anyone here ever written a book

[luvmyfam444]

& had it published?

I wrote a kids book YEARS ago that a teacher told me I should have published---she might not have really meant it - she might have been beign nice...

BUT anyway it still makes me wonder if I should pursue it = I know it can be expensive & all that....but just curious if someone has been down the path??

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I wrote a children's book that will be published this June. The picture in my signature is the cover art. The only expense I had was the writing course I enrolled in. Having a book published shouldn't cost you a thing, unless you go the self-publishing route. Well, besides the price of stamps to mail the signed contract back to the publisher!

Make sure your book is as good as you can get it and then find a publishing house. Search the web and you'll find lots of places to submit to. You can also send me a PM and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have, as best I can.

Good luck.

David

 

[arkansas mom]

That is so cool, DukeStreetKing! That's something I've always wanted to do. And between you and me, I know I could. Do you have a favorite website for those trying to find a starting point? I've had dozens and dozens bookmarked, but just feel so overwhelmed with everything!

 

[Dismom+two]

Writing a book is one of my goals in life. I actually want to write a book or publish a coffeetable book with my photography. If I were to do the photos....I'm not sure what I want my topic to be.

 

[arkansas mom]

Disney World!!!!!!!!!

 

[GoofyDad869]

That's awesome, DukeStreetKing

It's something I've always wanted to do. My area of interest is definitely not mainstream or self-supportive except at the very highest, true academic levels. I love alternate military history, in the World War 1 & World War 2 timeframes. Most people glaze over at this sort of thing, but I find it fascinating.

Like:
What if The Battle of Britain had been a British loss? (rather than a battle of attrition that the Germans ultimately lost IRL)
or
What if the Enola Gay had been shot down, crew and bomb captured, and the Japanese had retrieved (and used) the Little Boy bomb on a U.S.-controlled target like Iwo Jima, Okinawa or Tinian? (The Enola Gay B-29 bomber flew from the massive Tinian airbase and dropped the Little Boy bomb on Hiroshima IRL)

I think for me it'd have to be the vanity press type thing. I'm not an academic and don't have the intelligence, patience, desire, or financial ability for that sort of lifestyle. I don't have a clue in how to get published either. Probably a pipe dream for me.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Dukestreetking..

OH GREAT for you!!!! AWESOME!!!
Have a couple questions - but since others were interested I decided not to pm you....
How long did the process take for you to get the manuscript submitted & then approved? How many publishing houses did you send it to? How were the rejections - did you have to rewrite parts of the book to get it to their liking?

I always thought (wrong I see) that it cost $ to submit your work....AND then the last time I checked into noone was taking work that hadn't been

Tell me about the illustaration - don't they choose who doest that work?? the book I wrote was for a class in college & so I had it illustrated by my mother (an artist) so of course that's the only way I can "see" this book...did they catch your vision with the illustrations (by the cover it looks like amazing artwork) but there is some UGLY artwork out there in books (obviously SOMEONE like it.....) & it would be so disapointing to hate the artwork they put with it---- KWIM????

HOw much did they allow you to choose?

I would also love to know what sites/course you took - any info you can share!

THANKS!
NOW I"M EXCITED!!! MAYBE there is hope - if it doesn't cost a fortune---I'm gonna dig that book out & read it again! (it's been years since I've read it!)

 

[arkansas mom]

I'm feeling motivated myself! But drats! I have got to get away from this computer and get some stuff done!
Keep the dream alive, kids!
I'll check on your progress later.

 

[Sparx]

I would love to write a book. I took an aptitude test recently and it said that I should be an artist, photographer, or an author. I would love to do any of those.

DukeStreetKing, I think I've seen your book in stores. It looks very very familiar. Its awesome that you've been published.

Good luck with whatever you do, OP.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

luvmyfam444,

Hope this helps:

---------------------------------
Have a couple questions - but since others were interested I decided not to pm you....


Q: How long did the process take for you to get the manuscript submitted & then approved?

A: I submitted the manuscript in February, 2005 and I heard back from the publisher in early March with their initial acceptance. For this pub house, their next step was to read the story to a group of children to gauge their reaction. After a favorable review from these experts, LOL, the pub house gave me the good news and sent a contract and a monetary advance.

Q: How many publishing houses did you send it to?

A: Well, I am the exception to the rule regarding this. I sent my manuscript to only one publisher and it was accepted on the first try.

Q: How were the rejections - did you have to rewrite parts of the book to get it to their liking?

A: Can’t help here, I got lucky. See above.

I always thought (wrong I see) that it cost $ to submit your work....AND then the last time I checked into noone was taking work that hadn't been

Q: Tell me about the illustaration - don't they choose who doest that work?? the book I wrote was for a class in college & so I had it illustrated by my mother (an artist) so of course that's the only way I can "see" this book...

A: The pub house found an illustrator for my manuscript. I am not very artistic regarding illustrations so this worked out much better. Some publishers prefer to hire their own illustrators. The woman who is providing my illustrations is awesome!

Q: Did they catch your vision with the illustrations (by the cover it looks like amazing artwork) but there is some UGLY artwork out there in books (obviously SOMEONE like it.....) & it would be so disapointing to hate the artwork they put with it---- KWIM????

A: The illustrator had a different vision for the artwork than I did but it turned out much, much better. I was thinking along the lines of a “Curious George” type of illustration, but the illustrator is providing more life-like work.

Q: how much did they allow you to choose?

A: I only suggested one change regarding one illustration vs. the text of my story. The change was instituted from my suggestion.

I would also love to know what sites/course you took - any info you can share!

A: I am enrolled in a course through the Institute of Children’s Literature. It is a correspondence course where the course material is sent to you and you mail the assignments back for critique. My manuscript came from the very first assignment. The funny thing is my manuscript had absolutely nothing to do with the assignment, but the story was in my head and I had to get it on paper. The instructor loved the story and suggested I find a publisher for it. I am currently enrolled in a more advanced class through the same program. I love it!

THANKS!
NOW I"M EXCITED!!! MAYBE there is hope - if it doesn't cost a fortune---I'm gonna dig that book out & read it again! (it's been years since I've read it!)

----------------------

Again, good luck to you and feel free to email me with any other questions.

David

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I would love to write a book. I took an aptitude test recently and it said that I should be an artist, photographer, or an author. I would love to do any of those.

DukeStreetKing, I think I've seen your book in stores. It looks very very familiar. Its awesome that you've been published.

Good luck with whatever you do, OP.

Sparx, you haven't seen it yet, but look for it in June!