Palm Harbor children’s book Howl – A Family-Built Story from Page to Page

If you love local stories and bedtime reading, the Palm Harbor children’s book Howl is a perfect blend of both. In this episode of Palm Harbor Local, we sit down with Palm Harbor author Erin O’Brien to talk about how the Palm Harbor children’s book Howl came to life and how her family turned a simple idea into a full-on creative venture.

From a Friend’s Idea to a Finished Story

The spark for Howl started with a simple suggestion from a friend:
“What if there were a children’s book where a wolf was in love with the moon?”

That idea got stuck in Erin’s head. She took her laptop to the Palm Harbor Library, found a quiet corner, and started writing. A few hours later, the bones of Howl were on the page—a mythical, bedtime-friendly take on how wolves began howling at the moon.

Writing had always been Erin’s passion. She studied writing in school, always knew she wanted to be an author, and this time she finally had a story that felt too good to ignore. Between raising kids, working, and juggling life, she carved out pockets of quiet time and let the book “flow” out in a single burst, then refined it over the next few weeks with help from her mom, a retired teacher and editor.

Childhood, Books, and Finding Connection Off the Screen

Erin grew up moving around—West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and eventually Florida—so she was “the new kid” often. Books became her constant. They were her first friends in every new town, a safe place she could always return to.

Her mom and brother read to her constantly, everything from classics like Goodnight Moon to Indian in the Cupboard and, later, even Stephen King. That mix of cozy and creepy stayed with her. Today, she reads to her own kids and still believes strongly that reading together is one of the best ways to build connection in a world glued to screens.

When you’re reading with your kids, the phone is down. The book is in your hands. You’re both focused on the same thing, sitting in the same moment. That’s the kind of connection Erin hopes Howl creates for other parents and kids.

For more local stories like Erin’s, you can always visit PalmHarborLocal.com and explore past episodes and features.

How a Family Turned Howl into a Palm Harbor Children’s Book

One of the most unique parts of the Palm Harbor children’s book Howl is how deeply it’s rooted in Erin’s family.

Her brother, Clint, has been drawing since childhood—there’s still a horse drawing he did at age seven hanging in their parents’ hallway. When Erin finished the manuscript, he agreed to illustrate the book. They brought in his daughter, Elise, as well, and that trio became the creative engine behind Howl.

The process looked like this:

• Erin drafted the story and then built a rough “storyboard” on printer paper.

• Clint sketched each spread, translating Erin’s words into images.

• He then transferred the sketches onto watercolor paper using a light table.

• Clint painted the main characters and scenes, while Elise focused on details like the night skies.

It’s old-school, hands-on illustration: pencil, watercolor, and a lot of time and patience—not digital shortcuts. The result feels like something you could’ve pulled from a bookshelf in the late 80s or 90s in the best possible way: timeless, warm, and a little bit nostalgic.

Their publishing brand, Gran Apple Books, is built around that idea: a family creating stories for families.

If you want to stay plugged into Palm Harbor’s creative community, be sure to join the newsletter at PalmHarborLocal.com.

Why Palm Harbor children’s book Howl Feels Like a Classic

In a market full of loud, glittery, gimmick-heavy kids’ books, Howl intentionally leans the other way.

Erin wanted something that felt like the books she grew up with—story first, art that feels handcrafted, and a mood that invites kids into a gentle, magical world. Howl follows a wolf who loves the moon so much that he dedicates himself to reaching her. It’s about:

• Perseverance and creative problem-solving

• Big emotions wrapped in a simple, mythical story

• Wonder, curiosity, and commitment

The tone is whimsical and slightly “spooky” in the way kids love—not scary, just atmospheric. It’s the kind of book you can read over and over at bedtime without feeling like you’re just pushing through another noisy character brand.

For parents in Palm Harbor and beyond, Howl is a reminder that simple, well-told stories still matter.

Outbound Link Ideas:
You can find Howl on Amazon and follow the family’s journey through Gran Apple Books on Facebook.

The Reality of Self-Publishing and Marketing a Kids’ Book

Writing the book turned out to be the “easy” part. Getting it into readers’ hands was a different mountain.

Erin and her family chose to self-publish through Amazon, which meant:

• Formatting the interior pages to Amazon’s requirements

• Converting all illustrations into high-quality PDFs

• Wrestling with cover dimensions, bleed, and pixel specs

• Uploading, getting rejected for small technical issues, then trying again

They had help from a friend with the final cover design and, after a lot of back-and-forth, Howl finally went live.

Then came the hardest part: marketing.

Instead of waiting for the internet to magically discover them, they went local and grassroots:

• Features in regional newspapers and magazines

• Local author spotlights

• In-person readings at Cosmic Donuts, Palm Harbor Library, and local schools

• Building a presence on Facebook and Instagram under Gran Apple Books

Erin is honest—the marketing is a grind. For every “yes,” there are dozens of “no’s” or no responses at all. But the local community has been a bright spot, with parents, teachers, and business owners saying yes to readings, events, and shelf space.

Where Howl and Gran Apple Books Go from Here

Howl is just the beginning. Erin and her family already have a Christmas-themed children’s book in the works. Her mom built the storyboard for this one, Clint is finishing the watercolor illustrations while wrapping up school, and the goal is to have it ready for an upcoming holiday season.

Long term, Erin imagines:

• A full series of children’s books under Gran Apple Books

• Getting their stories into more schools and libraries

• Possibly expanding into spooky, young-adult graphic novels down the road

• Eventually handing the creative torch to the next generation—her daughters and niece

For now, the mission is simple: keep creating beautiful stories and keep finding ways to get them into the hands of local kids and parents.

If you want more stories like Erin’s, plus local events, business spotlights, and community updates, subscribe to the Palm Harbor Local newsletter at PalmHarborLocal.com and follow us on Instagram at @palmharborlocal. And if you’re looking for your next bedtime story, grab a copy of Howl and support a local Palm Harbor family in the process.