So Tom and I have been hard at work on our first children's book (fingers crossed!) and the first draft is almost complete (all 52 pages or so eek!) Feeling the need for a little giveaway celebration! This one I'm limiting to anything I can fit in a standard envelope- think dancing cat cards, bookmarks and maybe a couple new strawberry designs ;) A lot of love in one small package! If you'd like to enter leave a comment below (maybe offering some sort of suggestion on how to get published! double eek!) and the winner will be announced next Wed!
Ciao!
very exciting ~ love your cats. not sure about the book publishing world but an author friend says an agent is a great idea.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway :)
Awesome! I hope you get your book published. I can't offer much help except for sending good vibes :D
ReplyDeleteI love your cats, they always make me smile.
I just love your cats - they are such a joy! I don't know anything about how to get published, but I would like nothing better than to buy your book for my little girl. I know the illustrations would be adorable!
ReplyDeleteThe kitties are adorable! Sounds like it's gonna be a great book. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou do not know me, but I am a fan of yours cats! I am a graphic designer and if you need help setting up the layout for the book, I could do that!
ReplyDeleteI am more of a dog person, but your cats make me consider getting one :)
Best wishes!
your work is going to make a wonderful book for us big kids, too! i have no advice other than i bet if you google 'getting your book published' you'll find lots of info, assuming you haven't done that already :).
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I have a 3 year old who loves to read, can't wait to see the finished product. And what a great way to celebrate with a giveaway.
ReplyDeleteme-ow
ReplyDeleteme-ow
me-ow
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I just couldn't resist. Love your cats!! As for advice - I actually asked Cal Patch for some advice on today's interview ... here's a little snippet "I think the best way to get a book deal is to start by having a blog; this is how my editor found me. You can think of it like a sample of your writing, and you will be developing a following so that your book will have a fan base before it even comes out!"
ReplyDeleteYour book will be awesome!
Very cute, I'd like to enter the giveaway, and I'll plug it at my blog, (left side of my blog).
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your book :)
love you art!
ReplyDeletegood luck w/ your children's book :)))
What about self-publishing?
ReplyDeleteCount me in for the love package :-)
Contact:librosfera(at)gmail(dot)com
Uri Shulevitz's book "Writing with Pictures" is fantastic even though it's quite old now and the industry has consolidated significantly. I study children's literature, and I think one of the big mistakes that can be made is to think of the words and pictures as "saying the same thing" rather than communicating complementary information that combines synergistically. Your drawings convey so much - let the verbal text do a different job. Shulevitz talks about this much more eloquently than me. Good luck with the publishing quest!!
ReplyDeletehow excting a children's book. I can't wait to hear more about it. Sorry I don't have much advice to pass your way, but I can be your best cheerleader! Have a golden weekend! xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh! Yey! I'm so excited to see it. I've heard about self-publising and I can ask a family friend more if you'd like. She edits a number of books for self publishing. Have a great weekend, Jamie!
ReplyDeletegood luck on the book, that's so exciting! Your cats must be dancing for joy!
ReplyDeleteWish you luck!
ReplyDeleteYour cats are so fun. I'm throwing my hat in the ring for a chance.
ReplyDeleteI have a cat , I have a cat named Tom,
ReplyDeleteTom is a very wise cat. Tom is very smart. He knows he can sit behind me and just look at my head and I can read his thoughts. Or is it he puts his thoughts in my head?
Cats are the best people.
Thanks for the giveaway mush success to you
Majeral
totally cute.
ReplyDeletelove these.
try local stores.
maybe arrange for the stores to put your things on the shelves, that creates some buzz worthy attention!
Thanks for the giveaway! Your illustrations are adorable.
ReplyDeletei actually do have a contact! my friend works in the children's books division of random house, i believe.
ReplyDeleteadorable drawings!
sweet! :)
ReplyDeleteMy friend told me that if you say they {the publisher} will have exclusive rights for the book, then it's more of an incentive for them... just don't mass produce that offer. Only give it to one publisher at a time with a deadline to decide, then move on. Also, give them as close as possible an original, meaning all artwork not just cover work. You probably know this already but hope it helps!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had some useful advice for you, but I don't know anything about publishing, so I'll just wish you luck instead! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your book!
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I can think of it to simply be persistent, and be determined. Good luck! :)
The only publishing I know about is blurb.com, which I use frequently! But I think you're looking for something different. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I lovelovelove cats!
