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How to Publish Your Children's Book
Published by Square One
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
It is the place where wizards live, forests are enchanted, and things are often not what they seem. It is also the home of editors, agents, marketers, and art directors. It is the world of children’s book publishing. Until the first edition of this book was released, it was one of the most confusing places for hopeful writers to navigate as well. Now, in response to a rapidly changing industry, award-winning writer Liza N. Burby has revised and updated this complete guide to making the right children’s book publisher say yes to your book for children or young adults.
This edition of How to Publish Your Children’s Book begins by helping you define your book’s category, audience, and marketplace so that you know exactly where your book “fits in.” You are then taught how to choose the best publishing companies for your book proposal, as well as coached in how to write a winning submission package. Then the Square One System tells you exactly how to submit your package so that you optimize your chance of success while minimizing your time, cost, and effort. Also included is a special section on contracts that will turn legalese into plain English, allowing you to be a savvy player in the publishing game. Most important, this book will help you avoid the most common errors that so often prevent writers from reaching their goal. Throughout each chapter, you will gain valuable insight into the typical thought processes of children’s book editors, agents, and publishers, as well as practical advice from popular children’s authors such as Jane Yolen and Johanna Hurwitz.
Whether you’re just thinking about writing a YA or children’s book, or are already a published author, you’re sure to find How to Publish Your Children’s Book a solid reference guide you can use time and time again.
This edition of How to Publish Your Children’s Book begins by helping you define your book’s category, audience, and marketplace so that you know exactly where your book “fits in.” You are then taught how to choose the best publishing companies for your book proposal, as well as coached in how to write a winning submission package. Then the Square One System tells you exactly how to submit your package so that you optimize your chance of success while minimizing your time, cost, and effort. Also included is a special section on contracts that will turn legalese into plain English, allowing you to be a savvy player in the publishing game. Most important, this book will help you avoid the most common errors that so often prevent writers from reaching their goal. Throughout each chapter, you will gain valuable insight into the typical thought processes of children’s book editors, agents, and publishers, as well as practical advice from popular children’s authors such as Jane Yolen and Johanna Hurwitz.
Whether you’re just thinking about writing a YA or children’s book, or are already a published author, you’re sure to find How to Publish Your Children’s Book a solid reference guide you can use time and time again.
Excerpt
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my family, Steve, Danielle, and Laura, without whose patience and love I would never meet a deadline. Also, to Rudy Shur, my publisher, for giving me the opportunity to revise this guide; to Joanne Abrams and Michael Weatherhead, my editors, for their insightful guidance; and to my agent, Grace Freedson, for making the match.
Numerous people answered my many questions while writing this book. They include authors Louise Borden, Marcia Byalick, Neil Gaiman, Johanna Hurwitz, Gail Carson Levine, Gae Polisner, Ann Rinaldi, Veronica Roth, and Hans Wilhelm; editors Susan Eddy at Mondo Publishing, Amy Griffen of Orchard Books, Rahel Lerner of Viz LLC, Hannah Ehrlich of Lee & Low, Laura Hornik and Lori Benton of Henry Holt, Phoebe Yeh of Harper, and Jodi Kreitzman of Knopf Delacourte Dell; as well as agents Danielle Burby of Nelson Literary Agency, Jenne Dunham of Dunham Agency, Tracey Adams of Adams Literary, Brianne Johnson of Writer’s House, and Tema Siegel. I would also like to thank children’s book editor Jill Jarnow for her careful review of the original book. I also received wonderful help from children’s librarians Janet Scherer and Lynn Vitters of the South Huntington Library.
Finally, I thank Laura Backes and Jon Bard for allowing me to draw from “In Their Own Words: The Best of CBI’s Interviews,” and reprint the words of authors Elizabeth-Ann Sachs, Jane Yolen, Dandi Daley Mackall, and Kathleen Duey.
Special thanks to my family, Steve, Danielle, and Laura, without whose patience and love I would never meet a deadline. Also, to Rudy Shur, my publisher, for giving me the opportunity to revise this guide; to Joanne Abrams and Michael Weatherhead, my editors, for their insightful guidance; and to my agent, Grace Freedson, for making the match.
Numerous people answered my many questions while writing this book. They include authors Louise Borden, Marcia Byalick, Neil Gaiman, Johanna Hurwitz, Gail Carson Levine, Gae Polisner, Ann Rinaldi, Veronica Roth, and Hans Wilhelm; editors Susan Eddy at Mondo Publishing, Amy Griffen of Orchard Books, Rahel Lerner of Viz LLC, Hannah Ehrlich of Lee & Low, Laura Hornik and Lori Benton of Henry Holt, Phoebe Yeh of Harper, and Jodi Kreitzman of Knopf Delacourte Dell; as well as agents Danielle Burby of Nelson Literary Agency, Jenne Dunham of Dunham Agency, Tracey Adams of Adams Literary, Brianne Johnson of Writer’s House, and Tema Siegel. I would also like to thank children’s book editor Jill Jarnow for her careful review of the original book. I also received wonderful help from children’s librarians Janet Scherer and Lynn Vitters of the South Huntington Library.
Finally, I thank Laura Backes and Jon Bard for allowing me to draw from “In Their Own Words: The Best of CBI’s Interviews,” and reprint the words of authors Elizabeth-Ann Sachs, Jane Yolen, Dandi Daley Mackall, and Kathleen Duey.
Product Details
- Publisher: Square One (July 3, 2020)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9780757054099
Raves and Reviews
"Whether you are aspiring to write a YA or children's book, or are already a published children's book author, the novice and the seasoned professional will find How to Publish Your Children's Booka solid reference guide that will prove to be an invaluable, practical, and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional reference, making it especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference and resource collections."
– Mary Cowper, reviewer ("Cowper's Bookshelf"), Midwest Book Review ("MBR Bookwatch")
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