A Musical Book Launch

This Saturday, April 25, the final day of National Library Week, author Kate Goldbas will debut something truly special, a children’s book and original song at a live musical event and book signing at the Darien Library in Darien, Connecticut.

But what makes this launch stand out isn’t just the creativity—it’s the strategy behind it and the level of production required to bring it to life.

This project has been over five years in the making, and since last fall, we’ve had the privilege of guiding it through the final and most technical stages of publishing.

Hear the Music

From a Simple Song to a Multi-Format Book Experience

What began as a way to entertain a three-year-old during car rides grew into a beautifully written song… and eventually into a fully illustrated children’s book.

When Kate found us through our book How to Format a Children’s Book for Self-Publishing, she had a vision, but needed a clear path forward.

Today, that vision has become a multi-format experience:

Paperback and hardcover editions
A reflowable eBook
A sing-along eBook with embedded music created through Kindle Create
Music available on Spotify and other platforms

This isn’t just a book—it’s a fully developed reader and listener experience.

I Wish that I Could Be A Whale book by Kate Goldbas

Bridging Digital Illustration to Professional Print

Illustrator Olivia Chindamo created the beautiful artwork in Procreate, a powerful digital tool, but not originally built for print production.

This created real challenges:

RGB color space vs. required CMYK for print
Layer limitations within Procreate
Maintaining flexibility while preparing final files

To solve this, we didn’t just adapt; we built a better workflow.

We:

Converted artwork carefully to preserve depth and vibrancy
Guided file preparation for print readiness
Developed custom CMYK color space templates for Procreate to support accurate print output

Those templates are now refined into a product available on our website, helping other illustrators avoid the same production pitfalls.

This is the kind of behind-the-scenes work most people never see, but it’s what determines whether a book looks “fine” or exceptional in print.

Commercial Print + Print-on-Demand: Two Very Different Standards

One of the most important aspects of this project is often overlooked:

This book was prepared for both traditional commercial printing and print-on-demand distribution.

These are not the same.

Commercial printing requires:

Precise color management and proofing standards
File preparation aligned with offset printing processes
Consistency across larger print runs

At the same time, we also prepared the book for:

Amazon KDP
IngramSpark

Balancing both required careful planning to ensure:

Color consistency across print methods
File compatibility across platforms
A high-quality reader experience regardless of how the book is purchased

Successfully executing both sides of this production is a significant milestone—and something many projects don’t fully achieve.

I Wish I Could Be A Whale Children's Book

Designing for Story, Art, and Music

This book required more than standard layout.

We needed to:

Design text placement to flow with the illustrations
Ensure readability without competing with the artwork
Consider how the musical rhythm interacts with the reading experience

That integration is what elevates this project beyond a traditional children’s book.

The Real Success: Pre-Marketing That Builds Momentum

Here’s where this project truly stands apart.

Kate and her husband built their audience before the book was finished.

They worked ahead and:

Established relationships with libraries (including this launch event)
Hosted children’s programs in their community
Connected with independent bookstores early
Created a musical experience that extends beyond the book

This is what creates a successful launch—not just a finished product, but an engaged audience ready for it.

A True Creative Collaboration

Our role was to come alongside this team as:

Technical guides
Production specialists
Design partners

From preparing artwork for print to designing a layout that works with both story and music, this project required thoughtful collaboration at every stage.

Congratulations to Kate Goldbas, Olivia Chindamo, and Goldbas Music on this incredible debut.

We’re grateful to have been part of bringing this vision to life.