Pueblo teacher debuts first children's book after decade navigating publishing process

Pueblo teacher Alexandria Antle was taken by surprise last December when her husband, Bryan, found an illustrator for her children's book, "The Lost Lollipop."

Antle teaches students learning English as a second language at Prairie Winds Elementary School in Pueblo West. "The Lost Lollipop" follows Larry the Lollipop and his quest to get back home to the candy store. Antle penned the first draft of the book in 2012 but self-published the final draft this February.

Higher Education: How two Puebloans reconnected while pursuing doctorates at prestigious schools

"I have always wanted to be a children's book author," she said. "Since I was little, my first grade teacher always swore that I was going to write books. ... I don't remember the stories I wrote for her, but she loved them."

A few weeks ago, Antle got a hardcover copy of "The Last Lollipop" for her classroom at Prairie Winds Elementary. On more than one occasion, students have picked up the book and asked their teacher "Wait, you wrote this?" Classes of third and fourth graders have excitedly read her own book to her. Some students even asked her about the publishing process.

"There were a couple of girls that were like, 'We are trying to do that too,'... I told them 'I'll help you, we'll look at it,' because the first thing I had to do was go through and make sure everything was punctuated correctly," Antle said.

After proofreading, the next step in self-publishing a book is finding an illustrator. It took freelance illustrator Sangi Parvin just two months to create illustrations for "The Lost Lollipop," making it easier for Antle to carry out the self-publishing process. However, publishing a book was not as simple over a decade ago.

In 2012, Antle sent a draft of "The Lost Lollipop" and an application letter to one of the few publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts. She sent the letter in an envelope that included her maiden name, Hearst, in hopes that sharing a last name with famous publisher and distant relative William Randolph Hearst would help her application. She had no such luck. She keeps the rejection letter she was sent to this day.

Mayoral Race: Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores announces candidacy for mayor

With reasons for the rejection unclear, Antle began reworking her draft of "The Lost Lollipop." She sent a revised and shortened version to the same publisher but was rejected again. She sent her work to a second publisher but didn't even receive the courtesy of a rejection letter. However, just as Larry the Lollipop persevered to find his way back home, Antle and her husband found a way to have her first book published.

"The Lost Lollipop" can be purchased in paperback on the Barnes and Noble website for $6 and in hardcover for $15.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo teacher publishes first children's book