Field Dispatch
Choosing Your Path to Becoming a Children's Book Author
Trail notes
The key point of this podcast episode revolves around the journey of aspiring children's book authors and the various paths they may choose to bring their literary creations to fruition.
As we celebrate our 50th episode, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the diverse authors who have shared their insights throughout this series and the children's book readers in search of their next children's book author.
Our discussion highlights that the primary aspiration of many children's book authors is not the pursuit of fame or fortune, but rather the fulfillment that comes from holding a published book in their hands and sharing it with children.
I advocate for the potential of indie publishing, yet acknowledge that this may not align with everyone's ambitions; thus, we explore both self-publishing and independent publishing avenues.
Ultimately, our aim is to equip aspiring authors with the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed decisions regarding their publishing journeys.
This podcast episode marks a significant milestone as we celebrate our 50th installment, reflecting on the journey we have undertaken in the realm of children's literature.
The central theme of this episode revolves around the importance of assembling one’s own publishing dream team as an indie children's book author. This strategy may lead to more effective management of resources and investments in the publishing process.
Throughout this episode, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our loyal audience and the numerous authors who have contributed to our platform, sharing invaluable insights and experiences.
We delve into the nuances of hybrid self-publishing and the financial realities that accompany it, highlighting the critical need for aspiring authors to approach their publishing ambitions with strategic foresight.
As we continue to explore the world of children's literature, I invite listeners to harness the knowledge shared in this episode to enhance their own publishing journeys and realize their creative aspirations.
Marking a momentous occasion in our podcast's history, the 50th episode serves as a reflective journey through the myriad experiences encountered during our discussions with children's book authors.
I want to express my profound appreciation for the unwavering support from listeners, which has been instrumental in helping us reach this significant milestone.
Throughout the episode, there is a deliberate focus on encapsulating the essential knowledge gleaned from previous episodes, particularly concerning the challenges and rewards associated with self-publishing in the children's literature arena.
A key theme of this episode is the examination of hybrid self-publishing companies that support authors throughout the publishing process. While these companies provide a pathway for authors to transform their manuscripts into tangible books, the host offers a realistic perspective on the financial outcomes often associated with such endeavours.
With the average children's book selling between 100 and 500 copies over its lifetime, aspiring authors are urged to consider assembling their own publishing teams. This strategy not only mitigates costs but also empowers authors to take charge of their publishing journey, allowing for a more personalized and strategic approach to marketing and distribution.
Moreover, the episode delves into the concept of 'earned media', a term introduced through previous guest discussions, which emphasizes the significance of leveraging third-party endorsements and organic media exposure rather than relying solely on paid marketing strategies.
I emphasize the importance of understanding one’s audience and effectively utilizing platforms like podcasts to enhance visibility and foster genuine connections with readers.
As the episode concludes, there is a robust invitation to aspiring authors to engage with the podcast community, underscoring the shared commitment to nurturing a vibrant and supportive environment for all who aspire to contribute to the world of children's literature.
Takeaways:
- This podcast marked its 50th episode, celebrating the journey and growth of its content.
- The significance of assembling a publishing dream team for aspiring children's book authors was emphasized.
- Listeners are encouraged to understand the economics of self-publishing and the potential returns.
