Hey all! It’s Elena writing the introduction this month, since October is one of my favorite months of the year.
The moment I feel the breeze carrying in temperatures below 90 degrees, I start preparing for my yearly re-watch of the show Over the Garden Wall. Although it’s only about an hour and a half in total, it’s one of the most beautiful, touching pieces of media I’ve ever seen.
It’s about choosing curiosity. It’s about welcoming others into your heart. It’s about making mistakes, learning from them, and doing the work to fix them. It’s about loving each other unconditionally. It’s about realizing the Unknown might not be as scary as it seems, especially with people to help you along your journey.
A lot of things have changed for me this year, but a lot of it has been for the better. Especially getting the opportunity to build Curious Whisker Press with my mom. Even before I learned to articulate the themes of Over the Garden Wall, she was teaching me the same lessons, in her actions and in her stories. She’s teaching me to this day. I can’t wait for you all to learn a little something from her, too, whether it’s in this newsletter or her books.
Have any questions? Contact us at hello@curiouswhiskerpress.com
🐾Hot Off the Press
There’s nothing spooky about this month’s updates, other than maybe some of our screams of excitement. Here’s the latest at Curious Whisker Press!
We have our first sketches of Charlie!
After months of wondering what our new Charlie would look like, our first character sketches have arrived!
It’s so exciting to see a character that you’ve spent so much time writing about begin to take shape visually. Working with our illustrator, Iryna, we’re exploring the little details that will help bring Charlie’s personality to life—from his expressions to the way he moves through his world. There’s still plenty of work ahead, and we’re keeping his appearance a surprise until his design is finalized. But we can’t wait for the day that we get to introduce you to Charlie!
From developmental edits to the finishing touches
Another exciting milestone for The Adventures of Charlie the Cat! Developmental editing for Book 2 is officially complete, and the manuscript is now moving into copyediting.
Developmental editing let us take a closer look at the story, strengthen transitions, and make sure Charlie's adventure flows naturally from beginning to end. Now, with those revisions behind us, copyediting will focus on the finer details—grammar, punctuation, consistency, and all the little things that help prepare a manuscript for publication.
It's exciting to see another of Charlie's adventures moving one step closer to becoming a finished book!
Charlie’s classroom adventure is under review
We want Charlie's adventures to inspire curiosity beyond the pages of his books. That's why we've been developing educational resources designed to help teachers bring his stories into the classroom.
Our first set of lesson plans, aligned with both Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Common Core standards, is now undergoing review by educators. Their feedback will help us refine the activities and learning opportunities to make sure these resources are engaging, practical, and useful in real classrooms.
A little spooky, a lot curious :)
The holiday season is creeping up on us, and we're kicking things off with our favorite Halloween traditions. From mysterious movie plots to picking the perfect pumpkin, as well a guessing which costumed creatures will haunt our doorstep on Halloween night, this month is full of things that spark our curiosity. Sometimes the things that seem spooky at first turn out to have perfectly ordinary—and fascinating—explanations.
We're looking forward to greeting every oddity with wonder. Stay curious... and keep an eye out for things that go bump in the night!
🔎Curious Whisker Moments
Oftentimes, curiosity begins with an ordinary moment that makes your whiskers twitch to find out more. Here are a few things that sparked our curiosity this month.
🏛️ Kimberly's Curious Whisker Moment
While Elena and I were in Austin on Curious Whisker Press business, our curiosity led us to Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar. With its cozy rooms, beautiful woodwork, and historic furnishings, it felt like stepping back in time.
As I climbed the staircase, I imagined people heading upstairs to their bedrooms long ago. I struck up a conversation with the barista and discovered I wasn't far off! The building once housed a grocery store in the front, while the family lived in the back and upstairs. We even wondered where the kitchen might have been.
Naturally, I had to learn more! Turns out, the building dates back to 1875 and is known as the Haehnel Building.
Over the years, it has served as a grocery store, saloon, and neighborhood bar before becoming the charming bookstore it is today. Through all those transformations, one thing has remained the same: it's been a place for people to come together.
🗳️ Elena's Curious Whisker Moment
US elections happen a lot more frequently than every four years. Early voting is currently happening for this year’s general elections and, in Texas, will end on Friday, October 30, 2026. Election day will be happening on Tuesday, November 3 nationwide.
