5 Publishers who will Accept Manuscripts from Writers

You’ve done it! You’ve written your children’s book! That story that’s been rattling around inside your head for the last gajillion years is now free and fully realized on paper (or, rather, computer screen). But now what? Where do you go from here? Are you just going to sit there and stare at your beautiful work? Of course not!

There are many pros and cons that can be applied to both self-publishing and traditional publishing. But if traditional publishing is the way you want to go then there are some great publishing companies that will accept unsolicited manuscripts directly from writers (none of that messy ‘getting an agent’ business). Be sure to ALWAYS read submission guidelines for publishers carefully. Yes, we know you’re fun, and rebellious, and different. But let those traits come out in your writing, not in your submission process.

Here are 6 publishers you should be sure to check out:

Albert Whitman & Company – Currently has an open submissions policy and is actively seeking picture books, middle-grade fiction, and Young Adult novels. - http://www.albertwhitman.com/content.cfm/editorial-guidelines-for-writers

Capstone – A great in-house development publisher with a number of imprints under their umbrella. - http://www.capstonepub.com/library/service/submissions/

Dial Books – An imprint of Penguin Books, while they’re extremely selective they do still publish around 70 titles per year. - http://www.penguin.com/static/html/aboutus/youngreaders/dialyrguidelines.pdf

Kane Miller EDC Publishing – Located in San Diego, Kane Miller publishers award-winning books from around the world. – http://www.friends.kanemiller.com/submissions.html

Pants on Fire Press – Pants on Fire change their submission guidelines throughout the year so be sure to keep checking back to their site. - http://pantsonfirepress.com/submissions/


Now get out there and start submitting your work to the world!

Why use Illustrations in your book

When you create a book, one of the most important things is to make it appealing and, at the same time, make that person relate to the content in the book. It can be hard to do such a thing without the help of illustrations, and this is why you need to work with a children's book Illustrator or professional picture book creator in order to get the desired results. There are many other reasons in regards to why you should use illustrations in your book, and we will try to figure them out in this article.

With the help of an illustrator you can bring your book to life
Let’s face it, having only text in a book is unappealing, no matter if it’s created for adults and children. You do want something that will help you bring the things you read to life, something that will entice you towards reading more and more and enrich your mind with ideas, and that’s exactly what you get if you add up illustrations created by a professional artist.

Enriches the visual stimuli of any child
Images matter a lot in the case of children, because many times they will have a hard time understanding the content, yet with the help of illustrations any book brings the content to life. Even the illustrations on their own tell a story, and children will savor that for sure!

Good illustrations in a picture book or children’s book contribute to the child’s brain development
During the early years of our life, we form an image of the things and locations that surround us based on stimuli and other stuff. The things we see in front of us do influence our thought, ideas and other stuff, so it’s a very important thing to ensure that our kids see vibrant, colorful and fun illustrations, as this will help them develop a positive image, something that will allow their brain to develop normally. This also helps them remain positive at all times, showing how important even a simple image can be to the intellectual development of any human.

Illustrations help correct wrong notions
By adding illustrations in a picture book, the artist or illustrator will be able to showcase the true story he wants to share, something that in many situations cannot be expressed in words. The illustrations help correct any negative and unprofessional notions that might appear.
In conclusion, using illustrations in a book is very important, because this way you can provide a whole new level of immersion! So, no matter if you have a picture book, children’s books or any other type of written material, do try and work with a professional illustrator or, depending on the situation, a children's book Illustrator, as this will help you ooze new life into your written content and take it to the next level!

The Benefits of Self-Publishing Your Children’s Book.

One of the biggest woes of the publishing world is securing a publisher or agent willing to take on an unknown author. The problem becomes even more magnified when the book in question is a work catered to a younger audience.

Children’s books can be hard to publish. Traditional ways included approaching a publishing house in hopes of securing a contract with one willing to invest in the piece. No doubt there were many limitations in this method, but contemporary marketing strategies now allow authors and illustrators to self-publish their own work.

Despite the criticism, this method offers a number of benefits to creators of children’s books that can be summed up as the following:

Speedy Publication: Traditionally the duration can span anywhere between a couple of months to a year-and-a-half to see your book in print. But with your own publishing practice the same can be done in a much shorter time span. Once the final manuscript is illustrated, edited and proofread, all that remains to be done is to publish the work.

