Rosie Talley, a children's book author from West Texas, said that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can become a full-time self-published author, citing successful examples like Mr. J for inspiration. Talley was a guest on a recent episode of the Best of Midland Podcast.
“You could definitely be a full-time self-published author,” said Talley on a recent edition of the Best of Midland Podcast. “There are some out there already. Mr. J is a big one. He writes the 'Ricky the Rock That Cannot Roll' book, and he's somebody that I look up to because he's done it. And he's really cool because he does put out a lot of information for the new author.”
“So, if you are aspiring, I would definitely look up Mr. J and take some of his courses because he's amazing,” Talley said. “I feel like if he's done it, I can definitely do it too. So yeah, you can do it.”
Linus the Troll is a children’s picture book about a troll named Linus who looks frightening on the outside, but is actually friendly and loving. Talley has also published a second Linus book, The Island of Huggles, and a guide called How to Self-Publish a Children's Book.
Best of Midland Podcast is hosted by Ryan Shewchuk and Terra Avery. It is an extension of the broader Best of Midland program, which aims to support small, local businesses by showcasing them and the people behind them. Their website lists top business and upcoming live events happening in the area.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.