This might not be the most money-making idea but Cheerios sponsors an annual contest for childrens' books and publishes them via Simon and Schuster, so it could be a good "in":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/registration_form/
oh nice...
ReplyDeleteI self-published a book of mine with blurb.com but have since sent it to a publisher... who told me it wasn't their bag even though they "loved it". I am sure you will find your way, perseverance, and an agent might help.
What lovely kitties!! Best of luck with the publishing!
ReplyDeleteWow, those cats are hilarious! All the best for the book:)
ReplyDeletethese look lovely
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you! The cats are simply cute.
ReplyDeleteThe best resource for children's book publishing is Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. (http://www.cwim.com/)
ReplyDeleteIt includes likes of publishers with contact info and tips, as well as tons of articles about the industry and how to break in.
Good Luck!
How fun! Perhaps sending a bunch of letters to publishers? Maybe with a sample spread of the book? Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for you! Adorable kitties.
ReplyDeletelove your work! my kitties are big fans, too.
ReplyDeletelovely items!
ReplyDeleteaschertle at yahoo dot com
oh my goodness.... the window kitties are just too cute. and too true.
ReplyDelete:0) lovely!
ReplyDeleteSelf-publishing is the way to go: lulu.com and blurb.com. I think that chapters.com has something, too (but don't quote me on that ;0)
You can also do simple ones (b/w insides) on cafepress.com.
Good luck!
Cheryl
they look so lovely! :)
ReplyDeletea book will be awesome...dancing cats make my heat sing...
ReplyDeletehey just catching up! congratulations! that's fantastic news!!!
ReplyDeleteoxoxo,
deb
oops and how to get published...try it the old fashioned way...make an awesome pitch to the publisher you want...(and osme second and third choices as well) tell them about your blog and about your all around cool human being-ness...
ReplyDeletehow can they not love you? they might tell you to get an agent in which you can ask them who they'd recommend---that's what i'd say?!
woohoo!
I had a client who made a cook book and went to one of the smaller presses. These books sell on a rack and are about 6x4 is size . She made over $10,000 on this. At first she did not want to do it because they were only going to pay her $1.50 a copy. I told her you not doing anything else for the book they are. When the checks came in she was happy.http://www.ehow.com/Search.aspx?s=how+to+get+a+book+pulbished&Options=0 try this site.
ReplyDeletefor great advice on getting published
ReplyDeletecheck out the following:
http://www.scbwi.org
http://www.underdown.org/
http://www.yellapalooza.com/tutorials/tutorials.html
http://www.verlakay.com/pgartistwriter2.html
and the book "Children's Writers and Illustrators Marketplace"
Good luck with the cats!
I got a good friend who loves cats .. it could be superb!
ReplyDeleteMy only advice: pursue pursue pursue! Your drawings are so adorable. I have three cats who never cease to make me giggle.
ReplyDeleteohhhhh...do i squeek in before the deadline???
ReplyDeletei am thrilled to hear you're working on a children's book. i'll be first in line to buy it.
xo
I love your cats, and I will certainly buy your book! Good luck with finding a publisher.
ReplyDeleteI'm skidding in by the skin of my teeth here
ReplyDeletecraaaaaaassshhhhhhhhh...am i too late?
Ok. I make books. But I'm an ocean or two away from you but it would be great to have it bound in the way you imagine it as a book and tout that round to the publishers. I could do it for sure.
But maybe there is someone {not quite} like me where you live?
AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about publishing, but I LOVE your cats!
ReplyDeleteFirst, congratulations on committing to create a children's book! It is a wonderful process.
ReplyDeleteI love your cats, such lovely simplicity. I have not had a pet for some time now, having had to put my own lovely Stephanie (siamese) down after 14 years of companionship. She was my best friend in rough times and my beloved confidant. I miss her still. I know she is with me when I need her most, though; ever the warm spot in my chair.
On getting published...
Developing a following through a blog is a definite plus. You could sell a small book of sketches, facial studies, things that lead up to the book on Etsy with information about the upcoming book in it and on the site. Self-publishing is an option as well as finding an agent. I plan to self-publish a few personal copies for myself that I can mail out to agents. You will want to write a good query first though; I have an agents resource guide. Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss other ideas. I run a writer's group locally and am working on a children's book (agent), two art books (self publish) and two novels (agent) currently. I also do book/cover layout.
Regardless, good luck and you have one sale here when it is published!
Oh and, just FYI, I found you via Amy Ng's Pikaland site. :)
Brightest blessings!
Ria :)
...please where can I buy a unicorn?
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