Sitemap Pages audio interviews childrens-book-publicity background testimonials Work we have done How we work clients contact us Homepage services products an-authors-guide-to-childrens-book-promotion to market advice Advertising and Promotion Join Irene Smalls and Literacise Can you recommend a company that can produce create full-color bookmarks at an economical price? Getting your books represented at conferences without incurring huge costs. How can I get a speaking spot at teacher or library conventions? I have published some wonderful Mandarin materials and wish to promote the books to English-speaking countries. Can you help me? I’m a first time author of YA fiction novels. I published my first book just last year through a print-on-demand publisher. I wanta more detailed marketing plan than the one my publisher offers. They just send releases to TV, radio, and newspapers. Public Speaking Primer QR Codes, MVS, NFC and customer engagement The New Marketing Model Welcoming the Cybils Awards Author Website Guide Editorial Can I purchase photos off the internet to use for illustrations? FEATURE TOPIC: Finding and keeping your dream literary agent How can a writer determine whether royalty or purchase (possibly with advance) will prove most advantageous? I am doing a non-fiction book for children and wish to know how to go about getting permission to use old photographs and quotes. Do I need permission in writing? I am interested in finding for-hire writing assignments. How do I get started? I discovered that a Science Fiction editor and translator share my name. Should I consider this when writing in the children’s trade book industry, or are the genres diverse enough for me to use my legal name? I have drafted several picture book stories using the same character. Should I submit multiple manuscripts, or do I submit only one manuscript (perhaps with a mention of other stories for a series)? I have written an adaptation of a popular Jewish folktale. Should I send it to general publishers first and if it is rejected, then go to Jewish publishers, or should I send it simultaneously to both? I realize that if I want to use song lyrics in my writing (a novel) I will need permission, but does the same go for mentioning Aunt Jemima pancake mix or Air Jordan sneakers? I signed a contract with my publisher and am overdue on receiving my first payment, which should have been received within a 45-day period. I’d like to know if they’re in breach of contract and how I should proceed. I write for adults as well as children and I’d like to keep these very separate by using a pen name for my adult writing. What are the legalities and financial implications of that? I’ve written a practically wordless children’s picture book manuscript that I want to submit to publishers. Since I cannot illustrate the few words of text it contains, can you please tell me the professionally appropriate way to submit my manuscript? Several of my book submissions were never acknowledged or returned, and I have sent letters withdrawing my work from consideration. Is this sufficient to protect me legally? As a writer of children’s poetry, I’d welcome the opportunity to submit writing samples to anthologists. How can I find out who is in the process of preparing children’s poetry anthologies and would accept writing samples? Can I take a well-known person’s name (living or non-living) and invent a take-off on that name? Can I take these actual events and write them into story form, or am I infringing on someone’s rights? Do I need to get permission, or to pay, for mentioning song titles and recording artists in my book? Do you have any advice, for authors looking to acquire an agent? Do you know of any children’s publishers who use photography in picture books? How can I get a new publisher to look at my book after it went out of print? How do I determine how much to pay an illustrator; or should I leave the illustrations to a potential publisher? How do I find an agent interested in representing stories in verse? How do I find out the postal rate for countries I would like to send query letters or manuscripts to? How important is it to have a literary agent? How would a young writer publish a book they have been working on? I am using old Christmas cards to illustrate a children’s book. How do I trace an illustrator if the card is only marked U.S.A. or is a company that may be out of business now. What are the copyright laws for using greeting card art? I am writing a novel that is set in a real place. All of the characters and events are fictional. However, I do refer to an actual event and the actual person in the event is still alive somewhere. I have written a young adult novel with a historical background of the Catholic faith in Japan and am trying to identify publishers who might be interested. I have written six children’s poetry books, each based on a particular theme. I am ready to submit to editors and agents. What’s the best way to proceed? Is it customary when an agent represents an author to obtain the author’s social security number so that a separate bank account can be set up for the author? Is it necessary to get a literary agent to represent one’s work if one has not been published yet? Is the Trend of Books in Verse Finished? Selling a story as a picture book if it had already been published in a magazine What are copyright rules regarding using traditional tales for books? What is the appropriate grade of paper to use for submitting manuscripts? General A Publishing Revolution FEATURE TOPIC: Expert Tips for Author Visits FEATURE TOPIC: Musing on Manners I am looking for Halloween plays for fifth graders. Where would you suggest I look? I’m a member of SCBWI and am entering the Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel. Can you tell me how many entries they usually receive and how they judge them? If you’d like to read further to learn more about other parts of the industry, it’s helpful to know about the trade and specialty media that cover various aspects of the field. Would publishers consider publishing