I Need an Illustrator / Artist

[M.D. Holloway]

I am going to submit a few ideas for some children’s books and I need an illustrator. I was thinking of using some digital pics and photo-shop them (which is still not out of the question) but there is a certain appeal that a drawing which kids really like.

I have some ideas in mind as well as style requirements.

Perhaps one of you can draw or you know someone who can and would like to engage in this project? I will take care of the publication house submittals and so forth. The split will be 50/50 – I think that is only fair. PM me if you want more details.

[stomachmonkey]

I got a couple of guys for you.

Lemme talk to them and I'll get you their info.

[Tishabet]

I'm going to send you info for a friend of mine... she has done a lot of illustration and her work has been featured in kid oriented spots like "highlights" magazine.

[Joeaksa]

How about getting ahold of Shaun? He knows alot of people in the business and has probably used some for his clothing adverts.

[M.D. Holloway]

Joe - didn't think about that. I'm sure Shaun will comment if he thinks he can help.

[deanp]

Mike,

Sent you a PM.

--Dean

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks for the link Joe! Mike, I can/can't help here. We're doing our own books based on the Vintage Racer series of t-shirts, character Joey (no kidding Joe!) goes to various races in 1930s - 60s Europe, learns about the cars, culture, and befriends an ace driver mentor in each location, which is one hook of many for the book series. Once we expand our NASCAR license, we'll introduce Frank in the States, and Tom will probably be in our Flying Ace series (1930s) airline luggage labels.

We have 2 artists lined up now doing sketches and a third I still need to contact. If you like, I'll send the info of any we don't work with. All are extremely talented, we just need a certainly look with the vintage motif.

But really, you are like a restaurant Mike. Lots of great things on the menu and you can do it all. But any good restauranteur knows to order from the strengths on the menu. Would you really order lasagne at O'Reilly's Pub? Same here. You talked a year ago + about hitting the road in a seminar-series lube education program. That's YOU! I htink you would be wildly successful at the meet and greet, share your knowledge, knock off a few books, become king of lube. Focus is key.

[LeeH]

I tried this a couple of years ago. Based on what I read, the children's book publishers absolutely prefer to use their own illustrators. Check out:
http://www.amazon.com/2006-Childrens-Writers-Illustrators-Market/dp/1582974020
Lots of good information there. Once you start researching the market you find out how many children's books are written vs how few get published. Sad, but true. I refined my story a lot before sending it out. I got a lot of impartial opinions along the way then sent it to quite a few carefully targeted publishers. All were returned with form letters from the publishers that read something like, "We receive 20K submissions/year and publish 15 titles."

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
Shaun,
Yes & No. Here is the lay of the land for interested minds. Right now I tour the country and provide seminars on increasing uptime through better maint practices including but not inclusive to lubrication. I also establish and direct our value selling model to our sales force. I write on the side for manufacturing.net for a few reasons: 1) I like it 2) I get paid well for it 3) it provides additional personal credibility. So thats the second iron in the fire.

The teaching thing at UNT provides/provided additonal income to offset the cost of my lil princess in college. Also provides additonal credibility.

The book deal that I have with Industrial Press is the direction I am headed. It actually has very little to do with lubrication. Rather, it is focused on capturing the true cost of MRO and how to improve manufacturing uptime while decreasing the overall cost pools. This is based squarely on strategic procurement and performance based procurement. It is exhausting research yet very interesting. That is the stuff that the seminar series will be based on in a few years. Thats what the reitirement and personal freedom will be based upon.

Now, for the childrens book project. This is something that has been hanging over my head for a few years. As you may or may not remember, my Mom was a writer/poet/artist. She penned a bunch of poems about her kids as they grew up that I came into when she passed away. My ol Man loved these poems and wanted to get them published. I read them and the first thought that came to mind was how they would make a great kids book(s). I haven't followed through with it and he has been asking about my progress. He is very understanding of the load I have and is in no rush. I would like to start the ball rolling. If I put it off some more then another year goes by. At some point he is gonna die and I sure would like to get something going so he can enjoy the fact that this was done.

So, now you know the plan Stan. Simple and not as scattered as it may appear.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by LeeH
I tried this a couple of years ago. Based on what I read, the children's book publishers absolutely prefer to use their own illustrators. Check out:
http://www.amazon.com/2006-Childrens-Writers-Illustrators-Market/dp/1582974020
Lots of good information there. Once you start researching the market you find out how many children's books are written vs how few get published. Sad, but true. I refined my story a lot before sending it out. I got a lot of impartial opinions along the way then sent it to quite a few carefully targeted publishers. All were returned with form letters from the publishers that read something like, "We receive 20K submissions/year and publish 15 titles."

LeeH,
That is true. It is very difficult to get a house to press your work. I know a few that have expressed some interest. All have told me to provide them with something as close to being finished work. This makes the selection and production process simpler PROVIDED it fits with their philosophy and direction. Now there is the rub. You really have to do some research to figuer that part out as well as trying to understand the next years market needs.

It none of the houses bite, I will just take it in house. I know many independent book distributors that I will pitch the titles to - we shall see.

Also, plenty of companies out there that will pub for a fee. Thats not a way I would ever go. Daddy don't do fees and Daddy don't do writing for gratas!

[The Gaijin]

Mike Man - you should submit nothing to a publisher. They are looking for the middle of the road, politically correct stuff to sell at Borders and the big chains.

Be empowered. Look into desktop publishing and do it all yourself. It will be a great thing for you and your family and you never know, it may find commercial success as well.. Good luck.

[LeeH]

The funny thing is that the publishers don't always follow their "rules." One is that they rarely publish any rhyming work (like mine)... yet the shelves are full of it. They also claim they prefer to find their own illustrator. But, a lot of works are written and illustrated by the same person.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by The Gaijin
Mike Man - you should submit nothing to a publisher. They are looking for the middle of the road, politically correct stuff to sell at Borders and the big chains.

Be empowered. Look into desktop publishing and do it all yourself. It will be a great thing for you and your family and you never know, it may find commercial success as well.. Good luck.

really, the more I think about it the more jazzed I get about publishing myself and working out the distribution. I already have a LLC set-up that could handle the billings and so forth.

I know several printer / binding houses that I could use. Pitshing to the distributors is easy enough. The only advantage to the big pub houses would be the reach.

If it hit, the volume would be big bit the margins small - such a decision...

[The Gaijin]

Well, see what you can do yourself. Editing, proofreading, typeface, layout and all that. Start small and see how folks like it. Get some feedback. My buddy's Dad did a cookbook and made lots of changes.. It would make a great gift as well. Start with a small run. Don't wind up with a garage full of boxes!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Lubey, send me a PM.

My wife paints and illustrates. She's been wanting to do a kids' book for a while but has been stymied by the writing element.

[RickM]

I've worked with various artists over the years for personal projects. The only advice I can offer is that it was really critical that I had the ability to sit down with them, face to face, thoughout the project, to get acceptable results.