A Viable Platform for Printing: Many children’s books’ manuscripts never make it past the publisher’s desk. With your own self-publishing system, you are the boss. When you print and publish your own work, you are in control and get to decide what words and illustrations suit you best, what stays and what gets chucked out, and best of all, create a piece that is to your complete satisfaction, with no possibility of rejection. 

Financial control: Self-publishing allows authors and illustrators to keep most of the proceeds from selling their printed book. There are no large cuts for agents or others, and the profit stays with the publisher, which is you. Plus, it is often recognized that some books may actually be better off being self-published.  This is especially true if the work created is for a small, niche audience that the author or illustrator has direct access to; catering directly to that audience will grant maximum profits to its creators. 

True that self-publishing is not an easy thing to do, nor is it for everyone. There is indeed a lot of work involved like writing, illustrating, lay out, text and art and if you are not up to the task, then this may not be the way to go. Plus, it is often argued that self-published books are taken less seriously than traditionally published works. 

However, many children’s books’ authors and illustrators will be willing to put in the extra work to see their craft make it into print. Besides, putting in a little extra effort far outweighs the challenges of trying to find the right publisher for the book. So go ahead and think about having your work self-published to reap its cost and time effective benefits.

Why Should You Self Publish Your Children's Book?

Let's face it, publishing a children's book is hard- really hard. Finding an agent to pick you up in this competitive market seems impossible sometimes. But many people are opting out of the agents and the big-book publishing, and they're trying out a new popular form of getting their book read: self publishing. For children's books, in particularly, this can be a great route to take.

You're in charge of the image
You are fully in control of the illustrations and can pick your own illustrator based on your budget and style and liking. You get to design your own front cover and back cover and title page. You can format your own book and be 100% in control of the entire process ensuring that what you want in print, is exactly how your book appears in print.

You can create your own markets
Even being published by a big publisher doesn't necessarily ensure success. When you self-publish you're in charge of your own markets. You can choose who to sell your book to, and market your book yourself to schools, libraries, book stores, and online. You can also sell copies of your book yourself at places like local craft markets and eBay.

You can compare royalty rates
The great part of self-publishing is the fact you get to choose from literally hundreds of different publishers, and you can find a royalty rate that you think is fair. This means YOU get to decide how much you make off of your book- and there are no agents and extra people taking up parts of your profits.

You are in control of your own work
When self-publishing there will never be an agent or editor who tells you to change your story. You can stay true to the book you wanted to write and you won't need to change it for anyone. Your work is YOUR work- and when you self-publish you can rest assured that no one will be demanding you change it.

You don't need to wait to bring your idea to print
The reason most people choose to self-publish is the fact that they can instantaneously get their book in print. You can start earning profits faster. You can start gaining a reader base faster. You can get your book read faster. Because rather than waiting on letters from agents and agreements from major publishers- you skipped those steps, and published yourself.

Self-publishing doesn't guarentee success, but it does guarentee that you are 100% in control of your work and that YOU are the person reeling in the benefits of your hard work. Hard work does pay off, and yes- self-publishing is hard work. But self-publishing your children's book might be the right road to take for you. Everyone has a different way of getting their book read, and in modern times many people are choosing to self-publish with a lot of success.

Top 6 Things To Look For In An Independent Children's Book Illustrator

Finding an illustrator that can bring your children's book to life can be a taxing process, but there are a few key things you can look out for to help you ensure you find the quality pictures you expect for your book.

1) A Full Portfolio
The more work your children's book illustrator has done in the past, the better quality their work will be. If they've been published before, they know how to create pictures that will look nice in print and can provide you the quality you need to ensure your book looks fantastic from cover to cover.

2) Recommendations or Reviews
If you can find a children's book illustrator who has previous author's reviewing their work, you've found a trustworthy partner. Look for illustrator's who've proven that they can follow directions, capture your image, and bring your story to life in the detail you'd expect. If they've done it in the past, and have happy authors, then they can definitely do it for you.

