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SIL wants her manuscript made into a book for Christmas... Help!!

17 replies

MaybeAnOverthinker · 22/12/2015 20:12

I have no idea where to start!

She has written a children's book and asked us for her Christmas present if we can get it made into a book for her.

It needs pictures but has none yet... Is this something I'll be able to do online? Anywhere online do this sort of thing? My googling hasn't given many hopeful leads so far!

I am guessing even if it is possible it won't be done before Friday but would so love to do this for her!

Please help!!

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MissBattleaxe · 22/12/2015 20:13

Try lulu.com.

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mydutifullaunderette · 22/12/2015 20:15

Have a look at blurb.com?

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ImperialBlether · 22/12/2015 20:22

She's left it a bit late! It's the evening of the 22nd at the moment! Is she expecting it for Christmas?

Why isn't she taking on the responsibility of getting the pictures? It's her book!

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LemonRedwood · 22/12/2015 20:24

I have used blurb and the quality is very good. Not a hope in hell of getting it before Christmas though. Will she mind an IOU?

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MaybeAnOverthinker · 22/12/2015 20:32

I've told her it's going to be late. We've been asking her for weeks and she has just text me this tonight!Hmm

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CocktailQueen · 22/12/2015 20:35

Give her an IOU!

How many copies does she want? Is she going to sell it or does she just want a copy for herself? If she's going to sell it, has she had it edited? Read by beta readers? Is it good?

You need to think about cover design and illustrations too. Does she want a hard copy or just it published to Smashwords or similar? More info required!

There are lots of - vanity publishing type - companies out there who will happily take your money - lots of it - to produce a book which may not be what you want.

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ImperialBlether · 22/12/2015 21:05

Has she split it up into what text will be on each page and what the pictures should be?

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MaybeAnOverthinker · 22/12/2015 21:26

Yes... It says what the pictures should be but I'm struggling.

I've downloaded the blurb book weight software and I think it only accepts your own pictures. Does anyone know if there is a 'bank' of pictures one is allowed to use?

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GoldQuintessenceAndMyrrh · 22/12/2015 21:30

www.dreamstime.com/ some are free to use, others you need to pay for.

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eastwest · 22/12/2015 21:35

Erm... this is incredibly late. It will also be incredibly expensive if you are paying the illustrator fairly, which you will need to do to get high quality illustrations. It depends on how many illustrations you need, etc. but you're looking at hundreds of pounds for professional work.
You need to proof-read it, format it, decide on a print run etc. etc.
Maybe it could be her Christmas 2016 present?!

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thanksamillion · 22/12/2015 21:39

Could you fudge it and make one of those photo books but with the text as the descriptor. It wouldn't be quite like a fully published book but you could get a hard back version and presumably if it's a children's book there isn't that much text?

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MaybeAnOverthinker · 22/12/2015 21:51

All the text is in the creator... I just need some pictures. Maybe I can just get some stock ones... She's going to try and properly publish next year but this one is just for her if that makes sense!

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zipzap · 22/12/2015 21:58

Hmm. I'd give her a voucher for blurb or lulu and say that you didn't want to spoil it with pictures that she hasn't chosen - or send her a note to say that the pictures haven't arrived so you'll wait and do it once she forwards them on to you...

because just say you did some sketches that you used or you pulled up some free copyright images, then her book really did get picked up and published and they wanted to use your images - then would you be expecting royalties? A credit on the cover or just inside as illustrator?

3 days before christmas to land this on you is a ridiculously unfair thing to ask of anyone.

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gabsdot · 22/12/2015 21:58

My sister self published a children's book this year. (it's called I don't want to go home and is available on Amazon, shameless plug) It's free to do
She did the illustrations herself though. Paying an illustrator will be expensive and the author should consult with the illustrator.

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MaybeAnOverthinker · 23/12/2015 01:04

I've just looked it up. Did she hand draw them all?

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gabsdot45 · 23/12/2015 08:25

Not hand drawn, she used a graffics type of program. She's an amazing artist though. Did you like the book?

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MaybeAnOverthinker · 23/12/2015 18:46

Yes! Xmas Grin

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