The Story Behind Tiny Story Time

During my recovery from a heart attack, I needed something to keep my mind busy while my body was healing. I found myself needing a mental escape. I had previously written and self-published two children’s short stories and just as I was pondering what to do next, a visit from a friend, Eileen (a retired teacher) kind of re-sparked the thought chain with a very short, but focused question.

Just a few weeks ago, Eileen found out about my short story books and kindly offered to read them and share her thoughts. Fast forward to my recovery time, she visited and her feedback on both books was incredibly supportive. As we chatted, she posed a question that lingered in my mind long after she left. With a thoughtful expression, she asked, “These stories have potential, so what are your plans for them?” I have to admit, I didn’t have a clear answer at the time; I hadn’t really thought about it thoroughly. Her question sparked a curiosity that eventually led me to explore new possibilities.

That’s when I started experimenting with Substack, a platform where you can create and share your own writing. As I played around, I kept going back to the times with my kids were little, and how much fun it was to come up with random characters and make up a story about it. (This is what the Bean Kingdom Book is all about!). So I decided to launch a little online publication called Tiny Story Time — a cozy place filled with short stories designed to spark joy and imagination in kids. You can check it out here: tinystorytime.substack.com .

Tiny Story Time officially kicked off in April 2025, and it’s a little project. This isn’t about traditional publishing or chasing fame — it’s about creating joyful reading moments for kids, pure and simple. Honestly, it started more like a curiosity: how could I use Artificial Intelligence and automation to help create stories? The AI helps me kickstart ideas and even drafts the first version of a story, but then I add my own flair and polish to make each tale a little special. The pictures? They’re mostly AI-made too, and surprisingly good right out of the gate.

What’s really cool is how the stories end up surprising me every time. It’s like the process has a life of its own, and I get to ride along for the adventure. What began as just a fun experiment quickly turned into something more meaningful, something that brings smiles to kids and creators alike.

Looking back, this whole journey has been educational, fascinating, and honestly — deeply rewarding. If you’re looking for stories to share with the little ones in your life or want to try your hand at making your own, I’d love for you to come along and see what Tiny Story Time has to offer.

Tiny Story Time is an independent publication launched in April 2025 by Jorge Pereira.

But I didn’t stop there. I also made a fun companion tool called the TinyStories Creator App ( tinystories.jorgep.com ) so anyone can create their own stories. It’s kind of like having a storytelling buddy that helps you get going!

I really enjoy figuring out how to put these tools to good use and making technology work smarter for us. If you’re curious about how I pulled this all together behind the scenes or want some tips on using AI and automation for your own projects, feel free to reach out! I love sharing what I’ve learned and helping others get started with these amazing tools. I have many more ideas. Would love to hear your thoughts as well!

Let me know if you want to learn more by contacting me or better yet, leave me a comment on my Substack

If you want to know more about the technical aspect of how I use AI, workflows, and API calls, read this blog post.