How to Publish a Children's Book
This is an interesting and dynamic time in children’s book publishing, notes Susan Raab, president of Raab Associates. An industry consultant in the children’s book field, Raab’s company has a database of 18,000 names of national and specialized contacts interested in children's, teen and family books, apps and products.
The whole definition of “what is a book” is up for grabs, says Raab. “Books may start as a blog and evolve, for instance. The trend is multimedia/multifaceted. The TV, film, and entertainment industries are intrigued with properties in the children’s arena. The industry is changing a lot, partly because of the potential for reaching the youth market as a viable and dynamic consumer market. It’s seen as a very profitable area.”
Rabb talked about the evolving market in an interview with eHow.
eHow: What are the different ways to get a children’s book published?
Susan Raab: Someone may approach a publishing house, get their book accepted, and go through the traditional publishing process. But you also have people who do it themselves directly. Others may self-publish but hire freelance experts for editorial guidance, art direction and marketing. There are all kinds of resources people can turn to today.
Another thing we’re seeing is that people who in the past may have done a one-off book decide they want to be publishers to publish more of their own stuff and maybe even others’ books. The barriers to entry have changed so much. We have print on demand, for instance, instead of having to print large quantities. Also, authors are publishing in multiple platforms -- digital, hardcover, apps, toys, games -- using different formats for delivering their story.
I point people toward the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. It is an excellent source of information and support for both unpublished and published children’s book authors and illustrators. Susan Raab, president of Raab Associates
eHow: What is the process for contacting a publisher, or does the writer need an agent first?
SR: It is very difficult these days to find publishers who will allow over the transom or cold submissions. It is much more prevalent for people to go through an agent. Publishers are deluged with queries and want someone to pre-screen authors.
I point people toward the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. It is an excellent source of information and support for both unpublished and published children’s book authors and illustrators. For the cost of membership, you have access to all kinds of material they put out, including a guide to getting published, the different publishers of children’s books and what kinds of things they publish and the same for literary agents. That way you get a sense of where you might want to go. They have regional conferences and chapters all over the world. A lot of times people will form writing groups of both published and unpublished authors in which peers can help contact an editor. There are conferences where agents and editors are present as faculty, and people are able to do presentations to them; an editor may invite someone whose work they like to direct- submit to them.
eHow: Does the writer need to have an illustrator already or is that match made by the publisher, editor or agent?
SR: Most often a publisher prefers, unless the author is an illustrator, to decide who would be a good match for the author’s book. Let’s say you have a situation where the author is not known; the publisher might want to match the text with an illustrator who is known.
eHow: What are the elements of a good pitch for a children’s book?
SR: That’s something that you can find at the SCBWI site. But one of the things I tell people these days is when they approach a publisher or agent, they must focus not only on the book itself -- content, storyline, and quality -- but also on what the author can bring to the table in terms of market potential. They need to have a sense of what else is out there and why they think their book should have a place in the market. A publisher will also want to know who you know who can help with marketing, your contacts for endorsements maybe, what your marketing plan is and how you will promote the book.