One crucial way that we can make our voices and opinions heard in our communities is through voting. The people and policies we elect are important, and doing the research before voting is crucial. Researching my ballot was my biggest Curious Whisker Moment this month.
I went online to find a sample ballot for my county (between federal, state, and county level elections, we had 41 items on the docket) and then to my local library to get a voter’s guide. My partner and I took an evening to read through every response and discuss our thoughts, taking notes and searching up more information as necessary to try to be as informed as possible in our decisions.
The next morning, we got up before work to go vote! There was a pretty long line at the city hall, but we were still in and out in less than thirty minutes. And of course we got our celebratory “I Voted” stickers and some autumnal coffee as a treat afterward.
I strongly encourage you, if you haven’t already, to go vote! Take an hour to read through the information available to you. Be curious about what you are using your voice for and why. You never know what kind of impact you could be making with just one piece of paper!
What made you curious this month?
We'd love to hear! Hit "Reply" and tell us about something you noticed, wondered about, or learned recently. Your curiosity might even inspire a future Curious Whisker Moment!
🐾Behind the Whiskers
Taking Charlie on the Road
By: Kimberly Welsh
There's something a little intimidating about walking into a bookstore and introducing yourself as an author. At least for me.
This week, Elena and I visited independent bookstores in Austin, Cedar Park, and Leander to introduce Curious Whisker Press. Armed with our new business cards and a little information about The Adventures of Charlie the Cat, we set out to make connections and learn more about getting Charlie onto bookstore shelves.
And learn we did!
As it turns out, every bookstore has its own approach to working with independent authors. Some have application processes, others prefer to review digital advance reader copies, and each has its own audience and preferences.
We also discovered that not every bookstore is necessarily the right fit for Charlie. And that's okay. Part of this process is learning where he belongs.
Perhaps my biggest lesson had less to do with bookstores and more to do with myself. I've never had trouble striking up conversations with strangers. Just ask Liam, who has endured more than his fair share of my grocery store line conversations.
But marketing my own work? That's something I'm still learning to navigate. It's one thing to believe in what you've created and another to put it in front of someone and hope they'll see its potential.
Before each visit, Elena and I discussed our approach, decided what we wanted to ask, and occasionally negotiated whose turn it was to do the talking. There may have been a few moments when I looked at her and simply said, "Your turn." Fortunately, she's a good sport.
As we visited each new store, I got more comfortable. The second day was easier than the first; the conversations felt more natural, and I began to realize that I didn't need a perfectly rehearsed presentation. I just needed to be myself, ask questions, and listen.
We came home with promising connections, plenty of follow-up homework, and a much better understanding of the road ahead.
Charlie isn't on those bookstore shelves yet. But every conversation brings us a little closer. And often, the biggest step forward is simply walking through the door.
Even when you'd rather send your daughter first. 🐾
🌿Keep Exploring
The adventure doesn't end here! If you'd like to follow along between newsletters, we'd love to connect with you.
🌐 Explore Our Website
Find our latest publishing updates, learn more about Charlie, and discover everything happening at Curious Whisker Press. Click here to visit our website.
📚 Read the Blog
Go beyond the books with posts about the publishing journey, our creative inspiration, and other stories from the Curious Whisker team.
📱 Follow Our Journey
Join us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for even more Curious Whisker content. Our social media is where you will get the first updates on publishing, behind-the-scenes moments, and even more curious whisker moments between newsletters.
🐈⬛About Curious Whisker Press
Curious Whisker Press creates children's books that transform everyday moments into adventures. Through gentle storytelling, we encourage readers of all ages to slow down, observe the world around them, ask questions, and discover the wonder hiding in ordinary moments.
Kimberly and Elena Welsh are the two-person team putting their paws to the ground to run the press. You can learn more about us here.
🌼Something to Wonder About…
What is your favorite season and why?
Take a minute to think about the time of year that makes you feel the most excited. What do you love about it? What do you enjoy doing? Understanding what you love about your favorite time of year can help you find things to enjoy about the rest of the year, too!
Stay curious,
Kimberly Welsh
Founder | Curious Whisker Press
📧 Questions or comments? I’d love to hear from you! hello@curiouswhiskerpress.com
