It all started a few years ago, just before the world turned upside down with the arrival of COVID. We were on a camping trip in Australia, exploring the stunning Margaret River with our two little girls, who were just 3 and 5 years old at the time. Like any parents of young children, we always came prepared for bedtime stories. Books were our constant companions on trips, but this time, in the hustle and bustle of packing, we forgot them.

One evening, after a long day of outdoor adventures, we were in our tent with our girls, and the realization hit—no books for bedtime. But necessity is the mother of invention, and that night, we decided to make up our own story. Earlier in the trip, we had visited a wildlife park and seen the most adorable koala, inspiring us to create a character based on the cuddly creatures we had met. Thus, Captain Pillowbelly was born—a gentle, adventurous koala who loves to explore new places and try new foods but also never says no to a good nap.

From Camping Trip to Creative Journey

Since that trip, Captain Pillowbelly has become part of our family’s nightly routine. Over the years, we’ve written many stories featuring his adventures, often drawing inspiration from the various countries we’ve visited both as a young couple and later as a family. From Europe to Asia, each story brings Captain Pillowbelly to a new destination, where he meets local friends, tries delicious foods, and sometimes gets into comical situations (usually involving his never-ending hunger and love for naps!).

Despite how much time and creativity we’ve poured into these stories, for the longest time, Captain Pillowbelly was never more than a bedtime tradition. It remained our little project, something we created out of love for our children and our travels. But now, as our girls are growing older—currently 7 and 9—we’ve decided to take Captain Pillowbelly to the next level and turn this into a real family project.

A Family Effort

This journey is entirely self-funded, and we’re operating on a very limited budget, but the project is full of heart. What makes it even more special is how much our daughters are involved. We’ve turned it into a family learning experience—teaching them how to build a simple website, showing them how to draft and format stories, and giving them a big say when it comes to the illustrations and design choices.

Our girls have taken on a serious role as the creative directors for Captain Pillowbelly’s look and feel. They help decide on the colors, the characters’ outfits, and even what Captain Pillowbelly should be doing in each new adventure. They are particularly excited about the book covers, which feature country flags and Captain Pillowbelly enjoying some fun activity related to the destination.

The Road Ahead

There is still plenty of work ahead of us, and we know we are just at the beginning. From finalizing the illustrations to polishing the stories, every part of this project has been a labor of love. We are approximately three weeks away from publishing our very first book on Amazon, which is both thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time.

We plan to keep this blog updated with regular progress reports as we move forward. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes looks at our creative process, the challenges of self-publishing, or just fun updates about new Captain Pillowbelly stories in the works, we want to share this journey with others.

For now, we are focused on getting our first book out, but we have big dreams for Captain Pillowbelly and his future adventures. Who knows where this little koala will travel next? One thing is for sure—there are many more stories to be told, and we can’t wait to see where this project takes us.

Stay tuned, and thank you for following along on our journey!