This is a two part answer. 1. If you plan to pursue traditional publishing routes you do not need an illustrated manuscript. Publishers will choose an illustrator whom they feel will add to the story. Don't hire me, your neighbor's son or the college kid down the block. Not only will you be wasting their time and your money, sending illustrations with your manuscript will mark you as an amateur. It will also be a strike against your book making it out of the slush pile into editorial review. 2. If you plan to self-publish or publish through a vanity press (one you pay to have your book 'published') please be aware that I illustrate for a living. In order for me to do a good job for you, I need time and money. Typical books take me 6-9 months to complete. If I am going to commit to spending the better part of a year working on your book, I will need to be adequately compensated. Even a minimum wage worker would receive several thousand dollars over the 6-9 month period. It is unfair and unreasonable to expect an illustrator to accept less. If you wish to have your manuscript reviewed by other writers, please find out about critique groups in your area. If you want to have your portfolio or web site reviewed, please find artists to form a critique group with. I already have writing and illustrating critique partners. They are like family. It has taken many years to find people who can support me as I support them. Because I am already committed to these established groups, I regret I do not have time to look at all the creative endeavors of other people. There are a great many reference books and web sites available with this information. Please use your search engine, visit your local library or book store to find them. The best thing I ever did was to join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. The membership fee is very affordable. Members receive many benefits and advice. If you want to write children's books, you need to read them. Go to the book store, to the library, join GoodReads and use their book exchange program. I read hundreds of books a year. A majority of them are picture books and middle-grade fiction. I spend hours visiting other children's book illustrators' web sites. There are dozens of books on writing in general, and many on writing for children in particular. There are dozens of web sites and blogs about writing and illustrating for children. The Purple Crayon, Verla Kay's Blue Boards and Yellapalooza are some good ones. Visit them, read all the information there, become involved in the kid lit community. No. Book illustration is not purchased like a pound of butter or a dining room table. Illustration is something that is closer to renting a car or a hotel room. Costs depend on what you plan to use the illustration for, how long and in what parts of the world. It also has to do with the number of books (or magazines) being printed. To further the analogy, when you rent a car, you have use of the car for a set period of time, within a specific geographical area, for a agreed upon number of miles. If for any reason you use the car outside of the contract terms, you are expected to pay additional fees. A luxury vehicle will cost more than the compact. Illustration rates are based on the rights (copyrights) you agree to purchase, for how long and in which geographical areas. A contract is drawn up saying how much the rights you are requesting will cost, how the artist will be compensated and other terms. The more rights you request, the higher the cost of use of the art. You do not own the art, only the right to use it as agreed upon. If you use it outside of the terms of the agreement you will have to pay additional fees. Expect to pay several thousand dollars for basic usage rights in a picture book. (typically 32 pages) I often have requests from aspiring book authors to send them illustration samples of their daughter, niece or neighbor's child, depending on whom they wrote their book about. I illustrate for a living. I do not, nor can I afford to work for free. A commission of a specific child's likeness will be considered a portrait. The same goes for pets. Portraits can be commissioned for $1000. All commissions will require a signed contract and a retainer. The typical email I receive with this question has between 6 to a dozen questions. Even if I could answer each question in less than five minutes (I can't) I would be spending a lot of time replying to emails like this. Most questions are so general, a quick search on the internet will be adequate research for any paper. I keep office hours like any other business. I have a list of projects with deadlines and due dates. I have to spend my working time - well, working. After my work hours, I have family and personal obligations. I also need to eat and sleep. And somewhere in all of that, I also need to relax and unwind. I'm sorry, but I just don't have time. I am happy to answer SPECIFIC questions about my work or my books. I try and reply to every fan letter I receive even if it's only to say thanks. I have to pay for the books like anyone else. No author or illustrator receives an unlimited number of books to hand out to anyone who asks. The publisher sends out review copies to a select few. I can suggest names, but have no control over who will receive the review books. If you are short on funds, go to your local library and ask them to add the book to their collection. If they can't for any reason, ask if they can arrange to get a copy from another library. I do this all the time at my local library through inter-library exchange. It costs me nothing but a little patience.I just wrote a picture book, will you illustrate it?
I just wrote a picture book. Will you read it for me?
I just wrote a picture book. Will you tell me who to send it to?
I want to write/illustrate children’s books. Do you have any advice?
Do you have a price list?
Will you draw me sample art if I send you a picture?
I’m a student writing a paper. Will you answer a few questions for me?
Can you send me a copy of one of your books?
Step by step e-book
"How to Make a Picture Book Dummy in 9 Easy Steps" helps author- illustrators create and prepare a professional sample of their illustrated children's book to submit to agents or publishers.
