Carmen Monge-Montero: Self-publishing a children’s book aimed at removing cancer stigma
Carmen Monge-Montero, Researcher and patient advocate at
“Learnings from my journey of self-publishing a children’s book aimed at removing cancer stigma and improving lives affected by cancer.
My goal is clear: to change how young ones see cancer, break down global stigma, and cover the full journey of cancer—emotional, social, and physical. We are almost there!
Publishing a book is not easy, I can tell you that! I’ve faced some challenges but learned a lot from them. In a way, I’m thankful for this experience because ‘Can-Can’ is all about overcoming challenges and continuing forward.
Important lessons I’ve learned :
1. Having the right team: For any project or life event, it’s crucial to have the right team. This includes not just the editors, illustrators, and graphic designers (who are very important) but also the cheerleaders—people who always support you and believe in your dream as much as you do.
2. Attention to every detail: A book involves so many details that you might not notice right away. From choosing the perfect size of the spine to selecting the right color format, and finding the right words for the cover or the best author photo. Every detail matters, and it’s great to have a say in these.
3. Strong belief in the mission: When you truly believe in what you are doing, things tend to flow better (of course, with lots of help from others). This belief pushes me to keep going.
About the launch:
Physical Book Launch: After much thought, I’ve decided the physical launch will be in my beautiful Costa Rica, with my family and friends who were with me during my treatment. This means a lot to me, and I am thrilled to celebrate this moment with them.
Official Online Launch: The online launch will be on June 4th, aligning with Cancer Survivor’s Day in America. This day is very important to me as it reminds us of our strengths and how we can improve lives during and after cancer.
In the short video below, I share a part of my interview with Hannah Huber. We talk about who this book is for and what my favorite book of all time is.
I invite you to join me in this meaningful journey to spark conversations, break taboos, and make a global impact! Stay tuned for more updates on the publication process of ‘Can-Can and the Adventure of Ming Island’!
Future Plans: I am very excited to release ‘Can-Can and the Adventure of Ming Island‘ and to start writing the sequels. A single book cannot describe the entire cancer journey.
Thank you so much to everyone, but especially to all my cheerleaders: Silvia Monge, Glenn Aguilar-Hernandez, Paola Robert, Rebecca Blunden, Cristina Trifulescu, Sonia Silva, Magdalena Jaworska and many others! ”
Proceed to the video attached to the post.
Source: Carmen Monge-Montero/LinkedIn
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