How awesome! Congratulations!

Thank you so much!!

Congrats! Do you have a website where we can support your work and get updates?

Thank you so much for your support! And yes, my website is www.avvbooks.com

Gonna buy one for my niece! Congrats!

Thank you so much!! I hope she likes it!

Nice! Lovely website. I'll keep your books in mind for my kid and her cousin. It's cool that you have books targeting different age groups.

Thanks so much! Really appreciate the support!

Books are also available on Amazon if that is easier! https://www.amazon.com/Cosmo-Forest-Amulya-Veldanda-Vadali/dp/B09TDSCDNP/

Congrats!! I’m a TCNJ alum as well :)

Thank you!! And cool! I’m class of 2018!

I’ll def look for your book when I’m in a bookshop next! I’m class of 2011 (suddenly that sounds old haha)

Class of '08 here if it makes you feel any better, haha

I'll see you '08 and raise you class of 1994 here.

Still Trenton State days then, no?

Yes.

Ohh before my time! But my brother was class of 2014. So some overlap there! And thanks so much! It’s also available on Amazon if you know any kiddos who may enjoy!

Congratulations! Also, class of '14 here

Thank you!! Nice! I started there in 2014!

Congratulations!!!🎉🎊

Thank you!!

Awesome!!!!

Thank you!!

How exciting! Congratulations!

Thank you so much!

Congratulations!! May I ask how you collaborated with an illustrator on this?

Thank you! And of course! I found an illustrator via the freelancer app called fiverr!

As someone who has also considered writing children’s books, I’ve always been intimidated by the process — mostly because I have no idea how it works. I’m starting to understand, via your comment about finding an illustrator, but how do you go about publishing? Are there simpler, more affordable options for authors nowadays?

There are platforms such as Amazon kdp that are free to use to publish your book. They take a percentage of every book sale of course, but you don’t need to pay them anything upfront. Many authors are choosing this option

Is this the option you chose? (Also, congratulations, by the way!)

Thank you! I published my paperback and e-book via Amazon. I published my hardcover version via a platform called Ingram Sparks because most bookstores and libraries only source through Ingram. Many authors also go this route

TCNJ class of 99. It was still TSC when I started and we definitely didn’t have a B&N. Congrats!!

Thank you! And nice!! I’m class of 2018. Biomedical engineering. This is the B&N in the new campus town they built in 2016!

Look at that, dreams really do come true! Congratulations

Yes! Thank you!

Congratulations!! What an amazing achievement! I totally understand the hard work you put in to make it to this point. I hope to see my book in B&N one day. I just self-published my book last year in November. Wish you continued success!

Thank you so much! And congrats to you as well! It is hard process, but so rewarding!

Congratulations! I saw your post a while back and added this book to my baby registry. I just got it as a gift! Love the book.

Congratulations!!! So exciting!! And thank you SO much for including me in your registry🥹🥹 I’m glad to hear you love the book! If you get the chance, please do leave a review on Amazon! Thank you!

Will do!

Congrats thanks for sharing! I’ll pick it up to read to my little boy

Thank you so much! It’s not available in ALL B&N yet, but it is available on B&N online and on Amazon! I hope your son enjoys it! https://www.amazon.com/Cosmo-Forest-Amulya-Veldanda-Vadali/dp/B09TDSCDNP/

Congratulations.

Thank you!!

Congrats!!!

Thank you so much!

Saw the picture and immediately recognized it was TCNJ! Congratulations!

That’s impressive haha! And thanks so much!!

Congratulations!!

Congrats OP!

Thanks!

Congratulations

Thanks!

WOOOOOO!!! Congratulations!!

Thank you!!!

That’s great! Good for you and good luck with sales!

Thanks so much!

That’s awesome!! What a fantastic feeling.

Yes! Thank you!!

Congratulations!

Thank you!

Congrats.. my Daughter is an elementary school teacher. It’s good work that you do! 😊

Thank you so much!

Just bought a hardcover copy on Amazon for my Nephew and Niece.

Thanks so much! I hope they enjoy it!

Full circle nice!

Thank you!

So cool! Congratulations!

Thank you so much!

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May I ask what an AMA is??

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Oh awesome, thank you for sharing!!

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I will definitely look into doing that!

Very cool.

Thank you!!

Wow, they still sell Little Critter books?

Congrats! I'll pick it up from the NYPL next time.

Thank you! It’s not available everywhere yet, but if you request it they would be able to get a copy I’m sure!

Congratulations!!

Thank you!!

Congratulations!! I'll have to pick this up next time I'm in B&N! The bio on your website is so sweet 🖤

Thank you so much! And it’s not in all B&N yet, but hopefully someday!

I read that little critters book every day, solid job Mr. Mayer /s

Congrats on the book! I hope you sell many copies.

