 Madonna, who was inspired by stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Flannery O'Connor, was galvanized to write something new by herself.She wrote five stories and sent the manuscripts at the same time to Callaway, suggesting they be published together, but he wanted each story to be developed and released separately.In March 2003, it was announced that Madonna and Callaway Arts & Entertainment had signed a deal with Penguin Group to publish an original series of five illustrated storybooks for children.