Today I thought I would tell you how I ended up with the
experts who helped me put my book together. When you publish a book, the people
you find to help you can make you or break you, especially when you are a
novice.
When I was writing my book I would pray before I started
writing each time for God to help me write the story of creation correctly so
that children would enjoy the story, and so that they would really understand
it.
I would also look on line for an illustrator. There are a
lot to pick from. When I would find one that I liked for my particular book I would
send them an email requesting that they send me a price list. Each one I contacted
did send me their prices and I was always horrified. They were always $1,000
per picture. I needed 17 pictures so I couldn’t possibly afford them.
Finally one day I realized that even though I was constantly
praying about the writing, I had never prayed and asked God to help me find the
right illustrator. I immediately stopped and prayed about it. Then I started looking again. A day or two later I found
another illustrator I liked and sent the usual email. Once again I got the same
email back with $1,000 prices. However, this time, (in answer to my prayer I am
sure) she also sent me a note telling me that she was the same as all of the
other illustrators I had contacted with the $1,000 prices. She explained that
the reason was that they all work for the publishers, and they can afford them.
People like me who were self-publishing cannot afford them. She suggested that I
check out a website called Picture Kitchen Studio. I loved the pictures and
contacted the illustrator. Her name is Kim Sponaugle and it turned out that she
is a wonderful Christian. Her prices were a fraction of the other prices. She was
incredibly nice and helpful. She did all my pictures and they turned out
fantastic.
Kim got me lined up with an editor named Pam Halter (also a
wonderful Christian). She has written children’s books for about 25 years or
more. She also was very helpful and great to work with. When she sent back my
edited book I was horrified at all the things she told me to take out or change. I cried
my eyes out. For the next 6 months, every time I tried to start making changes I
would start sobbing and put it away. Finally my husband, Ray, told me that
since we had already paid for the publishing I had to finish the book. I knew
he was right, so I started making the changes she suggested and resenting her
with every delete and change I made. When I was finished I re-read my book and
was amazed at how much better it was. I guess she knew what she was talking
about after all.
I had already contracted with a publisher. They charged my
$3,000 and told me they would make my book a paperback and price it at $7.95.
When I contacted them and said I was ready to publish they told me I was
mistaken about the price. They told me that they were going to have to price it
at $24.95. I told them that no one would buy a 40 page children’s paperback for
that price. They said that was what they were going to price it at anyway. They
wouldn’t budge. Since it had been just over a year since I had signed the
contract they would not refund my money either.
I cried and prayed. Then I contacted Kim. She agreed that no
one would buy it. She told me to call a lady named Lisa Umina at Halo
Publishing. Just like Kim and Pam, Lisa
was also a wonderful Christian. She took me under her wing, guided me through
the process and ended up making my book a hardback with a jacket. Then she
priced it at $17.95. It turned out beautiful.
There were a lot of laughs and tears but I am thrilled with
what I ended up with.
I learned a lot of lessons, but none more important than
understanding how critical it is that I pray about everything in the whole
journey. What an experience this has been. I can't wait to do it all again with the next book.
No comments:
Post a Comment