East Central Community College is excited to announce an upcoming forum entitled “Watson Goes to Print: The Journey of Publishing a Children’s Book.” This special event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Monday, March 17, at 3 p.m. in Huff Auditorium on the ECCC campus in Decatur.

The forum will be led by Dekota Cheatham, a biology and nutrition instructor at ECCC and an alumna of the college. Cheatham will share insights into the journey she and her close friend, Krissy Long, took to publish four children’s books. Attendees will hear about the challenges they faced, how they overcame them and gain valuable advice for aspiring authors, illustrators and other creative individuals who are interested in bringing their own stories to life.

This informative discussion will delve into the intricacies of the publishing world, from conceptualizing a story to navigating the editorial and printing processes. Cheatham will discuss key lessons learned along the way, including the importance of perseverance, the role of collaboration in creative projects and the business aspects of book publishing. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and participate in a dialogue about the creative and technical elements of bringing a book to market.

In addition to being an informative literary discussion for the public, this event will mark the first Honors College forum at ECCC, with all Honors College members invited to attend. The forum underscores ECCC’s commitment to fostering intellectual and creative exploration among its students and the broader community.

“We are excited to host this event and provide an opportunity for our students and community members to learn about the publishing process from someone who has navigated it firsthand,” said David Case, executive vice president at ECCC. “This forum led by Mrs. Cheatham will be especially beneficial for those interested in writing and illustration of course, but it’s also a great chance to hear an inspiring story of perseverance and creativity.”

The event will be an opportunity for students, faculty and community members to engage with an experienced author and gain firsthand knowledge of what it takes to transform an idea into a published work.