Children's Book Author Interview with Edwin Kim of "A Place To Belong"

Where to Purchase the Book

When did you become a children’s book author?

My goal was to create books that teach kids valuable and practical lessons in a fun way. My hope is that as the kids read my stories, they will learn how to better themselves and be able to overcome any situation that comes their way. 

​Do you have a writing background?

​Even though I don't have any writing experience, I have a vivid imagination. My imagination allows me to imagine possible scenarios for stories. 

How did you come up with the story? 

I draw a lot of inspiration from my own experiences when writing my stories. In these stories, you'll see a lot of myself. 

How did you come up with the character? 

Creating characters can be a challenge. I had to trust my illustrator's ideas as well. Various ideas were discussed about the characters' appearances. In the end, though, I still wanted a little bit of myself in these characters. As an example, in my book, "Sharing Shelly," we gave the main character glasses since I wear them as well.

How do you select names for your characters?

It's hard for me to come up with names since there are so many wonderful ones. As a result, I ask my friends what they think of the names I have chosen and see what their response is. 

Did you hire an illustrator or do the illustrations yourself?

Supporting artists is something I love to do. For all my books, I hire illustrators.

Are you self-published or published through a publishing company?

In my opinion, self-publishing is the best option! 

From the day you came up with the idea for the story until you were holding your published book in your hand, how long did it take you to complete this book?

The answer varies from book to book. There are some books that take 3-6 months to complete. I took over a year to complete some of my books. After the book is published, all the effort will have been worthwhile. 

What made you want to publish a children's book?

There is only one word for it: art. There is something more alive about a book when it has pictures. Beautiful illustrations make reading a book more enjoyable. 

What is one thing you wish you knew before beginning your book publishing journey? 

It is important not to overthink the process. Don't get caught up in the details and take it one step at a time. There will be mistakes along the way, but that's okay. It's all part of the journey.

Any tips for future children’s book authors? 

Your idea deserves to be shared with the world. Don't be afraid to come up with creative and imaginative ideas. Don't stop writing and write your stories however you like.

Do you have any other books in the works?

At the moment, no. The last book idea was A Place to Belong. In the future, we'll see what happens. You are welcome to follow my socials to see what I’m doing with my books.

Other books by Edwin:
Sharing Shelly 
Richard and the Colorful Balloons 
Coding Can Change the World