Ian Atherton

May 12, 2008

Well Mr. DP, I hope to one day take a page out of your book, and other famous Children’s book authors, (my other favorite being Maurice Sendak), and make my own book. Well it turns out I did make my own book for my senior project in high school!! Over the last year I’ve been reworking, revising and refinishing this heartwood trunk yearning to commandeer a vessel onto bookshelves and the public eye.

But, I’ve come to an impasse; it seems every large publishing company no longer accepts unsolicited manuscripts/artwork (Houghton-Mifflin even stopped in 2004 it appears). And I’m not sure where to seek an agent, or if thats even the best course of action. And self-publishing is either too expensive, or just doesn’t seem worth it.

So, I face this dilemma of having a book pretty much done, and just about ready (by my standards) and no idea where to turn. Do you have any suggestions; being a published children’s book author, having worked with Houghton-Mifflin, and others?

There is a whole section in the library, and in bookstores, with books about how to get published. There are endless websites offering advice, networking, commiseration and encouragement for aspiring authors. There are local writers' groups in every town and village. There is a national (for profit) organization for children's book writers and illustrators, some percentage of whom have gotten published. And there is asking people like me, who may know something about writing, but less about breaking into the business, having done it once maybe a long time ago. The only suggestion I can make is to write more than one book. ""...reworking, revising and refinishing this heartwood trunk yearning to commandeer a vessel onto bookshelves and the public eye."" What?!? Maybe a college writing course too?