Most Ruby Quill stories don’t begin as books.
They begin as moments.
A dog staring out a window.
A quiet park bench.
A question a child asks that lingers longer than expected.
At Ruby Quill Books, stories grow slowly and intentionally — shaped by curiosity, revision, and a love of the details that make a book feel personal. Here’s a look behind the scenes at how an idea becomes a finished story, ready to be held, read, and shared.
It Starts with a Spark
Every story begins with something small.
Sometimes it’s a memory from my own life. Sometimes it’s a setting I know well — Florida boardwalks, warm winter mornings, the hush of nature doing its quiet work. And sometimes it’s simply a feeling I want to explore: wonder, patience, belonging, or the joy of noticing what others might overlook.
At this stage, nothing is polished. Ideas are scribbled in notebooks, half-written on sticky notes, or saved as voice memos that make sense only in the moment. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s possibility.
This is where the ruby quill metaphor really lives. A story doesn’t arrive finished. It’s written, erased, rewritten, and shaped over time.
Shaping the Story
Once an idea shows promise, the real work begins.
I ask a few important questions early:
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Who is this story for?
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What feeling should the reader leave with?
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Does this idea want to be funny, quiet, or heartfelt?
A picture book requires rhythm and restraint. A young adult story needs space to breathe. Each format asks for a different kind of attention.
This is also where structure takes shape. Scenes are rearranged. Endings are tested. Sometimes an entire story shifts because one moment doesn’t quite ring true — and that’s a good thing. A story that changes is a story discovering what it wants to be.
Finding the Right Visual Voice
At Ruby Quill Books, words and art work together.
Illustration style isn’t just decoration — it’s storytelling. Color, lighting, and composition all influence how a reader feels as they move through a book. A quiet scene might need open space. A playful moment might benefit from movement and warmth.
I think carefully about:
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How much space text needs to breathe
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Where an illustration should pause the story
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How a page turn can become part of the narrative
The goal is always balance — letting the art carry emotion where words step back, and letting words guide where images linger.
The Not-So-Magical Middle
This is the stage no one sees — and where the book truly becomes itself.
Drafts are revised. Favorite lines are cut. Scenes are rewritten more times than I’d like to admit. Sometimes the smallest change makes the biggest difference.
This part can be frustrating, but it’s also where intention shows up. Every choice matters because every page will eventually be read by someone trusting the story to take them somewhere meaningful.
This is where a book earns its heart.
Making It a Real Book
Once the story and art are working together, the final steps begin.
Pages are ordered carefully. Front matter is chosen with care. Covers are designed to invite curiosity without giving everything away. Whether a book is headed for print or digital shelves, it’s treated as something meant to last.
There’s something special about seeing a story cross this finish line — from idea to ink, from thought to something tangible.
Why I Do This
I make books because stories slow us down.
They invite us to notice. To laugh. To sit with a feeling a little longer. My hope is that every Ruby Quill book feels handmade — not just in how it looks, but in how it lingers after the last page.
If you’ve ever wondered how a book comes to life, thank you for being curious. And if you’re reading along, supporting, or sharing these stories — you’re part of that journey too.