November 4, 2021 12:13 pm
by Rosie J. Pova
I remember vividly the exact moment the title for the book popped into my head.
It was Thanksgiving Day and my family and I, along with some friends, had rented a cabin in the mountains in Colorado.
The turkey was in the oven, the salads and the sides were made, and I was bored. Everyone else had left to go to some hot springs and soak up, but I had stayed at the cabin to cook. On top of that, I had a cold and was quite miserable to go anywhere, anyway.
Luckily, Jack Canfield had a 2-hour pre-recorded webinar coming up for which I had registered. He was being interviewed, talking about his journey, his ups and downs, marketing and other interesting topics for authors.
I had watched that webinar a few times already and was pretty familiar with the content, but never tired of listening to Jack’s amazing journey to such tremendous success with his CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL series.
So, I was ready to soak up his wisdom once again.
As usual, his talk left me feeling inspired and motivated. I was in the mood to write.
I started brainstorming catchy titles for a story that would be fun to write. I asked myself, what would be a title that stands out, is intriguing, memorable, and fun to say all at the same time?
Suddenly, it came: THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE. I liked it! Then I thought of an interesting opening sentence. I was trying to amuse myself… hoping that I’d create one of those classic, memorable opening lines.
What followed was, The school of failure was located in the middle of nowhere, but it was the center of everything! I was delighted with my progress and continued to write the first draft that day.
That was a great feeling, it cheered me up, making me forget I was under the weather. And even though the starting of my day seemed like a bit of a fail, it was well worth it to have this time to myself and end up with a completely new story. I was grateful—maybe this was a divine plan after all.
Fast forward a few years, many, many revisions later, and the story sold!
Many more revisions after that, my precious little opening sentence ended up being cut, but the title stayed with the addition of a subtitle: A STORY ABOUT SUCCESS.
Now finally, I am pleased to share it with the world, and hoping it finds its own success in the homes and hearts of many readers.
Thank you all for celebrating this book with me.
And now, the reveal…the cover by Monika Filipina…
P.S. I did find a way to sneak that opening sentence in to the book—it’s now included in my Author’s note!
Thank you, Rosie, for sharing this cover with us! And some adorable story characters…
Rosie is also giving away a 30-minute consulting phone call (or Zoom, depending on your location) to chat about any writing or publishing questions you have for her.
Leave one comment below to enter.
A random winner will be selected soon!
Good luck!
Rosie J. Pova is a marginalized, multi-published, and award-winning children’s author, poet, speaker, and school presenter. She is also a Writing Instructor for the Dallas Independent School District, an instructor with Writing Workshops Dallas, teaching online picture book courses to children’s writers, and Rate Your Story judge.
Her latest picture book, SUNDAY RAIN (Lantana/Lerner, March 2021), was featured in The New York Times and Parents magazine. Her upcoming picture book, THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE: A Story About Success will be released in 2021 in China and in spring of 2022 in the USA from Yeehoo Press. She has three other children’s books in print as well.
Rosie has been featured on TV, radio, podcasts, and print media, and also speaks on women’s and mom’s topics.
Originally from Bulgaria, she now lives in Dallas, TX with her family.
Visit her at RosieJPova.com and follow her on Twitter @RosiePOV.
Posted by Tara Lazar
Categories: Picture Books
Tags: Cover Reveal, Monika Filipina, Rosie J. Pova
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Congratulations, Rosie! Love the title and cover! Sounds like this will be a big success!
By stiefelchana on November 4, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Rose, love the Thanksgiving story (minus your cold) and how you motivated yourself with a little Chicken Soup for The Soul, just what the doctor ordered. The cover is great, congratulations!
PS-Now I want hot springs and turkey!!!
By Mary Munson on November 4, 2021 at 12:21 pm
LOL right?? Thanks, Mary!
By Rosie Pova on November 4, 2021 at 2:21 pm
What a cool story about how this story was born! Thank you for sharing, Rosie, and congratulations on your book! I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
By Abby Wooldridge on November 4, 2021 at 12:23 pm
What a fun & interesting topic as we all deal with failures…
I’m dealing with doubts and possible failure in my current picture book too!
The bright & fun illustrations are wonderful too.
Wishing you success!
By Karen Hunt on November 4, 2021 at 12:32 pm
What a fantastic idea. And I do like that original opening sentence.
By Silvia Sanides on November 4, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Sounds like a must read!
By supermario6 on November 4, 2021 at 12:45 pm
This is the kind of story I can get behind! I think kids need to know failure can lead to success . . . at least that’s what I keep telling myself 🙂
By rindabeach on November 4, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Love the story behind the book, and I LOVE the cover, too! Can’t wait to read it!
By Jilanne Hoffmann on November 4, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Rosie – thank you for sharing and congratulations on the new book! It looks and sounds awesome. I loved hearing about the moment the concept popped into your mind and how inspiration took you and you wrote a draft immediately. When that happens for me (which is rare), those tend to be my favorite stories.
By Dan Marvin on November 4, 2021 at 1:25 pm
Good luck with your book, and thanks for sharing. Guess “chicken soup” does make things better.
