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This fun illustration was sent in by Melissa Iwai. Melissa has illustrated over twenty picture books, and her first picture book that she wrote and illustrated was, Soup Day. She was featured on Illustrator Saturday on October 13, 2012. Click here to view.

In the past couple of weeks I have realized that there are always new writers and illustrators stopping by in hopes to learn more about the children’s book publishing industry. I have been blogging everyday for the last five years and so many subjects have been discussed, but many of you have not been following me for that many years. Example, I was afraid to blog about the formatting issue thinking that writers would think I wasn’t covering a important topic, but it turns out that many of you thanked me for clarifying  the subject. I breathed a sigh of relief, because I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

This lead me to wondering if you had more questions that you would like answered. If you do I would be willing to collect them, answer the ones I know and get editors and agents to weigh in on others. Why don’t we give it a test run? I am going to the March Writer’s Retreat that I put out there at the end of last year. Steve Meltzer, Associate Publisher/Executive Managing Editor of Dial Books for Young Readers, Dutton Children’s Books, Kathy Dawson Books, and Celebra Children’s Books and Agent Sean McCarthy from McCarthy Lit are the two faculty members for our small group. We will be spending the weekend with them, so I could get answers to anything you want to know.

If you have a burning question, please send it to Kathy.temean(at)gmail.com. You can ask more than one question and it can be about any aspect of the children’s publishing industry. You can be a completely new writer or illustrator, or an author or and illustrator who has published many books. Just make sure you put ASK KATHY in the subject area of the email, so I can search on that. I look forward to reading your questions and sharing the answers later the month.

Had to share the picture below with all you winter weary people out there. Nanci Turner Steveson move from New Jersey to her dream state – Wyoming. Maybe you will feel a little less weary after you see all the snow at her house.

Now that is snow. It brings the words, “Cabin Fever” to my mine.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

….I was happily driving into NYC from CT for a number of looked-forward-to appointments with publishers that day Sept. 11th, 2001 - several off Hudson.  The day was brilliant and clear.  I remember thinking I was having a ‘good hair day’ and had plenty of cash in my wallet, gas in my car for the drive and just felt like signing aloud.  So I turned on the radio about 8:45…..   and the world changed forever.

I kept driving toward the city in tears….finally being stopped just as they closed the  bridge leading over to Manhattan from its north eastern tip.  The sound of all the alarms and ER vehicles still bring a chill to me remembering.  Odd how in times of great fear and disbelief we still tend to move forward….even toward danger.  Human nature to keep going, one foot in front of the other, trying to make sense, trying to help, trying to survive.

We honor all those lost this day 12 years ago and the even more who’s lives were forever changed …which includes practically all of us.  God bless this great country….we WILL continue to move forward trying to make sense, trying to help, trying to survive…with dignity and hope.

from Priscilla Burris

MARKET YOUR BOOK – WITHOUT THE BOOK

By Steve Meltzer – Associate Publisher/ Executive Managing Editor, Dial, Dutton, & Celebra.

I have a friend who is a writer. She has a book contract but publication is a couple of years away. But when it comes out, I believe my friend’s book will be successful. My friend has marketing savvy, a successful website, and a great blog. She creates trailers based on her interests and expertise that are featured on Youtube and other web resources. Kids love her clips and regularly comment on them. My friend posts writings on Facebook and Myspace and makes sure that online friends include writers and editors. However, she is not a marketing pain, which is to say that my friend never gets in anyone’s face trying to force projects on anyone. She instead becomes a friend and colleague.

We recently had this conversation…

Me: “I believe kids will love to hear you talk since you have something interesting and valuable to share. Why don’t you get an agent and book yourself into schools? You can make some money that way.”

Friend: “I have nothing to promote, I don’t have a published book.”

Me: “Wrong. You have yourself to promote. You have a persona and all the online stuff to back you up. When you do have a book, people will say ‘oh, that’s her book.’ They will be buying a piece of your personality”

So my friend tried this and lo and behold she has a successful gig going in schools. When her book comes out she will have a ready made audience. Chances are my friend’s future books will be successful too. This is the kind of author I would want to publish– again and again.

Common sense tells us not to market a book until you actually have a book to publish. I say that is no longer true. When you are selling a book these days you have to sell yourself as well. It is up to you to do the job. Take a lesson from my friend. Try to build your celebrity first, so that when your book is published you have an audience. Publishers like people who know how to market.

If you know a great deal about the civil war, get a beard and Abe Lincoln clothes and go as Civil War Charlie, expert on the civil war. Schools love to support local characters especially when they generate excitement and learning. Have an idea for a chapter book series and can’t get a publisher to buy it? Self publish by going to a print on demand service. Then give it away to local schools and libraries and bookstores. When book # 2 comes out sell it store to store, library to library, school to school or kid to kid and once you have developed an audience, sell it to a publisher.  Start a web 2.0 Youtube soap opera based on your YA novel. There are plenty of teens out there who want to act and they would be willing to do it for free, just for the experience. Plus who better to spread the word?

Don’t moan that you can’t get a contract. Maybe all you need to do is go out and do some field work. Comics don’t take shows on TV right away. They take them to small clubs and develop their act. The same can hold true for a writer. Think creatively and try your “act” on some kids. Then you know what they will like or won’t like and at the same time you build an audience.

Web video technology and social networking are the author’s friend. There is so much you can do these days for so very little. So get out and market yourself. With any luck a contract will follow and maybe a bit more of an advance… because you just might be a celebrity. You know your writing is there, just bring the rest. That’s you! Uh-huh. You’re a