Since I started my journey as a children's illustrator, I've been approached by so many authors who want me to illustrate their books. It surprises me how little research the majority of them have done!
One of my biggest pet peeves is the subject of rights. Most authors are unable (or unwilling) to pay a fair fee to an artist to illustrate a picture book ($3,000 and up for a typical 32-page book), but also expect to get all rights to the artwork for that fee! Why? Traditional publishers don't even do that.
Typically, the payment gives all book rights to the author. Which means that the illustrator can't sell the art to anyone else to be used in another book, and the author is free to use the art to promote the book. That's all you need!
Then this question comes up: "What if my book gets so popular that I want to license my characters to make plush animals or action figures out of them to sell?"
A self-published book typically makes less than $500. If that HIGHLY UNLIKELY scenario does play out, there can always be re-negotiation talks for more rights. It's sad that so many first-time authors won't hire an artist who won't give them full rights. Most professional illustrators won't agree to do that, so the talent pool for the author to choose from is shrunk to the inexperienced. I feel like the authors are really shortchanging themselves from having great art for their story. And who is going to want to buy a plush of a mediocre character anyway?
I feel better to get that off my chest. :–)
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By: Lynn Alpert,
on 1/12/2013
Blog: Redheaded Stepchild (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children's books, picture books, Self-publishing, children's illustration, hiring and illustrator, Add a tag
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By: Lynn Alpert,
on 1/12/2013
Blog: Redheaded Stepchild (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children's books, picture books, Self-publishing, children's illustration, hiring and illustrator, Add a tag
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