What does a first timer author/illustrator do while getting published?
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Hello
Earlier this year I got great feedback from my baby book submissions and was told that the publisher was happy to publish my work.
Even though I'm overly thrilled to have this experience I've only ever illustrated for books I've never written for myself. I'm a little unclear of what happens when pushing my own books?
(The books I've created are baby books)I hope to keep working with these publishers in the coming future. I adore the character I've created for these baby books but I don't know if baby books need the same push as full 32 pager PB.
Are school/library tours something I should get ready for?
Should I create stickers or plan out ad space on insta to get more eyes on my baby books?
I don't have a huge following on insta or twitter which I know doesn't matter.Would I need to table a lot more for baby books?
As you can tell I'm a little unsure of what happens next. Usually I would consult an agent about this but at the moment I'm looking for new agents to work with at multiple agencies and as of right now a few are passing on my 32 page picture book manuscripts so a agent right now may take some time.
Do anyone have any insight on what happens next?
Are baby books a little monster of their own or do they go through the same showing off process as any other book?
Thank you for all your help.
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@dougart If you're publishing these through a traditional publisher, aren't they the ones supposed to market and push your books?
I'd say building an email list is worthwhile, but when it comes to ads or organizing school visits, isn't it the publisher that would be responsible for that?
Adding to that, baby books are for 0-2 years old and at that age, school is a non-issue and I'm not sure if there is library reading events for children that young.
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@dougart Hi!
Congratulations on your book project!!!
I'd ask your publisher about their marketing plan for your book and if there's something you could do to help and let them know what are you capable of doing (like the school/library tours or something else you might enjoy doing to promote your book).
By baby book - you mean a board book?
When I worked on board books, I did the same things as for my regular picture books. Which basically means - not much
I announced on my social media and that's it. I leave the rest to the publisher.
My approach to marketing is work-focused - I try to give my all to make great projects and hope one of them will be a success that might help the other books as well in the long run. This works for me, over the years I made myself somewhat of a name (in my home country). People told me they have all my books because they like the illustrations. They found me through one book and then they went to buy the rest.
Wish you all best!!! -
@mag said in What does a first timer author/illustrator do while getting published?:
I try to give my all to make great projects and hope one of them will be a success that might help the other books as well in the long run. This works for me, over the years I made myself somewhat of a name (in my home country). People told me they have all my books because they like the illustrations. They found me through one book and then they went to buy the rest.
Ohhhhh okay I see. That makes things a little easier for me, I wasn't too sure what kind of roll out baby books needed. XD I'll stay in touch with the publisher to ask them how they'd like me to push these books as well, I really do want to make a whole line of baby books because I find them so much fun to create.
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@NessIllustration Yes I do think it is the traditional publishers job too but I just wanted to know for board books would I need to go out of my way to talk to moms and dads or sit in nursery's and read there. XD I'm very new to baby books so I thought I'd ask if anyone knew. This is helpful thank you so much.
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@dougart The best move to get info would be to ask your publisher - they will know all about the marketing of your book!
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@mag Do baby books usually get seen by a creative director? So far I've only been in touch with the assistant publisher and I'm just wondering if after submitting everything someone else will look it over and see if it's well on track for corrections or not?
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@dougart I don't know if you realize this, but the only one that has all the answers you seek is your publisher. Is there a reason you're afraid to ask them directly?
Every publisher is a little bit different, so if you want to know you'll have to ask... It's not a bad thing to ask them your questions. It won't make you look ignorant. They're all very legitimate questions.
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@dougart Depends on the publisher I guess, all the publishing houses I worked with so far had a little bit different processes. according to my knowledge, the decision to publish a book is made by the whole team and gets approved in a meeting with an editor-in-chief.
Baby books are no different from other book projects, editors and art directors are working to produce them, and there always must be a person making decisions, so yes, some kind of editor/director must have seen your book. You might be personally communicating with an assistant, but it doesn't mean nobody else is supervising the project, they probably are.
As Ness said, if you have any question, do not be afraid to ask, it's absolutely OK.
