The world of publishing is that big dark cloud that hangs over every would-be author’s head. Some might even contend finding a company to publish a book is harder than actually writing the book.

For Jennifer Mills Gentry, the author of two published children’s books and another in production, this was not enough to stand in her way.

“Just go on and do it,” Gentry advises aspiring writers. “So many people have so many excuses why they don’t do stuff and fears that are not reality. I say just do it, get online and research. There are a ton of publishing companies out there, and some of them are not good and some of them are very good.”

After only a few days of researching publishing companies, Gentry found her match.

“It is overwhelming trying to find a publisher, and one that you trust and agree with.”

Gentry, a native of Arab, Ala., who now lives in Vicksburg with her husband and two children, spent 10 years working after getting a bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing from the University of Alabama.

Her foray into children’s literature began when she and her husband, Steve Gentry, had son Dylan and daughter Maria and she decided to stay at home full time.

The idea for the books came about after Gentry began writing down the daily adventures of Maria, who is now 5.

“Everyday I just saw something different with her,” Gentry said. “So I started writing all this stuff down, and one day I started thinking, I would love to have this in book format. I did some researching and one thing led to another and I submitted it to a publishing company and they accepted it and I was surprised.”

The first book Gentry wrote, titled “Maria the Cat” was published a year ago and has sold about 2,000 copies, she said.

“It’s shocking,” Gentry said. “I just don’t know any other words to say. I was just blown away. When the first one made it to Barnes & Noble online I just could not believe it.”

Gentry does her own illustrations for the series and, in keeping with the theme of a 5-year-old girl’s adventures, she uses art by Maria as inspiration.

“I try to copy how she draws,” Gentry said. “It is kind of like three-dimensional stick figures.”

The books, which are aimed at children from infants to 7- or 8-year-olds, are available at Barnes & Noble, amazon.com and at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

With her two books on the shelves, one in production and five completed books waiting in the wings, Gentry has no plans of stopping.

“As long as the publishing company agrees to accept the books, I’ll keep writing,” Gentry said.