How I Made Tails of Purr-tend

I wanted to share a light behind the scenes look on how I addressed and made my first coloring book! In this blog I will share the phases I went through and the steps I took to make sure I got it done! I hope that you enjoy the insight and a little of the behind the scenes/sketches content!

A little about me: 

I had always wanted to make my own book growing up, and when I was really young (about 3rd grade) I started drawing a comic book about cats that had elemental super powers and colored it all in crayon. It was four full back to back pages I had drawn, but being a little kid who has never been organized, I miss placed them and never continued my story.

This takes us to today!

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Step 1: Inspurr-ation!

I had the good fortune of attending Comic Con Revolution Ontario 2025 and exhibited in the Artist Alley for the first time in my life. I was surrounded by so many artists in the same area who were not only selling their own art, but books! Knowing I was selling next to artists who were printed and beloved re-ignited my drive to make something too.

I would say that I've developed what I would like to call a "delusional confidence" that if I want to do something, I should at least try with the intent to succeed. So as I packed up on the last day of Comic Con Revolution Ontario, I decided to myself that I wanted to come back next year (2026) with a book of my own!

Step 2: What would the book be about?!

I took a little bit of time to sit down and start noting down the types of books I would be interested in working on, but overall I wanted to make something that would:

• Push my art
• Be useful in some way to a customer (whether it was make them smile, or actually have a use)
• Have cats at the heart of it

It was then I remembered a book I purchased back in early 2023, "Marvel Meow" by Nao Fuji.

If you get to read this book you'll probably quickly see how this book influenced "Tails of Purr-tend". For those who do not know of it, it is a playful visual comic featuring Captain Marvel's cat, Chewie. The overall book was fun, happy, and playful! I bought it initially since I loved the humor in it and the art was so cute! I wanted to see more of this type of media!

It helped me realize that I didn't have to tell a whole story (I would take too long to plan it), but I also avoid the issue of also drawing full pages with no story at all. I needed a driving factor to get the page ideas to flow and this book helped me realized how to approach this issue.

For example, I always joked about Roll being our "resident criminal" based on her activities around the house, and I had also edited a picture of Rock as an astronaut before. I decided why not play with these ideas? Thus the idea of the cats playing pretend came to be. 

Step 3: How did I want to structure it?

I always loved the idea of drawing my own comic/manga book. I had drawn a "Manga-like" story once before for a deviant art activity back in 2008, and decided to try to take my method I used before (Just loads of thumbnails on a page in pen with no page structure) but with more direction. 

So with Marvel Meow's page layout in mind, I made a Page Planner:

I would draw little thumbnails of the short story I had in mind, and when would place them into the planner so I could see them all in order. I had 7 short stories in mind, and so I ended up coming to a 47 Page Count for the book at first.

Step 4: Is it feasible?

Before I did any further drawing, I needed to know.. Would this book even be feasible to sell?
I went to work gathering quotes and reviewing book printers through you tube videos, reddit threads, google reviews, and some friends I met at conventions! 

I got some sample coloring books sent to me from potential vendors to make sure the quality I wanted was easily achievable with them.

Once I worked out some solid quotes, I then considered my experience with them as a factor. In the end, I didn't end up going with the cheapest option while they were very budget friendly, but I did choose to work with a representative & company that I felt really cared about my project, had great communication with, and would try to help if there were any unforeseen issues. 

With the costs worked out and general timeline planned based on release in May at the latest, I decided that this project could happen and I could continue! Yippieee!

Step 5: DRAW It's the longest part!

Based on the measurements I had quoted, I made a template for where I wanted my pictures to all fit, and uploaded that template at a very high dpi (350) to my ipad. I then would take the picture I sketched, and then redraw it with a looser pen to help push the composition in ways that I through would be the most fun to color. Then I would re-draw the same page once more with my more "Final" lines.  

Using the image I have in my Blog hero image: 

Step 1 - Thumbnail Sketch	Step 2 - Roughly Define
Step 3 - Put down ideally final lines	Step 4 - Clean up/Finalize

Step 6: Keep yourself motivated

When I would work on these pages, I would often listen to coloring book videos to hear their pros and cons about a page or material. I also listened to a lot of small business vlogs, and how to self-publish as well.

Then If I felt I was having a bad drawing day, I wouldn't force it. I would look into other useful information like ISBNs and where I could reach out to have my book supported. 

Once I would get 2-3 pages drawn, I would upload the file to my computer and clean up the lines and page once more in Photoshop! 

Then I would update my Planner page with a smaller version of the "finished" page. This planner Page really made a difference as it would allow me to feel accomplished watching the pages get updated and filled in.

Finished design on the bottom right. 

Step 7: Rough draft

After I drew all the pages and listening to a lot of coloring book/how to self publish videos, I discovered that I needed to add in a few more pages to make the book feel complete. 

After I drew the last few pages, I made a PDF of the pages in order and printed them out and bound them at a local FedEx. Then I could see the pages in person and make sure that the areas to color weren't too small or possibly hard to understand. I knew seeing them in a physical format would also allow me to see the drawings with a fresher look too. Afterall the finished item would be a physical item too!

Step 8: Fix things and re-organize pages

I made notes in red on all the areas I wanted to adjust and add or re-do once I could see the quality of all the pages together. Some of my earlier pages needed a complete re-do, and others I knew I could do better to make it more fun to color, and updated them. 

I then started sharing my cover designs with my family and friends, to see if they had any strong feelings between looks or what really grabbed their attention. Then settled on a design I felt really captured the elements I wanted. 

I also made sure to take one last trip to Barnes and Nobles to review how other people decorated their coloring books, and built mine with the intent to use it in other stores than just my own!

Step 8.5: Minor Panic

I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with a few people who are printed writers and/or comic artist and when it came to the final time to pay 50% up front to secure my printing time and begin proofing, I reached out to them for some guidance. 

Both of them said I needed to order 4x or more than the amount I had been initially considering, and I began to panic about what I should do! Being a lady working out of her dining room that is already almost at capacity, I had no clue where I would already fit what I was considering to order and with the new advice I would need to order even more!
Well I had to have a long talk with my supportive husband about our final decision. 

Step 9: Proof then order

I then submitted the final designs to the vendor, and after 3 rounds of digital proofs, I approved and made a post to celebrate that crazy moment!! The project I dreamed about in May, and didn't really start until August, was being MADE! 

I made a post on Instagram when I completed this process: Right here!

Step 10: Inventory Management & Sales

I did order more than I initially planned, but not 4x more- Ha!

So, now I have been working out how to ship this new large item in my store, and how to sell them in person at pop-up markets as well/conventions! So I not only have a large set of books coming in, but boxes and bags too! Logistics are such a sneaky challenge!

I also have been madly reaching out to vendors and businesses to see if I could sell or collaborate with them in a fun way to promote this book and possibly have it on their shelves as well!

We will see how it goes March 25th, 2026!

I hope you all enjoyed this breakdown, and hopefully it brings you some motivation on how to approach a project you may be hoping to do!