- The podcast hosts express gratitude towards their audience for supporting their efforts throughout the episodes.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Konn Lavery
- David Cervi
- Amazon
- IngramSpark
- Lori Orlinsky
Links:
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:03:28</time>
<p>Episode 50 picking your path to Children's Book Authorship Today marks our 50th episode Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors Podcast show and I must thank every children's book author guest and a few guests who I recognize as part of what I call a children's book author dream team.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:03:51</time>
<p>Con Lavery episode 29 discussed book formatting and David survey episode 30 on website design Most of our children's book guests have either self published, meaning they use a self publishing service, or they are indie book children's authors.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:11</time>
<p>Indie book authors are the publishers of their own books and as an indie children's book author, I've assembled a publishing dream team over the last two years.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:22</time>
<p>The one key takeaway I've taken from talking to all my children's book author guests is that their main goal is to have a published children's book in their hands.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:34</time>
<p>As they leaf through their children's book, their hearts are filled with a strong sense of accomplishment and a love of sharing it with the world.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:42</time>
<p>In all cases, it is not fame and fortune.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:45</time>
<p>It is not about building a children's book business business.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:04:49</time>
<p>It's all about knowing that they can read their children's book to their kids, grandkids and children at schools, libraries and wherever reading to children is encouraged.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:03</time>
<p>Also, without fail, each children's book author has another book or more books in their heart that they want to release to the world at some point.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:12</time>
<p>I've changed my view on on children's book authorship since I started the podcast show.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:18</time>
<p>I believe each of us as a children's book author can be an indie publisher.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:25</time>
<p>However, this approach may not be in your heart or your ambition.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:29</time>
<p>You want a beautiful published children's book.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:33</time>
<p>Our podcast show is going to focus more on helping bring your children's book to life.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:38</time>
<p>Whether it's going to be the self published route or the indie route publishing route.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:43</time>
<p>My goal is to bring on guests who are both self published independently book published along with their supporting team members.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:52</time>
<p>This leads you to decide what is the right approach for you.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:05:56</time>
<p>As an aspiring children's book author, I'm not going to pressure you into thinking that I believe you can be an indie published children's book author.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:06:05</time>
<p>And even though this is our approach, I only want to provide the best content and guess I can and you can decide and formulate what works best for you and your circumstances.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:06:18</time>
<p>Hybrid self publishing companies can help children's book authors bring their books to life.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:06:23</time>
<p>These companies remove much of the uncertainty associated with children's book publishing These companies include Miriam Laundry Publishing, Greenleaf Publishing, Yorkshire Publishing, Book, Fox Press, Blue Balloon Books and many others.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:06:41</time>
<p>My goal is to have representatives from some of these companies on our show to discuss their services, giving you access to determine if this might be the path you want to take in children's book publishing.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:06:55</time>
<p>These hybrid self publishing companies do a great job, however, in most cases you don't earn enough revenue to get a return on your publishing costs.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:07:05</time>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, almost 100% of children's book authors are not in it for fame and fortune.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:07:13</time>
<p>The average children's book sells between 100 and 500 copies over its lifetime and you need to sell multiple thousands of copies to enjoy a payout or a return on your investment.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:07:26</time>
<p>For the most part, all of these self published companies help you accomplish the publishing and online distribution tasks and you will have a beautiful book that you can be proud of.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:07:40</time>
<p>As an indie children's book author with two children's books published in our book series, the Adventures of Caboose, the Rocky Mountain Bear and we are working on other books in our book series, I want aspiring children's book authors to know that with a little effort you can assemble your own children's book publishing team and become your own book publisher and save yourself thousands of dollars in development and publishing costs which you can use on a more focused approach to distribution, marketing and sales.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:08:17</time>
<p>By happier Stance, I fell into indie book publishing and assembled a service team that I call my publishing Dream team.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:08:26</time>
<p>The prominent dream team members will include an editor, illustrator, front and back cover designer, book formatter and website designer to support your children's book authorship.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:08:39</time>
<p>My goal in future episodes is to bring on more members of a publishing children's book author's dream team as guests.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:08:48</time>
<p>As you listen to get to know these individuals, I hope you will realize you can create your own publishing dream team and utilize your financial investment more effectively in publishing, distributing, marketing and selling your book.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:05</time>
<p>Other critical pieces to having a complete children's book are sourcing ISBNS for your soft cover, hardcover, ebook and audio formats.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:16</time>
<p>In the United States you need to purchase your ISBNS which is a relatively easy task.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:23</time>
<p>Just be cautious about buying in bulk and over purchasing.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:28</time>
<p>In Canada, the ISBNS are a free service and the process is easy and I've completed it multiple times.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:36</time>
<p>Also consider using a graphic artist to design a book plate and activity sheets for your books.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:44</time>
<p>However, you will find many times a person developing your front and back cover can assist you with a few extra designs.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:09:53</time>
<p>You must find a book formatter who can create your files for distribution to Amazon, ingramsparks, Sparks and other services.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:03</time>
<p>A good book formatter can help you easily learn to download your soft cover, hardcover and ebook files.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:10</time>
<p>I've done this multiple times.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:12</time>
<p>If you have an excellent book formatter in if you get stuck, they can help you and this generally is a cost that's relatively inexpensive.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:22</time>
