Getting your children's book published
May 6, 2010 • 7 Comments • Posted in Beth Finke, book tour, Uncategorized, visiting schools, Writing for ChildrenWanna write a children’s book? Know someone who does? Seems like just about every person who reads aloud to a little kid considers, “Gee, maybe I could write one of these someday.”
If you’re one of those people, here’s your chance to find out how it’s done! On Wednesday I’m doing a presentation in Champaign, IL along with two other authors about the nuts and bolts of writing and publishing books for children.We chose this particular Wednesday afternoon because it happens to be one of those shortened days at Champaign schools (they get out at noon) and we thought a lot of teachers and staff members might want to come. Hanni and I will spend Wednesday morning visiting our great nephew Kieran’s classroom at Westview Elementary in Champaign, then off to Jane Addams Bookshop for the afternoon presentation.
The two authors I’m appearing with are a bit more accomplished than I am when it comes to writing for children. Alice B. McGinty has had 40, count them, 40, fiction and non-fiction children’s books published. Her latest, Darwin, is illustrated by Mary Azarian, Caldecott Medal winner for Snowflake Bently. Sara Latta has had dozens of children’s books about science and medicine published. The Good, the Bad, the Slimy: The Secret Life of Microbes and Lava Scientist: Careers on the Edge of Volcanoes are two of my favorite titles.
I see my role Wednesday as representing the person who doesn’t see children’s book writing as a career, maybe, but has an idea for a story they think might sell. I’ll talk about how I thought through my idea, wrote a rough draft, revised the rough draft, researched the market to figure out where to send it out, revised the rough draft, piled up rejection letters, revised the rough draft and finally, finally found a publisher.
I guess what I’m saying here is that Alice and Sarah have a lot more experience (and many more books published!) than I do, so they’ll be able to speak more on making a career of writing children’s books, working with agents and/or different publishers, that sort of thing. We’ll make a good team, I’m sure of that! We’ll all be available afterwards, too, to sign books for anyone interested. If you live anywhere near Champaign, I hope you’ll come:
May 12 (Wednesday), 1 p.m.
Jane Addams Bookshop
How to Get a Children’s Book Published
Panel discussion with fellow children’s book authors Alice McGinty and Sara Latta
208 North Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820-4013
217.356.2555
www.janeaddamsbooks.com