April 2025 Newsletter - Mindful Moments & Sales Buzz

Step into a Whimsical World with If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe!

We’re thrilled to share a very special picture book launching soon:
🌸 If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe 🌸
Written by Cindy Mackey and illustrated by Vikki Zhang
Publication Date: May 20, 2024
Available now for preorder — don't miss it!

This lyrical, mindful story invites readers young and old to slow down, notice nature, and find courage within. We’re proud to be promoting this magical book alongside our friends at Yeehoo Press!

Today, we’re excited to spotlight both the author and illustrator behind this beautiful collaboration.

A Conversation with Author Cindy Mackey

What inspired you to write If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe?

"The seed of an idea began with a child in my class who was concerned about the disappearance of bumblebees.

Years later, after developing my own daily mindfulness practice and working as manager of a nature preschool during the pandemic, I wrote a poem about a moment when a bumblebee landed on a child during a picnic. 

I wanted to weave mindfulness into a lyrical poem, focusing on a single moment in time—encouraging readers to breathe deeply, notice their surroundings, and celebrate the profound connections we share with the natural world."

What was it like seeing Vikki’s illustrations bring your words to life?

"I strongly value creativity, so I gave Vikki full freedom without any art direction. I’m delighted by how she elevated the story’s themes of mindfulness and bravery with a theatrical approach.

As a musician and lover of theatre myself, I was surprised and delighted by all the music, dance, and performance connections she added through her gorgeous artwork. It was truly magical."

🌿 Follow Cindy on Instagram: @books.by.cindy
🌿 Visit her website: www.booksbycindy.com

A Conversation with Illustrator Vikki Zhang What was your inspiration while illustrating If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe? "When I first received Cindy’s text, I was reading The Power of Now—a book about mindfulness—and felt an instant connection to her words. Cindy’s writing is as fresh and original as a summer raindrop, full of quiet wonder. I approached the book’s illustrations as if I were designing a stage for the bumblebee’s journey, creating a world that feels like a whimsical music box."

"At the time, I was in Paris, visiting the Palais Garnier—the inspiration behind the grand chandelier in the book’s opening spreads. Many of the architectural details throughout the book are drawn from that historic theater. I hope readers will drift into a dream with the main character and awaken with a quiet sense of strength and connection to nature."

🐝 Follow Vikki on Instagram: @0717vikki

Join the Celebration!

Author Cindy Mackey will be hosting several book events this summer:

• May 31 — Book Signing at Chapters/Indigo Books, Mayfair Mall, Victoria, BC
• June 22 — Story Time & Author Q&A at Horticulture Gardens of the Pacific, Victoria, BC
• August 10/11 — Story Time & Book Sale at Horticulture Gardens of the Pacific, Victoria, BC
  

And stay tuned! Illustrator Vikki Zhang will also be signing books at events on both the East and West Coasts this July. We'll share those details soon!

Pre Order Your Copy Today

Be among the first to experience this beautiful journey into mindfulness and imagination.
✨ If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe publishes May 20, 2024 — preorder now wherever books are sold! And for a special treat, a limited edition bookplate illustrated by Vikki will be available at select events!

Let's all take a moment to pause, breathe, and savor the quiet magic that a little bumblebee can bring. 🐝

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From the Publisher’s Desk: Fall 2025 Sales Conference Highlights

By Janet Bruins & Helen Wu

Dear Friends,

Last week (April 22–25), we had the honor of presenting our Fall 2025 lists to Ingram’s full sales team at their offices in Berkeley, California. It was an energizing week of thoughtful conversations and deep collaboration. Both Yeehoo Press and Picnic Heist Publishing shared our upcoming titles—and we’re excited to report that the response was overwhelmingly positive.

We wanted to take a moment to share a few highlights from the conference that we believe will be especially valuable for authors and illustrators across our lists.

📚 Libraries & Authenticity Matter More Than Ever

Ingram’s library sales team emphasized what many of us already know: libraries and Amazon account for the majority of picture book sales, especially for small and independent presses like ours.

Right now, authentic voices and diverse stories are in high demand among librarians. These are the books they are actively seeking—and fighting to keep on their shelves.

In response to the growing number of book bans, librarians are increasingly relying on tools like the Book Resume Project. This initiative allows publishers to create guides to support challenged books—helping librarians build a case for a title’s educational or cultural value.

➡️ Authors and illustrators: If you believe your book might face challenges or deals with themes of identity, history, or representation, we’d love to help you create a Book Resume to support it.

🌐 Promoting on LibraryThing.com

Many librarians also use LibraryThing.com, a platform similar to Goodreads but geared specifically toward library professionals. It offers:

• Free giveaways
• Opportunities to gather reviews
  
• A chance to build early awareness in the library community
  

If you haven’t listed your book there yet, it’s worth exploring. We’re happy to guide you through it or even help you list a giveaway.

🛒 Amazon: Visibility & Conversion

Amazon continues to be a leading channel for discovery and sales. During the conference, we were reminded that your Amazon listing is your storefront, and there are two key ways to maximize its effectiveness:

1. Drive traffic to your book’s Amazon page through social media, newsletters, and author events.
   
2. Enhance the content to convert interest into purchases. This includes:
   

• Customer reviews (even a handful goes a long way)
  
• Uploaded videos (such as a simple overhead shot of a page flip or read-aloud preview)

📖 Edelweiss: Where Buyers Look First

Many buyers from major bookstores, wholesalers, and library systems browse titles via Edelweiss+. Here's one example from our Fall 2025 lineup:
🔗 Capybara Bubble Tea on Edelweiss

If your book is listed on Edelweiss through Yeehoo or Picnic Heist, we’re more than happy to update the metadata on your behalf. One of the most impactful additions you can provide? Librarian reviews.

We welcome:

• Quote from the librarian
  
• Their name
  
• Library branch
  

These reviews carry weight and can be just as influential as formal trade reviews from School Library Journal or Kirkus.

🤝 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Whether your book is frontlist or backlist, we want it to thrive. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to support your efforts to promote and position your titles for discovery. As publishers, our shared goal is simple: to bring your books to as many readers as possible.

With gratitude,
Helen Wu (Yeehoo Press) & Janet Bruins (Picnic Heist Publishing)