Finding a Publisher

On the search for a publisher...

There are hundreds of publishers that produce children’s picture books. I recommend doing some research before sending your manuscript out. It will save you a lot of money and time in the long run. Plan a “field trip” to the closest book store and look at books in the same genre/style that you have written. Copy down the publisher and mailing information. Then go to the library and look through the current Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market (CWIM) for the addresses and names of the contact editors and art directors you would submit to. It would not be a bad idea to call the publisher to make sure that staffing has not changed since CWIM has came out. CWIM also lists the type of book that each publisher is looking for, so you can verify if your manuscript will fit in with the publisher’s needs.

Attach a brief cover letter to the manuscript and include a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for the manuscripts return.

Once you have mailed your manuscript, start writing another. Please realize that getting a book accepted can take many years and many rejections. Do Not Quit, Do Not Lose Hope! I heard the Harry Potter series was declined by between six and eight publishers and got rejection after rejection. Well, you know the end of that story – the rest is history!