<p>Are you guaranteed to earn your development and publishing investment back as an indie children's book author?</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:30</time>
<p>No.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:31</time>
<p>But you'll have a beautiful book and you'll only have to sell a third to a half fewer books to break even.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:39</time>
<p>Being an indie book publisher and assembling your own children's book publishing dream team, please understand that if this seems daunting and takes you off track from your goal of having a beautiful children's book, then consider self publishing.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:10:56</time>
<p>I've spoke to a few self published children's book authors who don't want the work that comes along with being an indie book publisher and are happy to pay for self publishing services.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:11:08</time>
<p>They would rather focus on book retailers, events, distribution, sales and marketing.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:11:14</time>
<p>If you have a strong retail bookstore network, possess genuine sales and marketing skills, or you only want to have a beautiful published children's book, then congratulations and continue success using the self publishing method on the Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors Podcast We've had some great conversations and if you listen to these self published children's book authors and decide is this the right path for you?</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:11:46</time>
<p>As a podcast host, I've learned a great deal about self publishing and indie publishing and all my guests have one or more books published.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:11:57</time>
<p>What else have I learned from having a podcast show?</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:01</time>
<p>First, many people who start a podcast need to build some traction.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:06</time>
<p>It is suggested that you have a minimum of 10 episodes.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:10</time>
<p>Today marks our 50th episode and I'm proud we have far exceeded the minimum requirements to build a successful podcast show.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:20</time>
<p>Our podcast show has been awarded by millions Podcast A Podcast Media Tracking Business as Best Children Literature Podcast.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:30</time>
<p>If you search for us in Apple Podcasts and type in Top Children's Book Authors Podcast, we rank among the top children's book author podcast shows.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:43</time>
<p>Thank you for allowing us to pat ourselves on the back.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:47</time>
<p>If you're listening to our podcast.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:49</time>
<p>As a children's book reader, I hope we are providing a valuable resource for finding excellent children's books, books and authors.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:12:58</time>
<p>Suppose you are aspiring children's book author.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:02</time>
<p>I hope you're getting the content and the inspiration required to bring your own book to life.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:10</time>
<p>I welcome you to reach out when you have a published children's book and consider joining us as a guest.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:16</time>
<p>If you do join us as a guest, remember, like many podcast shows, you're getting what is known as earned media.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:24</time>
<p>What is earned media from a children's book author's perspective?</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:28</time>
<p>Earned media is marketing by third party entities that isn't paid for.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:34</time>
<p>It is an outcome of your book brand or author's brand, public relations and branding, service strategy and customer experience efforts.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:45</time>
<p>Who are Children's Book author entities?</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:48</time>
<p>A good place to start is understanding which party is which.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:13:53</time>
<p>You as a children's book author are the first party and a paying reader such as a person purchasing your book.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:00</time>
<p>A parent, a grandparent, a family member, or a friend is a second party.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:06</time>
<p>Any other entity supporting the transaction between the first and second parties is a third party and any entity supporting the transaction between between a first party and a second party is a third party.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:20</time>
<p>That is what the Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors does.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:24</time>
<p>We are a third party entity.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:26</time>
<p>We introduce you to children's book readers and pull back the curtain to allow potential readers to get to know you.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:35</time>
<p>As a children's book author, we take a lot of pride in using one of your children's book covers as our podcast cover art for your episode.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:45</time>
<p>This gives you instant book and brand recognition.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:49</time>
<p>We don't charge our guests any fees for being on our show.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:14:53</time>
<p>However, over the last 50 podcast episodes, I found that most guests don't treat being a guest as an asset.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:01</time>
<p>Yet creating great content and introducing themselves and their book is a valuable piece of earned media.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:10</time>
<p>You you have a recorded podcast interview, a great conversation between you and the host.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:17</time>
<p>What happens next is our guests give recognition on their social media, but from a limited aspect.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:25</time>
<p>They post maybe once or twice.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:27</time>
<p>And if we're lucky as podcasters, these children's book authors will add their podcast episode to a media tab on their website.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:37</time>
<p>My biggest concern is that our guests are not fully recognizing the value of the content assets they receive from podcast shows like ours.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:15:47</time>
<p>I am now putting together an earned media recap sheet for my guests, so after our interview I'm giving them some guidance that will create more sales and marketing opportunities for my children's book author guests.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:16:04</time>
<p>Over the course of our next 50 podcast interviews with children's book authors, I plan to continue being a strong voice for them, offering more value and educating our authors on how to utilize earned media to develop stronger sales and marketing approaches for their books.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:16:22</time>
<p>I will continue to give you information on being a self published or indie published children's book authority and guide you to the choice you believe best works for you.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:16:35</time>
<p>Thanks again for those who have been loyal listeners and to our children's book readers, we will continue to interview great children's book authors and have them reveal themselves and their books to you.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:16:52</time>
<p>To our aspiring children's book authors, we hope our guests and our podcast show Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors will guide you to publish your first children's book.</p>
<cite>Speaker A</cite>
<time>00:17:05</time>
<p>Thank you and Adventure Out.</p>
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