create with barken.

UNEXPECTED PEOPLE. UNFORGETTABLE STORIES.

You have
a story.
Let’s see what
it could become.

Your world. Your imagination. A children’s book we create together.

Let’s create something.

No finished idea needed.

A CREATIVE COLLABORATION WITH L BARKEN BOOKSA little possibility below
01 / A STORY CAN COME FROM ANYWHEREyes, that includes you.

You don’t have to be
a children’s author
to have a story worth
turning into a
children’s book.

Maybe it starts in a workshop. On a stage. With something you’ve lived, something you love, or a question you can’t stop asking.

Musicians, makers, tradespeople, athletes, creators, entertainers—and people who don’t fit neatly into a category. There’s room for you here.

Big following. Small following. Just getting started.A good fit matters more than a number.
02 / BUILT TOGETHERYOUR PERSPECTIVE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

More than your name
on the cover.
Your fingerprints
on the story.

This is a real creative partnership. Bring your perspective, get involved, and help shape something that feels like you.

You don’t need publishing experience. L Barken Books brings the publishing and distribution side, helping take our idea all the way to a finished children’s book.

01

Find the spark.

Explore your experiences, your world, and your ideas. Together, we find the story that’s worth telling.

“What if…?”
02

Make it our own.

Develop the concept, writing, characters, artwork direction, and formatting. Shape the creative decisions together.

Try. Sketch. Rethink.
03

Put it into the world.

L Barken Books handles publishing and distribution. We work together on promotion and introducing the book to readers.

A story, out in the wild.

Every partnership is its own conversation. Creative involvement, promotion, compensation, and royalties are discussed privately and shaped around what each person contributes.

03 / THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE

A mechanic by day.
A storyteller,
every day.

I’m L. Barken, a children’s author, independent publisher, and diesel/hydraulic mechanic by day.

I built L Barken Books around creativity, unusual ideas, and the belief that stories can come from anywhere. Create With Barken is an invitation to put that belief to work—together.

You bring a world I haven’t lived in. Let’s find out what we can make from it.

Explore L Barken Books (opens in a new tab)

04 / YOUR MOVE

Let’s create
something.

An idea, a little curiosity, or a story you’ve never thought of as a book. That’s enough to start.

First, a conversation.

I’ll start with an email. If there’s a promising fit, we’ll arrange a call to explore ideas, expectations, and what working together could look like.

01 / ABOUT YOUStep 1 of 3

A few details, not a polished pitch. Only fields marked * are required.

First, a little about you.

Recommended for easier follow-up.
For context only. There’s no minimum audience size.