Joseph G. Sorah

February 29, 2000

Mr. Pinkwater,

First I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed your commentaries and humorous segments on NPR over the years. Second I want to beg advice from you. I am a commercial artist who has done everthing from being an art director for a TV station to owning a small outstandingly unsuccessful sign company.

Many years ago I began a children’s book which I never finished. I submitted the drawings I did get finished for consideration along with the story line to a major childrens publisher and received a very complementary letter. I guess I simply didn’t know how to properly submit the material. The artwork and story line have been stored for many years while life and obligations took my attention. Recently while pulling together my portfolio for a job search I pulled them out of storage and decided to complete the project. I would like to ask you for souces of information about proper presentation to a publisher. Also, where does one find information about payment structure for a children’s book. How many books might a person be able to place on the market at any one time. I don’t have many answers to the most basic questions a person needs to persue the field.

Any information you might take the time to forward to me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon

I have had things published on the 20th submission. If you look at a manual like _Writer's Market_ available in any library, you will find suggestions about how to submit. I would ignore any admonition not to send the same book out to multiple publishers. If you send it to 10, and 1 reads it, you're doing well. It's a mistake to think that a publisher will accept or reject your project based on its merits. Their reasons are dark and incomprehensible, and not worth bothering about. Think of it as a lottery.