a “school version” of a book that has unacceptable swear words? Archiving Your Work: What You Should Know Now Can I write unpaid speeches off on my taxes? Can you recommend a non-paid literary agent for a story I’d like to market? Connecting with The Eric Carle Museum Do you have any hints as to what authors charge for a visit to schools? I am thinking of developing this and wish to know the usual rates FEATURE TOPIC: A Conversation with Susan Patron FEATURE TOPIC: Discussion of the Library Market in 2004 FEATURE TOPIC: Remembering Paula Danziger Getting Audiences to Tune in How does a publicist’s role fit with an agent’s or editor’s? How important are awards in ensuring the success of a book? I have been notified that I am a semi-finalist in a poetry contest sponsored by Poetry.com (The International Library of Poetry). Do you have information about them? IF Book A Think Tank Explores the Future of the Book Is “marketing” a dirty word? Is children’s book marketing different from adult book marketing? Meet Children’s Lit Ambassador Jon Scieszka & Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman One reader’s success story Pew Research Study: Digital Technologies critical to the spread of the arts Taking Sides in the Google Book Settlement Trend Spotting Upbeat Bologna Whats the best way to promote young adult fiction Where can I find professional help with contract negotiations, if I want to continue to be my own agent? Learning the ropes of PR 1000 Ways to Promote Yourself and Your Books About Time and Social Media Are childrens radio shows willing to promote childrens books Are there legal problems with offering a free signed copy of my book in a contest on my web site Committing to social media Do I need publisher permission to make my books cover art available as an e-card on my web site Do mass mailings really do any good FEATURE TOPIC PR from the adult point of view GETTING TO KNOW Julie Just Childrens Books Editor for the New York Times Book Review GETTING TO KNOW: NYT Children’s Book Editor Sarah Harrison Smith How can authors who live in large cities get local media coverage How can I promote a controversial book on TV and radio How important are school visits How should I handle a book that has a dark theme How should I prepare to do storytelling at a library Howd you say that I was surprised and disappointed to learn that the publisher of a recent nonfiction title that I illustrated never submitted it to the traditional reviewers What can be done at this point to let bookstores libraries and schools know about the book Is it necessary to send a press kit when pitching a story to the media Is there a list of all the months or days that have special designations that might fit a books theme RIP for the press release – not so fast Should authors keep their own mailing list of contacts Should I look for a specialized publicity agency to promote a book with a regional focus Should I send producers audio and videotapes of interviews Ive done Speculating on the News What can authors do to promote their books on-line What can be done to publicize a board book What can I do to prepare for a local talk radio show interview What information do I need on my mailing list What rules of etiquette should I follow to ask for blurbs from other authors What should I be doing to promote my new books that focus on Latino heritage What should I look for in selecting a PR agency Whats in a press kit Whats the best way to prepare for television interviews Whats the state of the news today and how does it affect authors and illustrators Will reviewers review original paperbacks Niche Marketing Can you provide information on the marketing and development of children’s coloring books? Can you suggest niche markets for selling rhymed verse? Do you have any tips/ guidelines for Caribbean authors to access the millions of West Indian immigrants and their families now living in North America? FEATURE TOPIC: Recommendations for authors and illustrators of books about Africa How can I market a book and audio tape package? How can I market a book to the U.S. Government Printing Office? How can I market a cartoon script or art to Disney, and others? How can I place excerpts of my books in magazines? How can I promote a special program promoting my western-themed book to schools? How can I reach the homeschool market? How do books get submitted for awards? I have a middle-school novel being published and readers have commented that it would be good for a movie or after-school special. How would I go about pursuing that? Who would I approach? I have a Native American recipe book from tribes in the USA. To market to foreign countries would the book have to be translated into foreign languages? I wish to market three chess books I’ve written as a set. Can you direct me to good lists of media and other specialty organizations in this area? I would like to sell autographed copies of my books at a story hour I’m doing at a children’s hospital. What would be the “proper” way to handle this so as not to appear too “commercial”? I’m looking for someone who could represent my workshop programs to schools and libraries? I’ve adapted several folktales which have done very well. They have been translated and recorded on two records, and every time I read it somewhere, a child has dramatized it with a drama class. Is there some way I can pursue it becoming a short film? Is it appropriate to market and publicize my own work? I’m turning in my first fiction work, a young adult coming of age book, featuring Latina protagonists in the world of magic. What should I be doing beyond what the publisher has planned? Kids, Books and a Little Vaudeville My book will be marketed exclusively to schools and libraries. Is there any point in doing book signings, since the public won’t be able to buy it? STORYCUB.ORG: Taking Your Picture Book To Kids Worldwide What can associations do to help promote children’s books? What can I do to help market a children’s play that is based on one of my picture books? When do books benefit from niche marketing? How