REXBURG — For many, childhood included a bedtime routine — a bedtime song, a review of the day and, of course, a bedtime story. One BYU-Idaho alumna, author and mother of four is aiming to create picture books with a purpose.
Jeana Atkison, graduated from BYU-Idaho in 2012 with a dream. She wanted to write books for kids. Not just any books, however, she wanted to write books with meaning that would help children to better understand the world around them. With this in mind, Atkison founded the Paper Seed Press.
“I started a publishing company because I wanted to publish books,” Atkison said. “If I were to go through a traditional publisher, I would be getting a royalty of about 6% of the overall income of the book. That would not really allow me to give very much to the organizations I wanted to partner with. So, I chose to create a publishing company where I could decide how much I'm able to give to them and what the books look like.”
According to Atkison, only about 3.4% of books feature a main character with a disability. She wants to change that.
“I was first introduced to this idea that there is a real lack in diversity in characters,” Atkison said. “Those with disabilities are not necessarily shown in books, which is very sad because there are 8,000 children in the Bonneville County area alone with some sort of disability. I think picture books have this great power to really show what we can do and inspire.”
Atkison’s first book is titled “How to Eat a Cupcake” and will feature a main character with Down syndrome. She plans to publish the book next year but is in need of funds to do so. With October being Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Atkison is launching a Kickstarter campaign to make the book a reality.
Atkison says this book is the first of what she hopes is many more to come. She has already reached out to several organizations, including “Champ’s Heart,” an organization that provides equestrian experiences to people and veterans with amputations.
As Atkison reflects on her time at BYU-Idaho, she is grateful for the opportunities and experiences the university provided. She encourages current students to take full advantage of what BYU-Idaho has to offer.
“Don't take this experience for granted,” Atkison said. “As I walk around on campus, I'm taken back to those amazing years of being a student. And they are hard, but you will treasure them because they're a time where you're experiencing being independent and trying to figure out what you want with your life. And it's going to be okay.”
To learn more about Jeana Atkison, her latest book, “How to Eat a Cupcake” and its Kickstarter campaign as well as the Paper Seed Press, visit www.paperseedpress.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram at Paper Seed Press.