In this remarkable guide, award-winning writer Liza N. Burby has put together a complete and realistic guide to making the right children's book publisher say yes. 

How to Publish Your Children's Book begins by providing a working knowledge of the children's book publishing process. First, it explains the importance of understanding categories, audiences, and marketplaces. Then, it provides a fascinating look inside the houses themselves--how things work and who does what. Next, it offers the aspiring author a proven system for selecting, approaching, and pursuing the right publishing firms. Also included are sections on the role of the illustrator and the ins and outs of publishing contracts. And in case there are no bites, the author even presents fascinating publishing alternatives. Throughout the book, you will find practical tips and advice from experienced agents, editors, and publishers, as well as insights from such popular children's authors as J.K. Rowling and Marc Brown.

Whether you're just thinking about writing a children's book or you are a published author, you'll find that How to Publish Your Children's Book points the way and provides a solid reference you can turn to time and time again.

Though you may type the words “the end” on your manuscript, we writers all know that finishing your children’s book is really just the beginning. The next task is to send those words out in the hopes that a publisher will want to turn them into a book contract. In your enthusiasm, you may be tempted to blanket the publishing world with your book proposals. But doing so is a waste of time and money because all publishers are different, so you may inadvertently send your manuscript to a publisher who wouldn’t ever consider your type of story, and miss out on another one that might snap it up. That’s why targeting the publisher that is the best fit for your manuscript reduces your likelihood of receiving those dreaded rejection letters.

            To help increase your chances of being published, it’s crucial to research publishers not only through Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market and Literary Market Place, but also by visiting bookstores and libraries to study the books publishers have produced. Assess if any of these publishers would make a good home for your manuscript by using the following criteria.

·        Publisher’s Specialty.   Publishers, no matter how big or how small, specialize in certain markets, like nonfiction versus fiction, preschool versus young adult. Large-sized companies will likely serve many specialties throughout their many imprints. Most medium and small publishers tend to have one or only a few specialties. Figure out which one seems like a good match for your work.

·        Company Age. How important is the age of a company to you? Certainly companies that have been around for many years have a proven track record so you can check on their successes and failures. But newer companies may be hungrier for sales and more willing to take a chance on a new writer to promote.

·        Company Size. The fewer books published annually, the smaller the house. Smaller houses tend to have more time and resources to devote to their writers than do large houses. But larger companies have name recognition and strong distribution outlets. Will you be satisfied working with a small publisher, or is the status of a large, well-known house what you really want?

·        Quality of Work. Some publishers invest only the minimal amount of money in production costs, like the paper stock and art work. Others put quite a bit of money and time into their books, producing beautiful hardbacks with quality paper and art. If the appearance of your book in final form is important to you, examine the existing products of any prospective publisher either through their catalogs or in stores.

·        Marketing and Sales. Most likely media exposure and good placement in a bookstore matters to you, so a publisher’s marketing and sales plans should be important points to consider. Study Publisher’s Weekly to learn about a publisher’s book campaigns. You can also call the publisher’s marketing and sales department to get some basic information about their operation.

·        Publicity. One aspect of marketing is publicity. That’s the arm by which your work gets reviewed by newspapers and magazines. Ask your local bookstore owner which publishers routinely have their authors give book signings. Read your local paper and national magazines to see which company often has their books reviewed. The size of the company doesn’t always determine the amount of publicity their books garner.

·        The Offer. When it comes to money matters, you’ll want to find out what type of advance or royalty payment you can expect to receive for your book. Not all publishing companies offer their authors advances.  Since the money offered in an advance will be deducted from future royalties, this may not be an important issue for you in your search for a publisher. On the other hand, if you need the immediate income an advance provides, you should consider only those publishers that make such offerings.

These criteria should help you assess the publishers to whom you most want to send your work. Then, once you have a researched list in hand, you can send out that book proposal knowing that you’ve just enhanced your prospects of being published.

 
Liza N. Burby is the author of 38 children’s books. For more information about choosing the right publisher for your manuscript, take a look at her new book How to Publish Your Children’s Book: A Complete Guide to Making the Right Publisher Say Yes by Square One Publishers.