Ready to take control of your children's book publishing journey? Join host Kirsten Larson as she interviews self-publishing expert Darcy Pattison, who has successfully published 70+ children's books through her own publishing house, Mim's House Books.
What You'll Learn:
- When self-publishing is the right choice vs. traditional publishing
- How to develop your art directing skills for picture books
- Essential business skills every indie author needs
- Marketing strategies that actually work for children's books
- How to get your books into schools and libraries
- The truth about making money in self-publishing
- Using Kickstarter for book launches and pre-orders
Key Takeaways:
- Why self-publishing is about "abundance vs. scarcity"
- The importance of building a backlist for long-term success
- How to find and work with illustrators (contracts included!)
- Metadata that boost discoverability
- Why one book won't make you rich (and what will)
📖 About Darcy Pattison: Award-winning children's author with 8 traditionally published books and 70+ self-published titles. Founder of Mim's House Books and creator of the upcoming guide "Publish: Find Surprising Success Self-Publishing Your Children's Book."
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
- Mim's House Books: mimshousebooks.com
- Indie Kids Books blog: indiekidsbooks.com
- Darcy's Kickstarter (launches Sept 15): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darcypattison/publish?ref=profile_created&category_id=48
Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome & Introducing Darcy Pattison
01:48 – Darcy’s Publishing Journey
05:00 – Betting on Yourself as a Creator
08:03 – Why Self-Publishing? Speed, Profit & Control
11:30 – The Power of Series and Backlist
14:45 – Misconceptions About Self-Publishing 18:12 – Becoming Your Own Art Director
22:30 – Ensuring Quality for Schools and Libraries
26:48 – Distribution, Metadata & Marketing Strategy
32:55 – Kickstarter for Children’s Books
Perfect for: Children's book authors, illustrators, indie publishers, picture book creators, nonfiction writers, anyone considering self-publishing
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