My books arrived 😄 + Question
-
Not so much a critique post, but I just wanted to share my happiness, since my books arrived this week! I worked on my wordless picture book since 2017 and last October I ran a Kickstarter campaign which enabled me to finish and print it. I’m looking forward to new projects after the books have been shipped. Now that I’m following SVS courses, under which Lee’s live course Painting Secrets, I hope to improve a multitude of things my second time around.
I also have a question: I have sold the books through Kickstarter and the overage that I was able to print I will list in my Etsy shop. Should I try to get the books in stores or keep them exclusively in my webshop? I’m wondering if it would be worth the time and effort trying to sell them wholesale in my country - I think the book may be for a too specific target group and there will be not much interest. Do any of you have any experience with selling books after a crowdfunding campaign?
Anyways - thank you for your insights!
-
Wow congratulations.
I have absolutely no experience in this whatsoever, but for what my 2 bit is worth, I personally would try and sell them every which way I could. Online amazon, locally, local shops and keep a few back to show big publishers.
I’d love to know how you get on and very best of luck.
What’s you’re book about? -
@peteolczyk Thank you for your suggestions! I am making a list of of the options. I'm afraid I will have to sell the books at a lower price than my backers paid for, which may seem unfair to them. I will keep all of the options open though.
The book is wordless, but the story pictures two little friends traveling towards each other. Isabella travels from the left side (the cover) of the book towards the middle. Oliver travels from the end of the book towards the middle. They both travel using all kinds of whimsical forms of transportation. In the middle of the book is where their encounter is :).
These are the 15 spreads I created (these are the scans before editing, not the final versions, but not much has changed since I painted them all by hand):
-
@nadyart wow Nadya, I love that papercut style, there’s just something about it.
What an original format too. -
@nadyart I don't have any experience regarding sales from crowdfunding, but I just had to say that your book is stunningly beautiful! Thanks for putting in a link to your Instagram so I could see more of your work!
-
@nadyart Congratulations Nadya! I'm a bit bummed out I found out about you when your kickstarter was already over :face_with_stuck-out_tongue: . I hope you're planning on doing more!
Why don't you think your book would be a succes here in the Netherlands? I personally think children as well as the adults would love it! It's so different from other books. I think children will love your little cutouts and a book with a happy ending is always a succes.
You could always walk into a bookstore and ask their advice? I'm sure they know how you should go about this seeing as how they're buying in books all the time.
Maybe you can even do a "story tell" morning in your local bookstore where children can come in and listen to your story and look at your wonderful book. (That way parents who don't really know how to tell your story, will be able to get some ideas from you as well.)
I wish you all the best on your next adventure with your book! I am sure it will find its way. And when it does hit the bookstore, or your store, please give us a headsup! My overly creative children would love to have one.
-
@peteolczyk Thank you!!
-
@jennymwine Thanks so much Jenny!
-
@Sas Thank you very much (dankje! :D). I'm certainly planning on doing more! That is why I joined SVS, to improve my storytelling, composition and the basics :).
I'm afraid there will be no market for the book, since I do not have a publisher, I'm not well-known and like you said my style may be unconventional and not up to standards of Dutch illustrators in the childrens book sector.
If I were to sell my book through other stores than my own, I would prefer to do it through the larger chains / libraries. But I just do not know if it will be worth the effort, if the book will be declined. Maybe I should just give it the proper try
Thank you a lot for your kind words of encouragement :). My book will soon be on Etsy, not long now. Shipping all of the backer copies so I can list it online takes up my time right now
-
Congratulations! It looks great.
I agree with the other people there is no harm in asking if book stores and libraries will stock your book, I know that here the local book stores are normally happy to try and support local creators, even if they only take a couple books to test the waters. However most libraries and stores are easier to work with if your book has an isbn.
I hope this helps. -
@nadyart WOW!!! THIS IS JUST SIMPLY BREATHE TAKING! Your work is so sweet and tells quite a compelling story even with the lack of words or colors. I don’t know much about the business side of illustration but i’m confident to say your books are going to do great. I wish you the best. You have amazing work.
-
Wow, what a beautiful book.
I don't think you would have too much trouble getting some smaller, individually owned book stores selling your book.
It is so beautifully illustrated and put together.
It is worth dropping by a few stores to meet the owner of the shops that you can get too and emailing other ones further from reach.
I don't know what your price point is but I can imagine a book like yours selling for a little more in local stores because it is bespoke.Much success to you!
-
@nadyart just go for it. You already have the book and it’s beautiful, the hard part is done. Also unconventional means originality.