By Chelle Martin on November 4, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Thank you, Chana 🙂
By Rosie Pova on November 4, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for sharing, I feel many days as I sit in my writer’s corner that I have come to the end of writing anything good and I experience a sinking feeling. Then I find something in a book at the library that helps get me motivated to start revising until there is one good story among the drafts.
You have encouraged me to find this book and read it.
By Sheri Radovich on November 4, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Congrats! Thanks for sharing the story behind the story.
By Bethanny Parker on November 4, 2021 at 3:32 pm
What a fantastic Thanksgiving story. Looking forward to reading The School of Failure / A Story of Success. We can all use a little inspiration.
By Laurie Swindler on November 4, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Sounds lovely! And great behind the scenes story. Good luck!
By Johnell DeWitt on November 4, 2021 at 4:04 pm
Thanks for sharing your story of how this book came about. It looks wonderful
By Arlene Schenker on November 4, 2021 at 5:19 pm
Congratulations! I loved reading your post. Good luck with the book…very catchy title!
By Sylvia Mary Grech on November 4, 2021 at 5:28 pm
How fun…thanks for sharing!
By katiemillsgiorgio on November 4, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Every writer knows the feeling of failure. Your book sounds like it has an encouraging message for us, too!
By Janet Frenck Sheets on November 4, 2021 at 5:48 pm
OMG! I love this story about the inspiration for your book! Thanks for sharing and big congrats!!
By brennajeanneret on November 4, 2021 at 5:56 pm
Aw, thank you! 🙂
By Rosie Pova on November 4, 2021 at 6:21 pm
What a great title for your story. Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations, Rosie!
By pathaap on November 4, 2021 at 6:56 pm
Rosie…thanks so much for sharing! I love the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL series too!! I also love your original opening line! Glad you found a way to incorporate it!!! Looking forward to reading and reviewing your book! 🙂
By seschipper on November 4, 2021 at 7:02 pm
Awesome cover, Rosie…thrilled for you and this book!
By viviankirkfield on November 4, 2021 at 8:37 pm
What a Thanksgiving, eh? Thanks for sharing the way in which this story began. Can’t wait to read it. The title is indeed a great hook. Congrats.
By marty bellis on November 4, 2021 at 9:18 pm
What a wonderful origin story for your book. Congratulations!
By Jennifer Phillips on November 4, 2021 at 10:01 pm
What a fun post. I happen to love that opening line too. I’m glad she snuck it into her author’s note. Thanks for the post. I will pass on the giveaway.
By rosihollinbeck on November 5, 2021 at 1:53 am
Congratulations, Rosie! It’s interesting that you started with the title. I rarely have a title before a story.
By authorlaurablog on November 5, 2021 at 7:30 am
Thank you Rosie and Tara.
Very inspiring! Need to listen to Jack Canfield ! Love your story ideas and the drawings are super fun!. Wishing you both the best, Tina
By tina on November 5, 2021 at 10:00 am
great post – and what a fun title! I may be an alumnus of that school…
By Sue Heavenrich on November 5, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Excited for this book Rosie!
By Elizabeth W Saba on November 5, 2021 at 2:12 pm
I’m so glad that you’ve chosen to write about failure and success. Looking forward to reading it with my kids!
By srkckass on November 6, 2021 at 7:56 am
it is helpful to hear these creative moment stories that lead to years of revising…and finally, a PUBLISHED work. Congrats!! May this upcoming Thanksgiving be extra special!!!
By Alicia Shawn Gagnon on November 6, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Congratulations Rosie. I am looking forward to reading your book. I also love the fact that you managed to get that incredible first line into your book after all 🙂
By Aly Kenna on November 6, 2021 at 7:39 pm
Congratulations Rosie!!
By chardixon47 on November 7, 2021 at 7:10 pm
You have such a fun story about how you came to the idea of your story! Congratulations!
By Angie on November 7, 2021 at 11:02 pm
I’m sold by the cover and idea. Can’t wait to give this to my daughter who is a second grade teacher, after I read it first.
By Shirley fadden on November 8, 2021 at 8:41 am
congratulations! How interesting to read your beginning
story and then the long work to fulfil its promise!
By Nancy Ferguson on November 8, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Rosie, you had me at the cover!
By kathydoherty1 on November 9, 2021 at 4:14 pm
ah, the fate of those little darlings ! !
By Stephen S. Martin on November 9, 2021 at 7:51 pm
Rosie, congratulations on your new book and thank you for offering a giveaway.
By YauMei Chiang on November 10, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Rosie, congrats on the new book! I love this concept.
By Susan Johnston Taylor on November 11, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Rosie, big congrats on your latest book!
By Susan Johnston Taylor on November 11, 2021 at 1:44 pm
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey for THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE. It is very inspirational.
By Meredith Fraser on November 16, 2021 at 10:35 pm
Sometimes a NyQuil induced fog is great for idea creation!
By Lauri Meyers on November 23, 2021 at 11:13 am
Looking forward to joining you and having a pocket full of ideas!
By Robin Martin on December 29, 2021 at 7:34 pm