HOME GROWN

LOCAL AUTHOR KATIE BOLT SHARES HER NEW BOOK WITH SON OLIVER.

A New Take on a Familiar Story

New Mama books find the humor in early baby days.

Wwhether her child is three or fortythree, any mother remembers the challenges that came in the first year of her baby’s life. That joyfully stressful time can be blurry to recall until later, when the humor of those memories becomes apparent. Just ask Downers Grove resident Katie Bolt, author of the New Mama Collection of children’s books, and mother of it’s two-year-old inspiration, Oliver.

Like any new mom, Katie plodded through the late-night feedings and changed the scores of diapers that are part and parcel of motherhood. The idea for the books came late one night on a particularly long search for missing pacifiers. It occurred to Katie and husband Chris that the difference between a permanent induction to zombie-hood and a few hours’ rest hinged on something so absurd as a little pacifier! It was their a-ha moment.

The New Mama Collection is a series of four books. These aren’t the typical nursery selections. “They’re intentionally designed and written for the reader herself, New Mom,” read Katie’s initial pitch. Nighttime Party covers the irony of baby wanting to hang out and eat, usually at the exact moment exhausted mom shuts her eyes for the first time in many hours (or days!). Swaddle Escape profiles a little escape artist’s wish to wiggle out of the comfort cocoon, only to regret it seconds later and call for backup. Where Did All the Pacifiers Go? relays frustrated parents’ need to play detective, always when they’re in a hurry, and for the grand finale: Oops I Poops. Spoiler alert on this one!

Written on storyboard, versus paper, the reading experience is more tactile for baby. As mom and baby turn the pages together, mom will relate to humorous takes on stressful situations, while baby will notice the colorful, yet simple, geometric graphics. The illustrations are a modern take on traditional kid-book images.

“I wanted something a bit more geared toward mom than Goodnight Moon. But nothing against the classics,” Katie laughed.

A Graphic Design and English major from University of Illinois, Katie’s education and professional marketing and design experience largely made New Mama a one-woman show. How did a brand-new mom working full-time while learning the ropes of parenthood see this project to fruition? Almost entirely on her own. “I did a little every day. Even if it was only five minutes on busy days, just to keep continuity,” Katie said. A daily train commute afforded dedicated time in which to work. Except for hiring a printer and a photographer to capture the project while still in the proposal phase, Katie did it herself. The design, typography and images are her own, tapping into her English background to come up with the verbiage. After investigating the arduous task of bringing a book to print, “I decided to self-publish,” Katie said.

Then there were the costs. Financial resources and initial investment are often huge hurdles to such a project. To circumvent them, Katie pitched her idea to Kickstart, an online funding program for wouldbe artists wanting to make a go of a proposed project. In addition to helping an artist raise funds to start a venture, it helps the entrepreneur gauge public interest in the proposal over a thirty-day period. “It’s a more accurate predicter of the success of the project, since it’s total strangers weighing in on your idea; as opposed to just the encouragement of friends and family,” Katie explained.

The series will be perfect for a baby shower, or new baby gift. “While Baby will be smitten by the colors, simplicity and everyday objects, this is really something for you, Mom,” New Mama’s Kickstart description states. Available this fall at Anderson’s Bookstore, The New Mama collection may be viewed on Instagram, @ newmamaco. In the very near future, the books will also be available on Etsy and directly through Katie’s website, newmamaco.com.

What’s next for this graphic designer-come-author? A new baby due mid-August! When asked if she has plans to write more books, Katie laughed. “We’ll see what happens with the new baby. There might be inspiration for a second series!” ■