Has anyone had a children's book published?

[AlexArtist]

Anyone had a children's book published, and has any advice on where to start? How best to approach publishers and if anyone has self published? I am already a painter and have had successful gallery shows but am worried by the competitive book publishing market! Any tips for getting yourself known!?!

A good source of information is the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook - it lists UK children's publishers with details of the type of books they publish & whether they accept submissions direct from writers / illustrators (many don't) or only from agents. The book also has details of agents, etc.

As you say, it's a very competitive market. As you're a painter, I assume you are thinking of picture books, but do you have any illustration or writing experience? Children's books aren't an easy option.

Not specifically childrens books but my friend's sister works for a publisher and said that the market is so overcrowded that most submissions are not read and the only way in is to get an agent.

My MIL's friend self published a childrens book at huge expense to herself and TBH the book is so badly written no wonder she self published!

Not sure I can add anything particularly positive to the above (with which I agree) but it is even more tough if you are unknown so perhaps the fact you are known as an artist may help. I think the Yearbook is a good place to start and local libraries often hold a reference copy. There are also various searches you could try on the internet that show which publishers are even ACCEPTING unsolicited manuscripts.

DH is a poet and has worked in schools since 2000 to put bread on the table. He has written lots of poetry but we had no luck finding anyone who was accepting so we just self-published it. He already knew the poems worked well and were very much appreciated by the audience and the demand for books was there. A publisher would have helped with distribution and promotion but with the work in schools, this wasn't really necessary. We don't make much money from the books due to high print costs. We have a good working relationship with a Digital printer who does not rip us off and is very approachable - let me know if you would like a link to them.

I am just trying to get to grips with using FaceBook and YouTube to promote the work. So can't help much there.

I reckon networking is the best way to make useful links with real live publishers. The London Book Fair is coming up in mid-April but I don't know how useful it could be to you as I have not yet found the time to attend!

There are professional editing services offered to new writers for which you have to pay but it may help to have an independent perspective rather than opinions of friends and relatives (personal experience of this!). Once you are happy with the quality, you could start selling them from your gallery. It depends if you are looking to make money from the project or just get your work out there and being appreciated.

Good luck.