@Nina Larbalestrier Editing is definitely the most demanding stage. I’ve gone through it myself, and it’s where many writers fall off. But once you get beyond it, things start to fall into place. These days, it’s a lot smoother for me because I’ve put together a solid private team that takes care of the full process, and the outcome consistently performs at a high level, without the usual pressure or high expenses.

@Kris Jim Murdock I love how clearly you’ve articulated the moral core of each, that already tells me you’re thinking beyond just concept and into emotional impact. From a clarity standpoint, “Jacob Marley Is Dead” feels like it has the strongest built in emotional anchor because redemption + hope are universally resonant themes, especially for family audiences. It also carries recognizable familiarity without being overly dependent on parody tone. The Cinderella idea has strong thematic tension (trust vs. manipulation), which could be powerful, but it may depend heavily on execution and tone. The Peter Piper concept sounds rich thematically as well, though parody plus legal caution might make positioning slightly more complex. I’m curious, when you imagine your ideal reader finishing the book, which emotional reaction matters most to you?

@Kris Jim Murdock Welcome, Kris and I love the title The Greatest Gift: A Tale of Mice, Mites, and Mercy. That’s memorable already. It’s great that you’ve already taken the step to self-publish once a lot of writers never get that far. When you say you’re feeling stuck, is it more on finishing the drafts, structuring them for a clear age audience, or navigating the publishing/format side of things?