Why Preorders Matter (The Honest Version)

A simple look at how preorders help us make better, thoughtful decisions as a family.

Some parts of creating a children’s book feel more natural like the brainstorming, the writing, the story, the message you hope your children carry with them.

But then there are the parts that we didn’t fully understand until we were in it ourselves… things like printing, inventory, and trying to make wise decisions before you have all the information.

One thing we’ve learned along the way is that there are a couple different ways books can be printed. Some are printed one at a time as orders come in (called print on demand – this is what many online platforms do), and that’s a really helpful option in many cases.

But with our daughter’s last book I Saw Bigfoot, and now with Made to Fly Free, we felt led to go a different direction.

We chose to work with a local printer and do a small print run instead. (You can read more about our first trip to that printer here.)

We wanted this to be the kind of book that feels beautiful in your hands, the kind that holds up to being read over and over again and becomes part of your family rhythms.

We also chose a larger 11 x 9 landscape size that isn’t available through many print-on-demand services. But that choice comes with a layer of responsibility we don’t always talk about.

We have to decide ahead of time how many books to print… before we know exactly how many families will want one.

And that’s where preorders start to matter in a very real, practical way.

It Helps Us Make Thoughtful Decisions

One of the biggest questions we have to answer is simply this:

How many books should we print?

And the honest answer is… we don’t fully know.

We can guess, and we can hope. But preorders give us something much more grounded than that.

They give us a glimpse of real families saying, “Yes, this is something we want in our home.”

And that helps us make decisions that feel less like guessing and more like stewardship.

It Brings a Little More Peace into the Process

When you’re creating something for families, you want to do it well.

Not just the story itself, but the way it’s released, packaged, and shared.

There’s a version of this process that feels rushed. Trying to figure everything out at the last minute and hoping it all comes together.

But that’s not really how we want to build this, so preorders give us space to take a breath and slow down.

They give us time to think through things like packing, shipping, and timing in a way that fits into real family life.

Instead of reacting at the last minute, we’re able to move forward with more clarity and a lot more peace.

And in a busy homeschool life, that matters more than you might think.

It’s About Stewardship More Than Strategy

This is the part that matters most to me.

This isn’t just about selling books. It’s about stewarding something we feel called to create, and we want to handle that calling carefully.

Preorders are one small, practical way we try to do that.

They help us avoid overproducing, make wiser decisions, and move forward with a little more clarity.

You’re Part of This, Too

If you’ve already preordered… I hope you know how much that means to us. Truly.

You’re not just placing an order. You’re also helping us make wise decisions and encouraging this work to keep going. You’re reminding us that these stories are finding their way into real homes. And that’s the whole point.

We believe stories shape hearts in ways that last.

A Simple Invitation

If you’ve been considering Made to Fly Free, this really is a meaningful time to order.

Not because you have to but because it’s one of the ways families come alongside this work as it’s being built.

And if you’re simply here, reading and following along, that matters to us, too. More than you know.

We’re really grateful you’re here for it.

If you’re curious, you can explore Made to Fly Free here.

Or, if you’d like to see how this story can come to life in your home, I put together a simple Pathfinder Story Guide with conversation prompts and hands-on activities for families.

You can read more about that (and how to use the book together) here.

Or just stay close and follow along as this unfolds.