3) A Competitive Price
Let me start by saying that often times a 'cheap illustrator' is going to give you cheap quality pictures. Paying a little extra for better picture quality is worth it if you want your book to look nice. But the illustrations shouldn't be overpriced. Look for ones that are fair-market priced. You'll pay more for higher quality work and that's okay. Don't look for the cheapest illustrator- look for the one that's worth the price.

4) Good Communication
You want someone who you feel you can communicate easily with. If you want your children's book illustrator to adequately capture you're story, you're going to need to communicate with them easily. And even more than that- they're going to need to feel comfortable asking you questions about details they don't understand. If an illustrator has good communication skills, they're way more likely to be able to get you the pictures you hope for.

5) Talent
Obviously, search for talent. It's important. Don't take a risk on the person who hasn't put out quality work in the past. Look for someone who is truly passionate about what they do and has a natural talent in their work. You don't want to ruin your story with bad illustrations- so find a good children's book illustrator.

6) A Style That Fits Your Story
Even the most talented artist doesn't necessarily have a style that will fit your book. Some amazing artists have a comic book style- and that won't necessarily fit a baby's ABC book. Find an artist that has already done work in the style that you want your book to be drawn in.

What To Expect When Self Publishing A Children's Book

There are many talented children's book authors out there, but getting published in a competitive children's book market can be a tough feat. Many children's book authors opt to self-publish instead, and self-publishing can be a very successful venture, but there are a few things all self-publishing children's book authors should expect.

1) It's Important To Find An Experienced Children's Book Illustrator
If you do not have illustrations for your book, and you're looking for an outside picture book artist to bring your story to life- look for an artist with a full portfolio. Children's book illustrators who have worked with other authors in the past will typically have a lot of knowledge of the image quality needed for self-published work. They will be able to bring your story to life just the way you imagined, and in just the form needed to be appropriately printed on paper. Finding a children's book illustrator who is aware of the picture quality needed from their work will save you hassle in the long run. You'll have the pictures you need, in the form you need them, for your book to look perfect.

2) Work Closely With Your Editor, Publisher, and artist
Everyone involved in the inner workings of your book wants to see your self-published children's book succeed. By working closely with all of the people who are making your book a reality, you're creating a support system and a marketing team for yourself. Having a quality editor proofread your work will prevent grammatical errors that could give you a negative wrap. Find a publisher who you're comfortable with and can work closely to will help give you the tools you need to get your book on the market efficiently. And having a children's book illustrator who believes in the image of your book will ensure that your details are perfectly pictured for your readers.

3) Self-Marketing is 90% of Self Publishing
It is your job to market yourself. When you're a self-published author, YOU are the one required to make sure the world knows about your book. Be prepared to put in a lot of hours advertising your book. Once again- having a good support team behind you can make this happen. Giving adequate credit to the children's book illustrator will help you promote your work to their followers as well. Printing out book marks, attending book signings, and creating social media accounts for your self-published children's book can truly make it a success.

4) Do Your Research
Don't delve in spontaneously to any part of the self-published children's book process. Take your time finding a publisher that you enjoy and that offers the quality you're looking for. Find an editor who has a lot of experience and can help make your children's book even better. And look for a children's book illustrator who's art is the style you'd want in your story.

5) Sales Start Slow
There are very few self-published children's books that get put on the market and are instantaneously bringing in the doh. It's important to realize that patience is key in self-published children's book success. Expect to do a lot of waiting and working and promoting before you see a lot of income coming in. You have to grow the tree before you can pick the apples. And the same goes for self-published children's books. You have to grow your audience before you can start making an income.

Self-Publishing a children's book is very rewarding and well-worth the work you put into it. Knowing that a piece of your imagination is being read by children all over the world is inspirational. There are always a few things to expect when going into a knew venture, but the work is worth the rewards in the end, when you get to see your book sitting on the shelf of your local book store.

Children's book Illsutration website

I have just completed the re-design of my website. I created it in 1998 using html that I hand coded and updated manually for many years. I am now using a WordPress template which makes it easy to edit and is view-able on mobile, tablet and desktop devices. I have also been expanding into watercolor and in ink type work for children's book artwork and book covers. Please stop by and let me know what you think.