Because I've been last blogging about my picture book's publication, I thought I should update.

The original aim was to have it out on the market by Christmas this year....  But now that we've gotten to the point of the final illustrations, there have been some hurdles to overcome with the publishing process.  Andrew (the artist) and I are looking for a new publisher. 
 
Our publisher was so new and not yet established enough.  He wanted us to do all of the prepress work, including high resolution drum scans of the images in correct layout and size, adding in the text, and sending it printer-ready on a disc.  (Things the publisher normally does.)  This would cost us thousands- one drum scan at our picture size could range between $40-$200....for only ONE picture.  The publisher would have covered publication, printing, advertising, marketing, shipping, etc.  But we do not have the funds or experience to do half of the process ourselves. 
 
He would have given us a fairly high royalty rate for the extra work, but that doesn't matter.  With his market still being small, we weren't even sure if we'd sell enough copies to pay ourselves back...let alone make profit.  There was no contract, yet, so legally we're fine.  And my story has a registered copyright. 

We parted as friends with the publisher and understand our positions, so although we aren't the right match, at least there is potential for both of our success in the future.  Andrew's right when he says we have to do this right.  It would've been horrible to lose money on the book just because it wasn't done in a favorable way! 
 
While Andrew and I have our book on hold, we're working on a 2nd picture book project that we think might be a better debut as an author-illustrator team.  It's catchier, and rhymes animals with their environments.  If a publisher likes our style, we might have a chance at submitting the other story-with-art to them too. 
 
Thanks again for your support and being excited about the book.  It will get published- there's just a bit of a delay right now.  I will keep you posted with news of another publisher accepting our books.  :)

Hope you're enjoying the spring!

^^^^NEWS^^^^

I'M GETTING MY FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED!!!!!!!

It's been quite a month of holding-my-breath-expectations and joy that can still, at times, seem unreal!  God works in mysterious ways.  There's a small publisher in VT who works with Adam's step-dad's printing company...and that same publisher was interested in seeing my picture book manuscript.  After I mailed it, I got a call from him the following week, asking me to revise it with page breaks!  It's really been a nice experience working with a small publisher, because it's more oneo-on-one, and I get to give my input.   Right now, the process is at the stage of finding/deciding on the right artist for the job.  I should know within this week.  Since this is my first peek into the book publishing world, I'm not sure how long it normally takes an illustrator to draw 32 pictures, or what the printing actually entails, but it's all a step at a time and I'm loving each one!

The publisher works with book stores nationwide, like Borders, for one.  I'm not certain if I'll work on more book projects with him in the future, but I would like to have a regular publisher one day instead of submitting all over the place.  I have more picture book ideas in various stages, plus some chapter books- I don't know if he publishes those.  I'm busy, but truly happy when I think of my book on the book stores' shelves. 

I'll post more details about the book itself and the publication dates as I find them out.  For now, I hope you're having an awesome ending of summer!

Don't ever give up on your dreams.  It's not ALWAYS fun- but in the end, it is so worth it. 

~ No matter what, my hope and trust is in the Lord. 
God sends guideposts, even when we might not have chosen change on our own.
Jesus loves me.  He loves me--and you--so much, He'd die for me/you again.
The only true love is the love of Christ.  Any other form of it in this world will only catch a mere shard of its fullness.

~ A heart may feel as easily broken as if it were made of glass...
But, that's where the One steps in Who turns hearts of stone into flesh.
There are so many bigger things going on in this turning world other than the breakup of Melissa.

~ For the second time, a satirical little music video has come to my attention, which almost comically sings how 2 roosters can't lay an egg.  While I don't have a problem with its message, I do have a problem with its method of delivery.  Here's why.