The Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy Podcast helps self-published children’s book authors grow their audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable publishing business using simple, organic strategies. Hosted by full-time award-winning Author and Illustrator Harleigh Manske, each episode shares actionable tips for Amazon KDP, email list growth, and consistent traffic—adapted from high-value YouTube content for learning on the go.
Publisher
Harleigh Manske | Children’s Book Marketing & Self-Publishing Coach
28: She Sold 200+ Children’s Books BEFORE Launch Day (Here’s How)
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh sits down with her VIP coaching client and debut children's book author Meeshy Mac to break down the pre-launch strategy behind her first book, Pretend You're a Puppy. Before the book even officially launched, Meeshy shares how her Sponsor a Story campaign, pre-orders, Shopify website, launch team, and consistent social media strategy worked together to build momentum before launch. She also gets into her decision to manufacture a board book instead of using Amazon KDP, her experience going viral on social media, and what she's doing to keep that momentum going into launch day.
What You’ll Learn
How Meeshy generated 200+ sales before her first children's book officially launched
Why Shopify is the primary sales platform for Pretend You're a Puppy
How she exceeded her goal of 100 sponsored books in the first week
Why she's choosing NOT to run a major discount or free promotion during this launch
Watch the Original YouTube Video
If you prefer a visual walkthrough, you can watch the original video here:
https://youtu.be/PzBucGT8yE0?si=WUZ87iRvvFTkdoEG (https://youtu.be/PzBucGT8yE0?si=WUZ87iRvvFTkdoEG)
Work With Me + Resources
🌟 Become a VIP Member for the Same Price as a 60-Minute Coaching Call and Get Instant Access to Author Growth Roadmap: https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/plans (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/plans)
Book a 1:1 Coaching Call with Me:
[60 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call)
[40 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call-discounted-clone)
Join My Signature Membership Program to Publish, Launch, and SCALE Your Children's Book Publishing Business:
Author Growth Roadmap (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/about)
Get Free Traffic + Book Sales:
Free Traffic Formula Mini Course (https://buy.stripe.com/6oU00j0dM5nherqda71ZS03)
Free Resources for Children's Book Authors
Children's Book Marketing Guide (https://harleigh-manske.ck.page/8f6e045fcc)
Instagram Content Planner (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/738f0c7892)
Book Launch Team Checklist + Email Templates (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/43a80c9130)
Free Publish a Children's Book on Amazon KDP Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=4e7d49151fe24c8c97785bf787297460)
Free Children's Book Formatting Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=c009e8362af5499aa6e02306f59bf414)
Links & Resources Mentioned:
🚀 Become a VIP Coaching Client: https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/plans (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/plans)
🐶 Check out Meeshy Mac & Pretend You’re a Puppy:
Website: https://meeshymac.com/ (https://meeshymac.com/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormeeshymac/ (https://www.instagram.com/authormeeshymac/)
📚 My Board Book Manufacturing Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxiVKW6bfkI&list=PLVasjHuqQLsZi6pLFbEaPkqnreak0XIG2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxiVKW6bfkI&list=PLVasjHuqQLsZi6pLFbEaPkqnreak0XIG2)
🔗 Goodreads Author Profile Help: https://www.goodreads.com/author/program (https://www.goodreads.com/author/program)
Connect
If you found this episode helpful, consider following the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with another children’s book author!
28 Sept 2026
27: Turn One Amazon KDP Children's Book Into Five Income Streams
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares how you can take ONE Amazon KDP children's book and turn it into five different income streams instead of relying solely on your Amazon royalties. From maximizing your book formats and selling directly to creating wholesale opportunities, merchandise, and eventually monetizing your expertise, there are more ways to make money from your book than you might realize.
Harleigh breaks down the income streams she has personally used to grow her children's book business and shares practical ways you can start small and build additional revenue around the book you've already created.
What You’ll Learn
How to maximize the income potential of your Amazon KDP Children's Book listing
How IngramSpark can expand your book formats and wholesale distribution
How KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited can create another source of book royalties
Why you don't need an entire children's book series to start building multiple streams of income
Watch the Original YouTube Video
If you prefer a visual walkthrough, you can watch the original video here:
https://youtu.be/do1CQPvWDa8?si=oVIV7wVKEhgx9ku3 (https://youtu.be/do1CQPvWDa8?si=oVIV7wVKEhgx9ku3)
Work With Me + Resources
Book a 1:1 Coaching Call with Me:
[60 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call)
[40 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call-discounted-clone)
Join My Signature Membership Program to Publish, Launch, and SCALE Your Children's Book Publishing Business:
Author Growth Roadmap (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/about)
Get Free Traffic + Book Sales:
Free Traffic Formula Mini Course (https://buy.stripe.com/6oU00j0dM5nherqda71ZS03)
Custom Children's Book Activity Books
Learn more about having Harleigh create a custom, non-AI activity book based on your children's book: https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/232f96b89a
(https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/232f96b89a)
Links Mentioned
IngramSpark: Print-on-demand and wholesale distribution for authors:
https://www.ingramspark.com/ (https://www.ingramspark.com/)
Faire: The wholesale platform Harleigh uses for her offset-printed books and merchandise:
https://www.faire.com/ (https://www.faire.com/)
Shopify: Harleigh uses Shopify for her author website, online orders, in-person sales, and Faire integration.
