ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

A friend of mine spent the first 100 days of the COVID lockdown creating scenarios in her front yard with her 2 giant teddy bears. (I'm attaching a photo so you have an idea.) Every day was a new scenario and she created quite a social media stir with them; her sole intent was to create some calm in the midst of all the chaos. I made a book for her, using Costco, and she loved my format. Concurrently, she has been thinking of publishing a book of the bears and their antics to sell and asked me if I would help with the technical side of things. She's thinking along the lines of a children's book. Any proceeds will go to Children's Hospital.

We've found two publishers that might provide some tools to guide us through the process: Book Baby and Morris Publishing.

My questions to this community are whether you are familiar with either of these publishers, if so, do you have opinions about either or both, and what others might you recommend for us - we are both newbies at this!

Thanks in advance!

(Download)

captivecookie Loc: Washington state

Don't know, sorry, but can't pass without applauding the photo. I think it would sell.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...you did a search (Google or ?), right? I just did and Morris wins. ;0)

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I used Amazon to self-publish. Very easy.

fjdarling Loc: Mesa, Arizona, USA

Cute photo. Good luck with the book!

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

I've been involved with publishing for 48 years, so if you have any questions about layout, etc., I can probably help. Most people who try to self-publish miss some major things, like bleed, crop marks, etc.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi ChrisKet,
My wife and I have been in publishing for more than 30 years. During that time we've written magazine articles and books for Morris (as well as others). They are great in all of our dealings with them. We've never dealt with Baby Books. TIP: If you decide to go with a brick-and-mortar publisher like Morris, be sure your contract includes a period of time (usually 10 years) after which you get the first right of refusal to regain control of your manuscript.

Self publishing: Several years ago the publishing industry changed and for us we found it more profitable to self publish through Amazon. We've published a dozen or so books with them over the last 5 years and have been quite satisfied with them - the royalty check shows up every month as stead as clockwork. Regarding the ins and outs of self publishing: We've published a book called the Self Publishing Encyclopedia that's available at Amazon (type the book's name in their search engine). It covers video (YouTube), aBooks (audio), pBooks (print), eBooks (Kindle), layout for each type of book and the publishing process for each. Good luck with your venture. We have enjoyed a fun ride and hope you will as well. Take care & ...

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

We’ve got lots more, she did this for 100 days! Thanks!

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

I did (using or ?) but was just wondering if anyone here had personal experiences...

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

Thank you! Should be a fun journey...we’ve got lots of those cute photos.

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

Thanks for the offer, don’t be surprised if I contact you.

ChrisKet Loc: Orange, CA

Great info! Thanks for the reply, Al!

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

How exciting! And where the heck did you get the land speeder?? I want one!

profbowman Loc: Harrisonburg, VA, USA

I have experience with publishing two books so far with another one mailed and one in the hopper. I have published a number of magazine articles. Here is my Amazon author page.
https://www.amazon.com/Richard-L-Bowman/e/B084HJ2L7Z/

From my experience, there are two issues to consider.

1. Unless you become well known, it will be difficult to earn any significant money. The two persons who have been in publishing for several decades who responded here might say otherwise, but the market is full of books hoping to be bought. And marketing is very difficult. I have tried our local bookstores but they are parts of chains and all decisions are made in the corporate office. Getting the corporate persons to review a book is very difficult. The paperwork and costs seem designed to limit the number of books they have to review.

2. Self-publishing can be a way to spend money that you might not get back if you are looking to have hardback books or at least quality paperbacks. If you go to my Amazon author page, you can see that my cartoon book was self-published as an e-book through Amazon. But most of the 100 or more books sold have been given away during the free-marketing days.. The other book published through Wipf and Stock late last year, has been caught by the pandemic. The two church retreats and presentations I had set up have been cancelled. And of the four or five persons whom I know personally who self-published a book, none of us have really made money on our books.

So, just know what you are getting into and how much money if any you will have to pay upfront or on the way. Printing color pictures/artwork will make a book much much more expensive for you or a publisher to publish.

You might want to check into having a local photocopier print your book basically a few copies at a time--almost on-demand publishing. Or check Snapfish. Costco, Walmart, Shutterfly, etc. to see what their photo books cost and if you can put text on/above/or below the picture.

I am an author and will probably always have something out to a publisher. Right now I do have a children's number book out to a publisher, but I am not holding my breathe while I think they mgiht accept it for publishing. --Richard