SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA News

Kevin Longueil

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan So great!! Congratulations!

Charlie Eve Ryan

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan How did you get this book? Did you get an agent?

Charlie Eve Ryan

@Nyrryl-Cadiz I do have an agent and she is great, she was actually the editor on this book. Her and the publisher contacted me about it and had shown interest in my work prior. When she left editing later, she reached out to see if I want represention and I said yes but the books that came out this year and in 2019 I got on my own when I was between agents.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan you are so awesome. Tell, how did you get these 2 earlier books? did you just send in postcards and samples to editors or did you get them by arranging meetings or something?

Jeremy Ross

Congratulations @Charlie-Eve-Ryan, well done!!

Charlie Eve Ryan

@Nyrryl-Cadiz said in SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA News:

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Postcards and pitching through email. It helps that I have my own stories to pitch. My illustration work seems to get more interest when people realize I write, too. I have not done an author/illustrator project with this pub yet but I have had interest from them with past stories.

It helps to build a back and forth with an editor and keeps me on their radar for illustration work, too. So when this book came to them they said they loved the way I capture small intimate moments with people/kids and thought I would be great for the book. I had a lot of creative leeway which was both overwhelming and exciting.

I have a ton of respect for my agent and am very open but I keep contact with editors and will reach out on my own too.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan that's really smart. I'm also currently trying my hand at writing children's book. I have so much stories in head but not enough time and not enough writing skills to actually get them on paper. Hopefully, i'll improve as I continue.

Charlie Eve Ryan

@Nyrryl-Cadiz That is great, keep writing. It is a great skill to add and thanks!!

For the board book I did, I had an offer from the publisher for a 4 book deal that I did not take due to mostly deadline issues but they also offered me a contract to illustrate Who is Making A Mess and I really wanted to work with them but already had Blue Cat and Saturdays Are For Stella on my plate and could not say yes to the other project. There is no way I would have made all the deadlines.

Blue Cat is my first author/illustrator picture book and I pitched through the online sub guidelines Boyds Mill Kane to the editor who happens to love cats. So that worked our well!!

I found over the years to never give up your ability to market and talk directly to editors and art directors. Many agents are busy with several clients and just don't have time to pitch multiple projects. Some will try to control your every move. It is just not realistic and I find having that freedom really helps build relationships professionally.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan That's a very wise advice. I currently have an agent but I feel like I'm getting drowned out by all of the other illustrators they're representing. it's neither their faults. The agents are just managing a business as best they can and the illustrators are also just trying to make a living like me. I think it's very vital to still try and find work for yourself even if you're already represented. That's something I'm learning just now. When I got my agent, I thought that things would be better. Though they did get me a couple of jobs, things have slowed down because of covid which means that I need to hustle harder to get myself out there.

Charlie Eve Ryan

@Jeremy-Ross Thank you!!

Charlie Eve Ryan

@Kevin-Longueil Thanks so much!

Mara Price

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan Congratulations!

Neha Rawat

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan This is so amazing! Congratulations!

Coley

Congratulations 🥳 that is wonderful

LauraA

Wow, fantastic! And good advice about working with art directors. Thank you!

Jacy13

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan Congratulations! That is awesome news

Lorna H

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan - Congratulations! That's a fantastic achievement.

holleywilliamson

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan congrats! So exciting! You have a lovely style

ina

Amazing work, big congrats!