Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cara Pinder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The profit margin for independent authors, even those who hire a professional editor, illustrator, and marketing team, is quite small. There are various income opportunities available, such as blogging, publishing on Kindle, and selling IngramSpark copies to libraries and bookstores worldwide. Author copies can also be quite profitable if you are willing to put in the effort to attend multiple book signings. However, even with these opportunities, the overhead costs often outweigh the potential income.

Many people do not consider the expenses involved in creating a book, including paying everyone who contributes to the project, the printing costs, and the bookstore’s cut. By the time all these expenses are accounted for, very little profit is left for the author.

In my experience, if you want to make a living in the writing industry, you need to diversify your income sources and have the determination to succeed!

Cara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a millennial mom of two who has always been a writer.

My journey as a children’s author began with my first book, “The Tooth Fairy Stars,” which came to fruition after two years of classes and research, inspired by my children’s endless questions when they were very young. The idea for the book emerged when my daughter was reluctant to give the Tooth Fairy her very first wiggly tooth and wondered why she needed all those teeth.

The story blossomed, my editor loved it, and I decided to pursue this career that had once been a mere pastime.
My book stands out as a delightful fairytale that every child can relate to, as losing teeth is a universal experience. It’s a wholesome and uplifting story, just what we all needed after the challenging years of COVID.

Currently, I am working on the third book in the series and also working on a Substack following to share not only my more mature writing but also some insight on information that was helpful for me as a new author.
I hope these publications will inspire people who want to write their own book but don’t know where to start.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love my kids, and I’m always excited about all their milestones. However, I never expected to connect with so many adorable children and their parents sharing their child’s achievements with me! I receive DMs, texts, and PMs frequently from people I have never even met, often sharing pictures of their child proudly holding their lost tooth.
I’ve even been asked to pull out a little girl’s tooth at a book signing, but her mom ended up doing it instead! (PHEW) Another little girl pulled out her tooth just to show me that it didn’t hurt. (I think she also wanted a Tooth Fairy pillow that I sell since she already had my book.)
It’s so fun and uplifting to see these children excited about losing a tooth to be part of the Tooth Fairy story!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting is something Ross Geller and I know a lot about.

In my 20s, I held various jobs and married young. I believe most people are just trying to figure out who they are, what makes them happy, and how to survive in this world. Being able to pivot is crucial.

I have had to change careers and plans so many times that I’ve lost count, but these experiences make you stronger and more adaptable. For instance, I was a hairstylist throughout my 20s until I injured my shoulder—life change. Initially, I didn’t want kids, but after six years, we decided to have them, which took eight years to achieve. Adaptability is key.

I also went to school for construction but faced another setback when I got hurt. Additionally, I worked for a multi-level marketing (MLM) company for ten years until it dissolved.

Throughout all these changes, I wrote often but never considered writing as a source of income—until I had to pivot once again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carapinder.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carapinder.author/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550993124195
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caraincaracterpinder615
• Other: https://substack.com/@carapinder

Image Credits

Cara Pinder