Meet Sara Lin (birth name)/Lin Hawthorne (pen name) of North Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Lin (birth name)/Lin Hawthorne (pen name).

Hi Sara Lin/Lin Hawthorne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I squared off in front of the washing machine and held up a wet, stinky sock at eye level between my thumb and forefinger. I wrinkled my nose and let it drop on top of the dryer. An indignation from somewhere deep in my gut coursed up through my chest and restricted the muscles in my throat. I set my jaw and narrowed my eyes. Hadn’t I told them repeatedly to turn those darn things right side out; otherwise, the washer would barely touch it? One thing was for sure. I wasn’t going to touch it. I yelled for Josh, my eight-year-old, and he came skidding around the corner. “Josh, turn this dang sock right side out, and next time, I don’t want to have to remind you. I’m not touchin’ your socks.” I could have done it for him. And then continue to resent the jobs I took for them. But not today. Personal responsibility was the name of my game.

The little mocking phrase just turned over and over in my mind. “Mom’s not touchin’ your socks. Mom’s not touchin’ your socks.” Over and over. And a few more lines began to join in on the party. I had to write this down. It was Super Bowl night, and our four kids, ages 8, 6, 4, and almost 1 were running wild around the den while my husband tried to follow the game. I should have corralled them, but I had to write things down. I started to think of all the other things “Mom’s Not” going to do for them anymore. Not “Wipin’ Your Bum.” Not “Feedin’ Your Pet.” Not “Doin’ Your Homework.”

Being a ravenous reader growing up, I have always loved telling stories, having ingested the art of storytelling through every style and genre under the sun. Reading was always my escape as my family moved a lot for my father’s work. Reading brought comfort through the loneliness of “being new.” My mom was an elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Library Science, and she read aloud to us and encouraged us to read.

I knew what I had to do. I had to turn these into books. Surely another mom and her kids would appreciate the humor and truth behind what I was writing. And having spent my previous life as a corporate graphic designer, I knew how to put a good book together visually. Creating stories was what I was meant to do.

Deciding to author books and open an indie publishing company with four kids under 8 might not seem logical for someone in my stage of life, but it makes perfect sense for me. I could work at my own pace, at odd hours when kids were sleeping or in school, and give illustrators the art direction necessary to produce a high-quality product.

Today, after successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign, I have two books published in the “Mom’s Not” collection, “Gloria Bee’s Big Picture Day” (a book for aspiring artists), and two more by other authors published under my imprint, 3 Plus 1 Publishing. My first book, “Mom’s Not Wipin’ Your Bum” has won numerous awards, including the IBPA Silver Medal for “The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children’s/Young Adult),” a Kirkus Star recipient for “Book of Exceptional Merit,” an Eric Hoffer Award finalist and an Indie Brag Medallion. I have a great team of professionals who are excellent at marketing, accounting, sales, and distribution. Without them, I couldn’t do what I do. The art and process of publishing books and telling a great story (whether my own or another authors) brings me immense joy and satisfaction. Every day I am inspired by my family and my husband, a 50% partner in our publishing company. He is a great “first editor” and frequently collaborates with me on story ideas. It’s a joy for us to work together. The mission of Three Plus One Publishing is to create books with meaning and substance, wit, and wonder. 3+1 books resonate with little readers long after the pages are still and the lights are out.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have learned so much since I first started. I look back and think, “Even though I successfully funded a $16K Kickstarter campaign, there are many things I would have done differently to bring in more funds. I would have spent longer cultivating an online audience and learning more about the power of social media. The strategies and possibilities are endless.

Amazon is a huge beast of which experience is the best teacher. I’ve run into quite a few roadblocks along the way. And every single one is an opportunity to learn more and become more adept at the business of publishing. I have an Amazon seller account, an Amazon Advantage account, and a Vendor Central account, and I use each to fit into my business plan as a vital sales and marketing tool.

I’ve learned a lot about the timing of various aspects of publishing when to start marketing a product, and the elements that should be in place before your official “book launch.” On my second-fifth book, the book listing is up on Amazon for months prior, and we focus on pre-orders. I’ve learned about online advertising and still have quite a ways to go before I truly start harnessing its power.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I was a professional graphic designer specializing in web design for fifteen years. I came from a print background in college, and when I entered the workforce in 2000, print jobs were hard to come by. It was the height of the “Dot Com Boom,” so many companies were flying high on speculative funding. I knew that if I wanted to stay in my chosen field, I would have to pivot. So I took odd jobs with start-up Dot Coms (which didn’t pay much) while working other jobs to pay the bills. My payment was an experience and the grace to make mistakes while I learned. I taught myself HTML and CSS and got my first job as an entry-level web designer at a start-up company powered by venture capital. I built a career in creating beautiful websites. I have always specialized in working within the client’s budget to produce amazing branding packages that elevate start-up companies to *look* like they’re ready to play on a highly competitive level. I have an eye for solid design and fearlessness to push creative boundaries. I have brought those skills into publishing, and having a design background gives me a competitive edge in creating books that don’t “look” like they are self-published. I am most proud of my tenacity and ability to push through the daily barriers of being a small business owner. Being a mom of four has upped my game even more. It has added to my fearlessness and focus, knowing every second I have is precious. When I’m with them, they are my entire focus. And the second the lights are out, I start going down my list of business tasks. Being a mom has given me confidence and audacity that makes risk-taking in a small business seem not-so-scary in comparison.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Having lived nationwide, I can speak to this with a broad perspective. First, I love our city. If you love the outdoors (which I do), it’s a playground 2/3 of the year. But be ready. The people here are survivors, a remnant of the “Old West” who grit their teeth during the unbearably hot summers and push through life. But let’s not be mistaken. Modern air conditioning cushions the blow. Phoenicians are a melting pot since everyone here is generally transplanted from somewhere else. Everyone has a story, and everyone’s story is worth knowing. I enjoy the variety of people and hearing how they adopted the city. I don’t love that Phoenix lags in the cultural arts. Having lived on the East Coast, where arts and music are highly valued, it has always felt like Phoenix is about 25 years behind. There is hope. We continue to fight for early art education in our public schools, and have you been to the Musical Instrument Museum? A literal oasis in this desert, it is at once beautiful and comfortable. And impressive. Take your family and enjoy. You can lose yourself for hours and hours.

Pricing:

• All high-quality children’s books from 3 Plus 1 Publishing are available on our website (3+1publishing.com), Amazon, or any website for big box retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, or Barnes and Noble.
• If you are an author interested in working with 3+1 Publishing to potentially have your book published by an exciting *local* Independent Publisher, call Lin at 480.650.7554 and contact us through email at hello@threeplusonepublishing.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://3plus1publishing.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lin.hawthorne
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/linhawthorneauthor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linhawthorne/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyW3sJ2M9ahLHkrTayZf3wg
• Other: momsnot.com