https://shopify.pxf.io/c/5843335/1499948/13624 (https://shopify.pxf.io/c/5843335/1499948/13624)
In-Person Children's Book Selling Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKh7Ols2TsY&list=PLVasjHuqQLsa7R4UKqfZrFm00jeyYpgyK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKh7Ols2TsY&list=PLVasjHuqQLsa7R4UKqfZrFm00jeyYpgyK)
Children's Book Wholesale Training / Videos
Wholesale with Print on Demand: https://youtu.be/HftJC7XFrko?si=zL0mM5HV3pPt3b9r (https://youtu.be/HftJC7XFrko?si=zL0mM5HV3pPt3b9r)
Wholesale with Inventory: https://youtu.be/fvlsCH3UMo0?si=B4KS8TCo6Tbaez-s (https://youtu.be/fvlsCH3UMo0?si=B4KS8TCo6Tbaez-s)
Children's Book Product Manufacturing Videos
Videos on creating products like plushies, stickers, enamel pins, and other merchandise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxiVKW6bfkI&list=PLVasjHuqQLsZi6pLFbEaPkqnreak0XIG2
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxiVKW6bfkI&list=PLVasjHuqQLsZi6pLFbEaPkqnreak0XIG2)
Free Resources for Children's Book Authors
Children's Book Marketing Guide (https://harleigh-manske.ck.page/8f6e045fcc)
Instagram Content Planner (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/738f0c7892)
Book Launch Team Checklist + Email Templates (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/43a80c9130)
Free Publish a Children's Book on Amazon KDP Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=4e7d49151fe24c8c97785bf787297460)
Free Children's Book Formatting Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=c009e8362af5499aa6e02306f59bf414)
Connect
If you found this episode helpful, consider following the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with another children’s book author!
21 Sept 2026
26: How Much Money Can You ACTUALLY Make as a Children's Book Author?
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh answers one of the questions she gets asked all the time: How much money can you actually make as a self-published children's book author? She breaks down realistic numbers from her own business and explains why relying on Amazon KDP royalties alone can limit your earning potential.
Harleigh shares how she increases her income through direct book sales, in-person events, wholesale, and children's book merchandise—and why treating your books like an actual publishing business can create more opportunities for long-term, recurring revenue.
What You’ll Learn
How much money you can realistically make as a self-published children's book author
Different ways to sell children's books beyond Amazon KDP
Why selling books directly can dramatically increase your profit per copy
Why building meaningful income from children's books takes time, consistency, and a long-term strategy
Watch the Original YouTube Video
If you prefer a visual walkthrough, you can watch the original video here:
https://youtu.be/AnvxmWIaGBE?si=hWlKbVTMx4Ihghpa (https://youtu.be/AnvxmWIaGBE?si=hWlKbVTMx4Ihghpa)
Links Mentioned:
How I Made $300 Selling Children's Books in 3 Hours
See the in-person sales strategy Harleigh references in this episode.
https://authorharleighrose.com/episodes/23-300-in-childrens-book-sales-in-3-hours-heres-how-i-did-it (https://authorharleighrose.com/episodes/23-300-in-childrens-book-sales-in-3-hours-heres-how-i-did-it)
How I Created Custom Plushies for My Children's Book Brand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfE0yQXs-A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfE0yQXs-A)
Work With Me + Resources
Book a 1:1 Coaching Call with Me:
[60 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call)
[40 Minute Zoom Call] (https://calendly.com/harleighmanske/1-1-coaching-call-discounted-clone)
Join My Signature Membership Program to Publish, Launch, and SCALE Your Children's Book Publishing Business:
Author Growth Roadmap (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/about)
Get Free Traffic + Book Sales:
Free Traffic Formula Mini Course (https://buy.stripe.com/6oU00j0dM5nherqda71ZS03)
Free Resources for Children's Book Authors
Children's Book Marketing Guide (https://harleigh-manske.ck.page/8f6e045fcc)
Instagram Content Planner (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/738f0c7892)
Book Launch Team Checklist + Email Templates (https://harleigh-manske.kit.com/43a80c9130)
Free Publish a Children's Book on Amazon KDP Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=4e7d49151fe24c8c97785bf787297460)
Free Children's Book Formatting Course (https://www.skool.com/author-growth-academy/classroom/7b128725?md=c009e8362af5499aa6e02306f59bf414)
Connect
If you found this episode helpful, consider following the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with another children’s book author!
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Spotify
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4 ratings
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