Sallie Dawkins

Exciting News: The Release of Two New Companion Books!
 

I am thrilled to announce the release of my two latest companion books: “Faithful Flocks: Scriptures and Prayers for Shepherds” and “Fields of Faith: Scriptures and Prayers for Farmers”. These illustrated devotionals invite young readers (and the young at heart) to immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of farm life, celebrating the remarkable bond between faith, family, and the land.

“Faithful Flocks” showcases beloved farm animals, bringing their playful personalities and gentle spirits to life, while “Fields of Faith” features vivid images of country life, including tractors, plowing, planting, and the joyous endeavor of harvesting crops. Both books were created to nurture peace, connection, and conversation across generations, so they are perfect for family reading time.

In these pages, you will discover uplifting Scriptures, simple prayers, and gentle reflections that celebrate hard work, gratitude, and the importance of caring for God’s creations. I crafted the enchanting Ghibli-esque illustrations from my own photographs, a passion that blossomed during my time living in the Midwest. My experience working on a sheep farm in Kansas during the summer of 2022 inspired the illustrations, allowing me to capture the charm and beauty of farm life through my lens.

I enjoyed photography for a couple of decades before my hands grew too unsteady to hold a camera. Seemed a shame to let all of those great photos go to waste. Why couldn't I convert some of them to illustrations or Ghibli-esque storybook effect? After all, paying an illustrator can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars! Just as I did with "Judy the Service Dog," I used my old photo-editing software (Picmonkey) to create the graphics. Canva is probably a better option, but I never could quite get the hang of it. Since I didn't have access to a Ghibli-style filter, I used ChatGPT to convert my original photos into "subtle ghibli-style" images. If you try this, you might find, as I did, that renderings were slow and very inconsistent. They also had a strong yellow tint. If you decide to give this process a try, please know that additional editing will be required.     

Creating these children's books proved to be an enlightening journey. While the self-publishing process was similar, the time and energy required took me aback—especially since every page is a graphic image, totaling almost 100 graphics per book! I format all of my books with Atticus. They offer a helpful calculator for determining the finished size of your full-page images or illustrations. Normally, my process includes feedback from a content editor and multiple proofreaders, but for these projects, I also reached out to a few artsy-creative friends to help refine my vision.

Initially, I aimed for a nostalgic feel; however, I found the coloring needed more vibrancy. After multiple edits, I am excited to share that the final products include images with more realistic and striking colors. I ultimately chose a 6x9 format, which I believe reflects what readers aged 8-98 would expect and enjoy.

Initially, I printed my proofs on standard paper, and it produced dull colors on paper that felt like coloring book pages. After several adjustments, I opted for premium color proofs, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The thicker paper and brighter colors breathe life into each page, but I should note that using Premium Color Interior pages doubled the printing costs. Even the eBook formats experienced a significant increase in file size because of the full-color graphics, affecting pricing.
 

 

I decided against recruiting a launch team or investing in marketing for these books. Instead, I'm hosting a “December to Remember” event to show appreciation for the continued support and encouragement of my loyal readers while reaching out to new ones through word-of-mouth.

Mark your calendars! You can get “Faithful Flocks” as a FREE Kindle eBook on December 13-14, 2025, and “Fields of Faith” as a FREE Kindle eBook on December 19-20, 2025. I genuinely appreciate your honest book reviews, which help more than you know!

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I can’t wait for you to experience the joy and tranquility of farm life through these new books.
Happy reading!