Our Treehouse – Reflections from the publisher

Our Treehouse – Reflections from the publisher

​Our Treehouse has finally arrived. When you order the paperback version on Amazon, each copy is printed on demand. Every time I receive a newly printed book, I feel both excitement and worry about the printing quality.

This edition has a slightly glossy finish, which gives it a refined look. However, the colors are not exactly the same as in my original paintings. Still, considering that it is print-on-demand, I am satisfied with the overall quality. I only wish the title on the cover were placed a little more to the left. I have already made a few revisions and uploaded the corrected version.

To my surprise, I discovered that a few copies had already been sold before the update. I sincerely apologize to those who purchased the earlier version. Yet, when I started this club and began creating books, I made a promise to myself: to let go of perfection.

I didn’t want to be perfect. I wanted to be honest.

I didn’t want to be commercial. I wanted to create something that feels like a batch of homemade cookies baked by a grandmother in a small countryside kitchen—warm, simple, and full of love.

I wanted to make a picture book that is charmingly human—imperfect, tender, and rustic—something that artificial intelligence could never create. So, my books will never be perfect, and I am at peace with that.
Still, I deeply appreciate everyone who purchased this book. Thank you for seeing beauty in imperfection.

It has been about two years and ten months since I published my first book. My very first work, Hello, My Robin, was written while I was studying storytelling at Adelphi University. Since then, I have published about twenty-five books. Some were created together with my children and students, like a relay—passing stories, drawings, and imagination from one to another.
Writing, illustrating, and imagining together has brought me immense joy. But when my stories appeared on Amazon, I entered a completely different world—one where you wait nervously for reviews, wondering how people will react.
There are so many amazing books out there!

Compared to them, my paperback books are thin, simple, and not perfect in print quality. The world is full of beautiful books—hardcovers, pop-ups, books with mirrors, fabric textures, and designs that shine like jewels.
When I first decided to publish through Amazon, I asked myself for days if it was the right path. Hello, My Robin came easily—it was the story of a boy who refused to go to school after being bullied, but found hope again through a small bird named Robin. Honestly, I wrote it to impress my professor and earn an A+.
At that time, I knew nothing about self-publishing. I paid a professional company about $500 to help me. Now, I handle the entire process myself—from cover design and illustration to layout and publishing. If I had kept relying on others, publishing 25 books would have cost me $12,500.

After that first book was published, my professor, Dr. Bogg, requested a separate Zoom meeting just to praise my work. She said, “Bravo! Amazing!” and gave me my very first encouraging comment as an author. I still feel deeply grateful to her. One day, I hope my publishing journey grows enough for me to truly thank her in return.
Since then, gratitude and the desire to do better have kept me going. Learning to manage every step of the process has made publishing deeply enjoyable. And slowly, my books began to sell.

I never had high expectations. There are so many brilliant authors and beautifully marketed books in the world. I just wanted to write quietly, in my own corner, and find meaning in the process itself.

And yet, people started buying my books.

So once again, I want to thank each and every reader who has supported me.
If you chose this book, I believe you value warmth over perfection.
May that same warmth fill your life and everything you do.
I know I still have a lot to learn, but I won’t stop.
I will keep trying, keep creating, and keep sharing stories.

That is why I founded Moms’ Playground Book Club and Kids author series—to continue writing stories with moms and children every year.
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Thank you for your encouragement, and please stay with us on this journey.
— Anna Koh