Stardate 03.13.2026
My accountability partner called the other day with a question from some elementary school students she volunteers with. These young leaders had been brainstorming ways to help children at the hospital, and their idea involved the coloring books that will launch on St. Patrick’s Day.
Her question was simple and honest:
“How exactly does the money flow to the hospital?”
So I did what any good teacher would do. I grabbed a notepad and began walking her through the process step by step in terms her students could understand.
That conversation reminded me of something important.
If people are generous enough to support a mission, they deserve to know exactly how every penny is stewarded.
That’s the purpose of today’s reflection.
The coloring book launches on St. Patrick’s Day. Like the book projects that came before it, every dollar raised after publishing costs will go toward helping children through Children’s Miracle Network.
Over the years, I’ve worked hard to keep production costs extremely low. Aside from my laptop and a few additions to a small home studio, my only real recurring expense is the art software I use to create the book layouts.
Even that feels like a blessing. My wife gifted the software to me a couple of Christmases ago. By paying annually, the cost comes out to about twelve dollars a month.
Most of the real magic has come from generous people who believed in the mission.
An artist named J.T. Egley once donated the original artwork for the cover of The Adventures of Castaway Wilson. He even purchased the frame for the piece himself. That framed artwork was later placed in a silent auction at my day job, where it raised five hundred dollars for the fundraiser. Because it was donated during our company’s annual campaign, that gift received an additional partial match.
Another gifted artist, Helen M. Swearson, donated every single hand-drawn illustration for the coloring book you’ll soon see. Her “tip jar,” as we jokingly call it, will simply be the exposure her talent receives when readers discover her work.
I also maintain a very small personal tip jar through a handful of partner and affiliate links. Occasionally these partnerships provide product samples or small stipends. When income does come from those links, it mostly helps offset travel expenses related to the storytelling adventures that eventually become part of these books.
I keep those links to a minimum because I never want them to overshadow the mission itself.
At the heart of the mission is a small team of volunteers — both human and virtual. One of those teammates is Alberta, my digital writing partner, who helps me refine these stories each morning during Golden Hour. While the full service costs about twenty dollars a month, I’ve been able to complete all of our collaboration within the free time currently available.
When people work together, even the smallest tools can produce meaningful results.
For readers who may be considering helping place more books into the hands of young patients, here is the simple math behind the mission.
Cost to produce one coloring book through Amazon:
$2.84
Retail price:
$9.99
Amazon handles fulfillment, collects shipping and tax, and retains approximately forty percent of the retail price.
For donors who wish to purchase books in bulk so they can be delivered directly to children receiving care, I offer a donor rate of $5.50 per book, plus applicable tax and shipping.
After production costs, the remaining proceeds are routed through our annual workplace fundraiser, where my boss ensures the donation receives a partial company match before it reaches Children’s Miracle Network.
This year, the mission has already produced a beautiful milestone.
Together we raised enough to sponsor a $500 Children’s Miracle Network balloon that will hang above the cash registers at my day job during the month of May. The message on the balloon reads:
“Where in the World is Wilson?”
It’s a small reminder that generosity has a way of traveling farther than we ever imagine.
Moving forward, I will continue accounting for every dollar raised — whether it comes through Amazon sales, author talks, or generous outside donors.
At the end of each annual campaign, I will share the results so readers know exactly how many coloring books find their way into the hands of children receiving treatment at the hospital.
Transparency builds trust.
And trust allows generosity to grow.
As I reflect on this journey, one verse comes to mind:
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2
That word — faithful — captures what this mission is really about.
Not perfection.
Just faithfulness with what we’ve been given.
One book.
One reader.
One child at a time.
Captain’s Addendum
Bones folded his arms and looked across the bridge.
“Spock, are you telling me the Captain is running a charity using coloring books and a volleyball?”
Spock raised an eyebrow.
“Doctor, I believe the proper term is efficient stewardship. The mathematics appear quite sound.”
Bones grinned. “Well, I’ll be. Sometimes the simplest missions turn out to be the best ones.”
I smiled listening to them both.
Sometimes the numbers matter.
But the real miracle is what happens beyond the numbers — when people decide to care for one another.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and belief in this small mission.
I look forward to sharing Wilson with you on March 17.
Until then, may you live long… and prosper. 🖖
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