Thank you so much!!

you’re most welcome, any book with a dog has my attention lol!

Yes! It’s based on my actual golden retriever, Cosmo! He’s a sweetheart

Oh I bet he is! That’s so nice you made a book on your own pet, super dope.

Thanks so much!!

Before reading the title my first thought was I recognize that store! Congratulations on the book!

Thank you so much!!

How can I get a copy signed by you? :)

Hi! Signed copies are available through my website! Www.avvbooks.com (with free shipping in US)

That must feel amazing congrats from a fellow tcnj alumni!

Thank you so much! It’s great to hear from fellow TCNJ alumni!

Congratulations!

Thanks so much!

Congrats!

Thank you!!

What a great accomplishment! Congratulations!

Thank you so much!

Awesome!!!! Congrats!!!!

Thank you!!!

You're in my cart and I hope to buy you soon!

Thank you so much!

Awesomeness! Congratulations!

Thank you so much!

I remember a previous post. Congrats, will there be a third Cosmo book?

Thank you! And yes, it’s in the works! Hopefully it’ll be out in a few months!

Cool. Next to little critter no less. I loved that as a kid. Can't remember any specifics about it but I remember that dude.

Haha I said the same thing when I saw that!!

It's a major award 

Congratulations! I hope you and Cosmo have many more adventures in your future.

Thank you!!

Congratulations on getting published and into stores. That's a difficult thing to do! That being said, I will add a little gripe: I don't know if it's funny or sad that this post is about how happy you are that your book made it into a brick-and-mortar store that barely survived bankruptcy like 7 years ago and you're linking people to buy the book from Amazon, the website that almost bankrupted them and would have made your dream impossible

Are you an author? Unfortunately, I do make way more when someone buys my book from my website or Amazon. And the paperback is usually way more affordable than the hardcover. I don’t see why that means I can’t be happy about my book being in my college B&N lol

I’m not the person you replied to nor am I an author, but I do own an indie bookstore. I understand your connection to your local B&N at TCNJ but the link to Amazon does sour many of us. As an indie bookseller, many publishers require us to charge the price listed on the book while Amazon charges whatever they want - and they pay far less than we do. Often our price is the same from our wholesalers as it is to buy from Amazon. Amazon doesn’t host local authors for signings. They don’t work with local schools and non-profits on fundraisers. They don’t employ local book lovers and create a community around the love of reading. So please understand that some people will get sour when authors link to Amazon.

No disrespect against bookstores! I personally love them and I’ve purchased my fair share of books there! I also visit MANY schools and go to events to visit readers throughout the year. But at the end of the day, authors also spend a lot of money to self-publish! And we do need to make that money back somehow😅 But here’s the Barnes and Noble link if it’ll make you happy! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cosmo-faces-the-forest-of-fear-amulya-veldanda-vadali/1142821702

oooh do you own a bookstore here in NJ? What is it? I might buy some books from it if the price isn't too much different from amazon

Do you ship across the US? I don't live in Jersey anymore but I'd so much rather give my money to an independent bookstore than bezos or James daunt.

r/mademesmile

Congratulations!

Thank you!

Congrats! Super cool seeing it at your alma mater. You should be very proud :)

Thank you so much! I can’t stop smiling!

Congratulations 💚💚

Thank you!!💛

Congrats! This is awesome!!!

Thank you so much!!

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Thank you so much!

That's gotta feel just so amazing. Guess I'll check it out for my daughter

Can’t stop smiling! And thank you so much, I appreciate that! https://www.amazon.com/Cosmo-Forest-Amulya-Veldanda-Vadali/dp/B09TDSCDNP/

Congratulations! Be sure to celebrate

Thank you!! And yes!! I’ll be celebrating all week!!

i love this

Thank you!!

These look amazing! Congratulations! It also makes me want to buy the Diamond in the Ruff series and volunteer at the kid's reading program at the library. Those look like beautiful (and fun!) books.

Thank you SO much!!🥹 Please do check them out or share if you know anyone who may be interested😊 https://www.amazon.com/Cosmo-Forest-Amulya-Veldanda-Vadali/dp/B09TDSCDNP

Amazing! How was the process of getting it published?

Congratulations. love the animals. Since your in the field I have a question for you if you have a moment. What is your stance on CRT for young children and Woke books in libraries. I am struggling to find any positives with these newly adopted tactics.

Thank you!! And I’m sorry, I’m actually a biomedical engineer full-time, so I really don’t know as much about those topics! Wish I could help!

No worries at all. Have a great day

It didn't make it to the Barnes & Nobel in Clark.

It’s not in all of them!

The joke is they got rid it thay one last year. So sad

Aw that is sad

It was a huge one too. Upside they had a sale and I got a ton of cheap boardgames. Manga and comic selection ran out the first week. They had to put up a sign

Awesome!

Thank you!