept of “Thoughts Turn into Things, so Choose the Ones that Make you Happy” to young children, ages five to nine years. Joe and his thought-zapping superpower will invite children to use their imaginations to constructively choose thoughts that promote healthy self-esteem and self-awareness. Each of the four stories is designed to teach a key concept.
Emily lives in Nanaimo, BC with her husband and two sons. She has a degree in Business and Psychology and is working on a degree in Education. Emily believes in the importance of teaching children accountability and self-empowerment from a young age. Emily loves to inspire and teach children through writing. Being a mother is her greatest source of joy and creativity.
Emily’s online in the following places:
- Website:www.captainjoesteachingresources.com
- Blog:www.captainjoesteachingresources.blogspot.com
- Twitter:@emilymadill
- Facebook:Captain Joe Books
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Chatting with Emily
What was or still is your dream?
Three years ago my dream was to produce a learning model that would provide my young son Joe with a tool he could always carry with him to remind him how special he is just the way he is. The character Captain Joe and his invisible thought-zapping wand really evolved out this deep desire brought on by motherhood. I am happy to say I brought this dream to life. I wrote and self-published a series of 4 Captain Joe books and a 90 page Resource Guide. Like most authors, I want to share my books and message that is near and dear to my heart with as many children and families as possible. That said, my new dream is to have the Captain Joe Books and Resources available on a widespread scale.
Oh I should also mention, Joe who is about to celebrate his fourth birthday is now a big brother to Jake who just turned one. Naturally I am now busy working on a book for Jake. In Jake’s story we ride along his scavenger hunt style journey as he attempts to uncover what a thing called “gratitude” is all about. I’ll keep you posted!
What did/do you find most difficult about getting started?
I started the publishing process when Joe was 8 months old. At the time I knew nothing about the industry. So time and knowledge were great barriers. I made the decision to give it my best shot. It wasn’t an easy undertaking, it involved many, many, many steps, overcoming some of my own self-limiting beliefs, burning the candle at both ends and frequent sleep deprivation, but in the end it was definitely worth it and I wouldn’t change a thing. It was an amazing journey that gave me first hand experience about a business and industry I hope to be a part of for a long time.
What have you done/are you doing to work towards this goal?
I am a stay at home Mom of two small children and for all those who know small children it will come as no surprise that they require a lot of attention and nurturing. Being a Mom is truly where my heart is at. That said, I have been working away on a plan that will help grow the business I am so passionate about while also providing balance and putting my life as a Mom first. Some of the key things that are working for me in my current situation include: Maintaining my memberships in a number of author and children’s author associations, sending my books out to different libraries and school districts, attending workshops in the industry to keep learning and connected, regular advertising with BC BookWorld, sending my books out to a new place each month, talking with others to create interest in my project, keeping up to date on social media and technology. These may all seem like small things but so far they have added up to get my books and name as an author out there. Most importantly it has helped me create a better web presence. I also find that staying connected to other people in the industry helps to keep my creative energy and dream alive. It also inspires me to continue moving forward and working on more projects like Jake’s book.
What have you found most rewarding about going after your dream?
What I find most rewarding is the creative process. I find it so exhilarating to see ideas come to life. I love to put all of the pieces together and assemble a project. Even though it was a lot of work to create the Captain Joe Resource Guide, it was probably my favorite part of the journey. I had so many thoughts and ideas for lesson plans and support materials to extend children’s learning. Hours would easily slip away as I was putting them into action. I was so totally immersed in creating I didn’t notice the time pass; it was a lot of fun. It is also a great boost of confidence to see a project through to the end, especially being that it was inspired by my son. It really feels good that I am doing everything I can to be a positive role model for my sons.
Do you feel the process of going after your goals has changed you? In what ways?
Yes, I have grown during the process. Many times throughout the journey I put myself in situations that were out of my comfort zone as a means of moving forward. I had a lot of self-limiting beliefs to overcome, such as “How am I going to do this?” “I will never be able to do this.” “Why am I doing this?” among many others. Each time I put myself out there and stretched beyond what was comfortable I was met with a reward on the other side and a definite confidence boost. I am no longer afraid to go after my dreams. I now feel open and excited to new possibilities and opportunities.
What have you learned/accomplished so far during this process?
The entire process has made me realize how important it is to go after dreams, no matter how impossible or unlikely they may first appear. Like my favorite quote says: “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” ~ William Arthur Ward
What piece(s) of advice would you give to people who are working towards a goal similar to yours?
Talk about your project with as many people as are willing to listen. More often that not, it will lead to ideas and opportunities you wouldn’t know about if you didn’t speak up. Get as much support as you can from people in the industry and from those who are living a similar dream.
Were Crystal and Jared helpful to you in some way, and if so how did they help you to get closer to your goal?
I have attended one of Crystal and Jared’s workshop on self-publishing and found it very valuable. Crystal also reviewed one of my manuscripts and gave me some helpful feedback. We read Crystal’s books here as a family and we are definite fans, so it was
incredibly inspiring to meet with her and see firsthand what she is doing. The fountain of knowledge she provided on the industry was definitely beneficial to me as a writer and as a self-publisher.
We’re glad we could help, Emily. It’s great to see someone going after what they want! Here are a few photos of Emily and her books out in the community.
Denman Mall Christmas Social, Emily was the Storyteller and loved reading to the young and young at heart.
Denman Mall Christmas Social, Emily was the Storyteller and loved reading to the young and young at heart.
If you’d like to purchase Emily’s Captain Joe books you can buy them in the following places:
Direct from Emily’s website
www.captainjoesteachingresources.com
Kool & Child, Nanaimo BC
The Nanaimo Museum (Emily will be at the The Nanaimo Museum for their Literary Luminaries event on February 26, 2011)
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