Toddlers/Childrens books.

[scotty]

My wife has read so many books to our 2 and a half year old girl ,that she knows them all by heart( my wife,,not the baby !!) and now wifey has written a book for kids that she wants to get published. Has anyone out there done this, if so how easy is it to get published; and what sort of money could be earned ? The book she has written is planned as part of a series , but she wants to know the above to decide whether to continue. Has any one got any clues ,hints or tips for us please. Many thanks.

[nickmo]

Just been asked - some info here : http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Arts-and-Literature/Quest ion214910.html

[scotty]

Nickmo, that brilliant ,thanks ever so much, I am sure my wife will find that very interesting. Do you have any idea of the sort of money that can be earned if a book does sell ?

[scotty]

Also , I forgot to say, what she has written ,is along the lines of bedtime booklets with illustration;the kind you would read to your child, like say Hairy Mcclary or the Duck in the truck type of thing.

[nickmo]

Hi scotty - income is only able to be asecertained by a publisher and depends on the potential of the title. Speak to a couple of likely companies in similar fields as suggested - but suggest don't make the income the prime reason for wanting the book published, but make it part of the equation. think why the book is good and what it can offer the buyer....

Contracts for authors follow a broadly similar format - unless you have the ultimate concept and get a 'JK' type deal - they do exist but put in context the number of books proposed and the numbers of books that become bestsellers - expect a couple of hundred pounds as advance and this is offset against sales. Commission is paid normally 6 monthly - you get a sales report and info on book sales through discounters, regular outlets, online shops and so on, which all have varying amounts of return for the author.

Keep in mind the book has got to be commercial. A publisher only wants books that sell. AS well as printing costs, they employ staff/agents to represent their titles to shops/resellers and if the book doesn't shift, they carry the cost of a title no-one buys, so there is an amount of selling that the author has to do to make sure the publisher is one that they want to deal with, that they are able to get the book to the market place, that they will make an effort as well and that they are as interested as the author in the potential.

You/the author will be very close to the book having of course written it and will presume everybody will want to buy it, but listen to any advice offered from the publisher and perservere to get it printed - expect rejections, but take the criticsm offered as positive and you will land on the right publisher eventually if the book does have the potential.

Good luck with it....

[scotty]

Hi NIckmo, Scottys wife here. Thank you so much all very good advice and extremely useful as we know nothing about he publishing world. My last question is highly optomistic but here goes; what happens if you post your MS out to several publishers and more than one comes back? Also whats to stop someone from printing your book without your permission. As it is only 600 words I will be sending the whole thing [no ilustrations] and it worries me that it could be plagerised [wishful thinking I know!] What protection have you got from the above. Many thanks

[nickmo]

Hello mrs scotty http://www.littletigerpress.com/lyndall/submit.htm has info as a childrens book publisher and see http://freelancewriting.allinfoabout.com/features/sub-chil.html and follow links.

If you submit the MS to more than 1 pub. always send as SAE. though they won't always sebd it bcak. Check the pub will accept unsolicited MS as well before you send it using the Writers Yearbook (check library and save money)

The pub won't print your book - if they do -sue them. You have copyright to everything printed/written or credited to you - this reply is copyright to me for example. (it is often difficult to prove copyright, (da vinci trial?...) but the issue there is keep your MS safe and if it is so good - lodge a copy with a solicitor in unopened envelope) Make sure your MS is totally original and yours to send - they need to know you have not plagiarised as well...if the book needs to be illustrated by the pub., let them know early on, or is the whole concept dependent on your illustrations to make it 'special'?

The more research you can do to encourage the pub. the better as again they need commercial proposals. If you do get replies from more than one pub., you have to make a deecision - who will give you more money? Who will represent the title the best, etc. - thats up to you. If you have the next Harry Potter - get an agent - the pub. would tell you this anyway, but I'd suggest do not rush off and get one just yet...

Hope that helps. Do the research, persevere and enjoy it..

[scotty]

Nickmo, many many thanks you have certainly cleared a good few issues up for us, very kind of you.We shall be taking your advice. Cheers Scotty and wifey

[nickmo]

Glad to help - the usual 20% fee is payable of course - used notes, none sequential numbers in �10 and �20 denominations - leave the money in a bag at Waverley Station outside the flower stall as usual......