Hire An Illustrator

Though I'm not pursuing self-publishing myself, I've had a few requests for posts about the subject. As a one-time graphic designer and Cartoon Network intern, I'm obsessed with illustrations and so I thought I'd post the introduction of this helpful how-to: "There has been a significant increase in small press or self-publishing, as ways of getting your work out there increase outside of traditional publishing streams... this booklet is intended to educate those who have never commissioned illustrations..." Text by Randy Gallegos

http://www.hireanillustrator.com/how-to-commission-an-illustrator.pdf

Pajama Press Open to Queries Dec 1!!

**UPDATE: I recently confirmed with Pajama Press that they do accept work from American authors**

According to their website: 

Due to an overwhelming volume of submissions, Pajama Press is not accepting submissions or queries at this time. Email queries will be accepted after December 1, 2012: info@pajamapress.ca

Pajama Press does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. If you would like to request permission to send us a digital copy of your manuscript, please email a query to info@pajamapress.ca. Your query should include an overview of your book, information about your writing background, and an excerpt. Pajama Press prefers not to receive simultaneous submissions. Please notify us if you are submitting your manuscript to another publisher.

In the interest of saving trees, Pajama Press does not accept physical manuscripts. Any manuscripts mailed to our office will be recycled unopened.

Mirror Publishing

According to their website: We are accepting submissions for children’s books, 
young adult books, and full length books.  We do not publish books of poetry, 
cook books, or comic novels. Please only submit one manuscript.  We can only 
consider and work with one book at a time from any author.

http://pagesofwonder.com/submissions2.html

Seven Days

Seven days, if you count today, until the end of PiBoIdMo. That's seven more picture book ideas. Or, in my case, 14 more. Possibly 17. Or 27. This challenge has been great for me and the ideas are just bubbling up everywhere. Now all I have to do is write them - you know - the hard part. Eh, I'll worry about that in December.

Arthur A. Levine Books

According to their website: "We look for strong writing, beautiful artwork, authentic emotion, and ideas or perspectives we haven't seen before, and we greatly enjoy working with debut authors and illustrators." This publisher accepts unsolicited manuscripts.

http://www.arthuralevinebooks.com/submission.asp

Andrews McMeel Publishing / Accord

Andrews McMeel Publishing publishes general nonfiction trade books, gift books and humor books, publishing up to 300 new titles annually. Their children's books include board books and novelty books.

http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/submissions.html

Schiffer Books

Schiffer Publishing has over 6000 titles, including Children's books, Photography, Art and Artists, Aviation and Military. According to their website: "New ideas and authors are the lifeblood of what we do here. We have gathered together a team of people who will do everything they can to make the concept of a book become a reality. If you are one of those people who always dreamed of writing a book, we would love to hear from you"

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/proposal.php

Gobble Gobble

It's that time of year again - the holidays! A marathon of runny noses and house guests and cookies and wrapping paper and grocery trips and Christmas cards and sweaters (even Florida gets chilly) and online shopping and lists and packing and unpacking and digital photos and did I mention cookies? Oh, and birthdays. Apparently every child in my daughter's class was born in December - and my mom. And my brother in law. And my best friend from childhood who I never talk to anymore but I still send gifts to.

So it's busy at my house just like I'm sure it is busy at your house. But I want to take a minute and reflect on what I am grateful for. Besides the obvious healthy family, happy home thing. I am grateful for ... publishers who still accept unsolicited manuscripts. Thank you publishers who still accept unsolicited manuscripts. You give me hope.

August House

Just playing around tonight - checking out publishers instead of folding laundry. 

August House is the highly-acclaimed and award-winning multimedia publisher of children's stories, folktale anthologies and resource books. Over the last 25 years, August House has developed one of the most respected collections of stories from around the world. Parents, teachers, and librarians love these stories because of their integrity and authenticity.

http://www.augusthouse.com

Two-fer

It's Day Two of PiBoIdMo and I've already come up with my picture book idea. Actually I came up with TWO!! One I'll probably work on and another that I'll share here because it's silly and weird and sort of awful but maybe inspiring and, hey, why not?

The Jumba Wumba Spider: This fresh twist on the itsy bitsy classic follows Jerome the Jumba Wumba spider as he tackles obesity and acceptance in the bug world. From his lonely perch on reinforced webbing, Jerome watches (through many, many eyes) other arachnids skitter and scamper up and down that skinny ol' water spout...

Or something like that.

Day One

One the first day of PiBoIdMo the hours were whizzing by and I was worried I wouldn't be able to come up with a picture book idea. On day one. Day one!! But then, driving home from the grocery store, I had the cutest idea. And when I got home I wrote it down in my spreadsheet and I am so thrilled. It's like a little pet and I just want to hold it and cuddle it. Yea PiBoIdMo!!!