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Forty Titles in a Notes App
For years, Dr. Atlas Anne carried a list of 40 children's book titles in the Notes app on her phone.
She had the stories. She knew how to write, edit, design and publish a book, because she'd already done it for adults. What she didn't have was a way to draw the same characters, the same way, across a whole series.
"Honestly? I didn't even bother trying to illustrate my children's books. I just had 40 book titles sitting in the Notes app on my phone with no way to bring them to life."
Today that list is getting shorter. Atlas has published seven books with Neolemon, including a series starring a very real French Bulldog named Milo, and she just made an eighth as a gift for her niece's first birthday.
Meet Atlas (and Milo)
Atlas is a licensed trauma therapist, a self-regulation specialist, an educator and an author. For many years she did that work one to one, in small groups and through certification programs, both at her own institute and as a university professor. Her research now lives in a book series for adults.
And then there's Milo.
"My name is Dr. Atlas Anne, and this is Milo, my French bulldog. I'm a licensed trauma therapist, a self regulation specialist, and now a children's book author."
Why Children, and Why Milo
Atlas's adult books teach how to turn pain into purpose, stress into a superpower, and obstacles into opportunities. She realized the same skills matter just as much for kids.
So she started The Adventures of Milo and Atlas, a children's series built from real adventures she's had with Milo, each one quietly teaching self-regulation, self-worth and self-creation.
"Storytelling, especially wrapped in an adorable character and a beautiful book, is a powerful way to make a lasting impression on a child's development."
For Atlas, the reason is personal.
"I was a very sick, anxious, depressed kid who needed better skills to cope with the stress of the world. This project matters to me because it brings otherwise complicated lessons about life to kids in a way that's digestible, understandable, and entertaining."
The Missing Piece
Atlas wasn't starting from zero. She already knew the whole publishing process. The gap was narrower, and harder: characters that stay the same from book to book.
"Hiring an illustrator or learning graphic design myself didn't feel like real options."
A series is where that problem bites. The Milo on the first cover has to be the same Milo in the next book, and the one after that, or the kids reading them will notice.
The First Tool She Tried
Atlas did her research before signing up for anything. Neolemon was the first character design tool she tried, and she didn't go looking for others.
Her first "aha" came as soon as she made her characters: a cartoon Atlas and a cartoon Milo that she could move from scene to scene without them changing.
What won her over, though, was a small thing. When she made figures for her adult books, getting images ready for print had been a struggle. In Neolemon, Upscale takes care of it.
"What I appreciated most, right from the start, was how much the platform takes care of things that matter to a designer, especially someone who might not know they matter... Having a simple button for that was amazing."
(If you're preparing images for print yourself, the upscaling guide walks through it.)
A Story a Day
With her core characters settled, Atlas now builds each book around a place: the ocean, the pet store. Story Scene Pro is where most of that work happens.
"Story Scene Pro makes it easy to keep the background consistent, adjust it when needed, and move characters around as the story unfolds. It makes it possible for me to illustrate a story a day, which is honestly wild to me."
One of those settings became Milo Visits the Ocean, a picture book for ages 3 to 7 about a curious French Bulldog discovering the beach, marine life, and why the ocean is worth looking after.
The Part That Surprised Her
Atlas is clear that illustrating a children's book is still work. She hit roadblocks. What she didn't expect was how much she'd enjoy it.
"How fun it is! ... I was surprised by how enjoyable and playful it is to bring Milo and my adventures to life."
Before Milo got his series, she practiced on her own family. A story about tractors her dad used to tell. A real adventure her grandmother had as a little girl. A poem her grandfather wrote about her. Her parents' adventures with the family beagle. She turned each one into a book and gave it back to the person who lived it.
"Gifting each of them a book that illustrated stories they'd actually lived brought them so much joy, and it was a great experience for me too."
Eight Books and Counting
Seven published books, one birthday gift, and a Notes app list that's finally moving. You can find The Adventures of Milo and Atlas at the Gravity Point Bookstore.
What Atlas's Story Shows
Atlas already had the expertise, the stories, and the publishing know-how. What held 40 books back was one missing piece: characters that could carry a series. Once that was solved, the rest of what she knew could finally do its job.
Her own advice is simpler.
"So if you have a project sitting on your heart, Milo and I strongly encourage you to give Neolemon a try."
Ready to Start Your Own Story?
If you've got a list of stories waiting for pictures, Neolemon is a good place to begin. Create your characters once, keep them consistent across every book in your series, and start working through that list.
