Comments on: How to Find an Illustrator for Your Picture Book

By: amber

amber — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:23:42 +0000

It’s almost as if you knew what I was about to do and wrote this to stop me! Wow! Thanks! I love it when people don’t beat around the bush with sugary words! Tell it like it is! Very, very helpful. Now excuse me while I go cancel my meeting with a student illustrator… LOl:)

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:53:04 +0000

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for your insight into an industry that I know NOTHING about. As a beginning author for children’s books, I cannot thank you enough for addressing my concern over illustration.

By: Ronda Bradburn

Ronda Bradburn — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:10:26 +0000

Dear Dani–
My dream, since I was a teenager, has been to be a writer and illustrator of my own books. Basically, combining two things that I love, with the end goal of me being a successful, published writer/artist and getting paid for it. I’ve since realized that, although I love to draw and paint, my writing abilities outweigh my artwork. I have my own collection of poems, short stories and possible ideas for children’s books. I also thought I needed illustrations to accompany my stories that I intended to submit. I actually have been fortunate to find someone locally that is talented and interested in being my illustrator. I’ve decided to self-publish my work. But should I ever decide to go the traditional route, it’s good to know that having illustrations aren’t necessary. I’m very new to the process of publishing my works. Thank you for these insights.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:55:02 +0000

I think the link to this article should be a permanent fixture on the Craigs list job listings. I get a LOT of emails offering me some invisible exchange (portion of the business when it succeeds… or promise of a better tomorrow) if I simply put in the effort, time, materials and for sake all other obligations to make THIER dream come true. The most outrageous one I’ve received was an individual asking for 150 illustrations (for free) to promote his energy drink that “could be the next red bull”.

By: Pauline Todd

Pauline Todd — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:12:18 +0000

Hello, I’d just like to say THANK YOU!! Such good advice, will be following it to the letter!

By: Amy Burrell

Amy Burrell — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:19:37 +0000

Great artical. There are many creative ways to get an illustrator for cheap. I actually wrote a post about this on my blog http://childrensbookcreation.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-find-illustrator.html

Check it out

By: Lauren George

Lauren George — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:19:50 +0000

Thanks for your insight! This is really really helpful.

By: Michelle Lindsay

Michelle Lindsay — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:09:32 +0000

Dani -you are amzing – this is really great information – thank you!

By: Dani

Dani — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:13:06 +0000

Irene – Let me repeat – this blog post is NOT intended for self-publishers (see the Exceptions section). It is for the writers who are beating on those publisher’s doors and trying to get traditional publishing deals. I get emails from these writers all the time. I stand by everything I wrote in the post. It is meant to HELP, not patronize.

If you want to make your book for the sake of seeing a finished product, then by all means, network, find artist friends, and produce the book. I am not discouraging that at all. I just wanted to point out that many professional artists ARE busy, and that writers need to be aware that not many will take on such heavy projects for (usually) low price points and little benefits.

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:57:01 +0000

Dani; Key words “ultimately detrimental to their cause if they are pursuing traditional publishing venues”. Now a reality check….the majority of these authors will never get their work pulished if they pursue traditional publishing venues, not because their books don’t have merit but because publishers are inundated with manuscripts. My books have been sitting for a couple of decades. I have received some nice notes from publishers, one almost offer and essentially nothing. At least I got replies. Many authors don’t even get that. I even had my stories endorsed by Robert Munsch himself. Still no offer.

Now I have found a talented pool of illustrators and I know that my grandchildren will be able to read and look at my books. I need my work to have ‘life’. Without the venue of self-publishing my books would have to sit indefinitely. My ego suffered through the rejections and I actually stopped writing as a result. Perhaps if I had persisted….suffering more repeated rejections…but the process left me deflated. Now I am motivated again. Thanks to Mike Motz (mikemotz.com)and his illustrators, I am on my way to seeing my stories come alive. Prices, in my estimation, are quite reasonable(and no I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination), especially when you consider you own the work outright when finished. As for a profit, we’ll see. A look at PJ Cowan’s site shows what a self published author can do.

Beating at the doors of publisher’s is a frustrating process that eats away at your talent. By taking control, you at least can see your work…and the joy on the faces of the children listening to you and looking at your characters….in full color!

This site seems a great place for inundated publishers and overworked artists (really?)rather than aspiring authors. Mike Motz, who is very talented, has lots of work, also takes time to help authors realize their dreams, rather than patronizing them with unrealistic expectations of being published…by the mega companies who really don’t have time for the struggling new authors. Once more, I am glad I found Mike before finding you. Oh and perhaps you should title this article “How NOT to find an Illustrator”. It would be more honest.