much time should be spent exploring this area? Where can I obtain U.S. school curricula for children, so I know so I know what topics are being covered at certain age levels? Sales Are author appearances at bookstores are beneficial? I have a novelty item that would be a great seller in book stores. I see novelty items in book stores all the time. Can you give me any advice on how to approach bookstore owners with this type of product? I have written several stories that would be suitable for publication either as picture book texts or as short stories in magazines. Would it hurt my chances of selling a story as a picture book if it had already been published in a magazine? I wrote a children’s musical based on events in a book. What can I do to find a market for distribution of the book/musical to a wider audience? Is 20,000 copy sales of a picture book considered “good” lifetime sales? Bookseller Survey How can I get books to students, without being a book salesman? How can I get store invitations to speak or do signings? How can I help ensure that my school visits go smoothly? How can I sell my books to preschools? How do I find out what my book’s sales numbers are? Should I ask my publisher or is there an online site that would show sales? How much can an author influence hardcover book sales of a novel? I would like to know if “List Price” on Amazon.com is the same as the publisher’s price, and whether the lower “Our Price” amount means the author will receive a smaller royalty. I’m looking for a source to recommend on my website for buying books. Is there one you’d suggest? I’ve adapted several folktales and every time I read them somewhere, a child has dramatized it with a drama class. Is there some way I can pursue it becoming a short film? Is it appropriate to schedule book signings at bookstores in the same town? If so, what is the time frame for scheduling them? Is it permissible to ask bookstores about other book events in their area such as book fairs, festivals, etc., or do they consider this competition? Should authors try to sell their books in bulk? We are publishing a children’s picture book that is exquisitely illustrated with award-winning pressed flower art. A major corporation is considering using our book as a sales tool to demonstrate the printing capabilities of a digital printing machine. What are my prospects for foreign sales? What can I do to help my booksignings go smoothly? What should the price mark up be to sell a book to retailers? What supplies should I ask bookstores and schools to provide for signings? Self Publishing Do first time authors need to spend money to get their book published How can I find out which subsidy publishers are reputable How can I market a self-published bilingual English Spanish picture book How do authors get comfortable with the idea of self-promoting How do I find publishers interested in publishing books in Spanish How should I proceed with republishing my out-of-print books I have a childrens picture book scheduled for publication but Im not keen on the publishers time-scale for production Do you think I should consider self-publishing Making Hay out of Snow in Texas Should I consider self-publishing my backlist books that go out of print Someone else is self-publishing a first book that she has written and has asked me to illustrate it What types of financial and rights terms would be reasonable for me to negotiate for Who owns the rights to a character the author illustrator or publisher Tools of the Trade Are there on-line discussion groups of childrens book writers What conventions are important for an author to attend What reference books can you recommend for authors and illustrators Working With Publishers A publisher who decided not to publish two of my books had acquired ISBN numbers for them. If I inform possible publishers of this matter, will they shy away from these two manuscripts because of what this publisher did? Do publishers object to having authors promote their own books? How many units would impress the publisher? Should I let my publisher’s promotion person know about school & library appearances I arrange myself? Are publishers open to republishing books that have gone out of print? Can I contact mail order catalogues directly to promote my books? Do publishers set up bookstore signings and school visits? Do well-known authors get precedence over others for school bookings? How can I find out which awards my publisher has submitted my book for? How can I get my publisher to do a biographical brochure for me? How can I get the publicist at my publishing house to do more? How important is jacket copy? How long does it take to reprint a book? I would like to sell books at appearances. Do I have to pay in advance? I’ve sold first rights to an article in 1999, and it’s still not been published. When I last spoke with the company’s new editor in 2001, he said he might never publish it. How can I exercise my reprint rights? If a manuscript comes back from a editor with a personal note saying she really liked it but that it doesn’t fit into current marketing plans, is it appropriate to send it again if the editor moves to a new publishing house… My book is published by a small press that only prints a limited number of copies. What can I do to help further my sales? Should authors try to sell their books in bulk? Who handles this at the publishing house? Should I look for a new illustrator for my rights-reverted picture book before submitting to other publishers? What are my obligations to a former literary agent? What do publishers and authors do to promote books that appeal both to children and adults? What should I say in my query letter to find a new publisher? Who in America would publish a book about England? Who makes the decision for a book character to be licensed? Will a publisher do less for a book when an author actively markets it? Will changing publishing houses affect the marketing of my books? Will my publisher be offended if I take a character to another house after they rejected a book about that character?