Author: EB
Date:   11-05-08 12:40

I've compiled and illustrated a series of fairy stories written by my fifth grade class. I'm completely new to this, where do I start to find a publisher?

Author: EB
Date:   11-05-08 12:42

How much would it cost to publish something like this myself? Which publisher would you advise to do the best job on the graphics. Thanks

Author: EB
Date:   11-05-08 12:56

I should add here I hoped to have the book in time for Christmas. Is this being overly optimistic?

Author: Dave S
Date:   11-05-08 13:05

Sorry to rain on your parade, EB, but "overly optimistic" would be an understatement, if your intention is to get your book into book stores. If you want to self publish and make it available to friends and family, that's obviously much easier, but it will cost you. I'll let others add more perspective.

Author: leslee
Date:   11-05-08 13:07

You have a lot of homework to do before you proceed. Please don't sign anything or give any agent or publisher any money until you know exactly what you're doing. It's very easy to get ripped off.

Author: Butterfly Kisses
Date:   11-05-08 13:11

If you factor in the economy, millions of writers trying to break out into the publishing industry, months of research, and years of perfecting the craft, I'd say a Christmas debut is bleak.

On the other hand, if you have an excellent platform, strong and concise writing style, with an outstanding marketing idea, I'd say you can probably make a Christmas 2009 debut.

All kidding aside, you'll never do it by this Christmas. Self-publishing wouldn't do that for you either, even though I highly suggest you reconsider that route.

Good luck,

BK

Author: Butterfly Kisses
Date:   11-05-08 13:16

I didn't like my last sentence. It isn't clear. There are a lot of sharks in these waters, and most of them feed off of fledgling writers. You should never have to pay for an agent or publisher, they should pay you.

Good luck in writing,

BK

Author: Jeanne Gassman
Date:   11-05-08 13:22

EB,

You really need to think about what you want to do with this book. It sounds more like a class project than a publishable book. If you want to do something nice for your kids, I suggest you consider taking the stories to a local printer to get them privately printed and bound. Then sell the copies to family and friends of the students.

I used to donate my time to edit a "literary magazine" for elementary students at my kids' school. The PTA fronted the money to pay for printing and binding the kids' writing and illustrations. They even held a school-wide contest for the cover design. The winner received a small cash stipend and his/her artwork on the book's cover.

Parents loved this annual project. It was a popular Christmas gift for grandparents and other family members, and the PTA raised a ton of money to pay for materials the school needed.

Have you considered this approach? Your kids will still be thrilled to have a bound book of their work, you could have it done by Christmas (with lots of effort), and with some careful management, you might even raise some money for the school.

Publishing something like this professionally with a traditional publisher is a real long shot. Your students could be married with kids of their own before you even found an interested publisher. The query/submission process is grueling and requires a lot of research and commitment.

Just my thoughts...

Jeanne

Author: Joe Zeff
Date:   11-05-08 14:30

Contrary to what others have said, EB, it's quite possible to get this in the stores in time for Christmas. Alas, I'm referring to Christmas 2009.

Author: Ann Crispin
Date:   11-05-08 14:48

I'd suggest going to lulu.com

-Ann C. Crispin

Author: Wonky
Date:   11-06-08 22:55

I agree with Ann. When I was a kid, we had class projects like this (I still have them, too!...and we just mimeographed everything) but this won't be a marketable book that a publisher will put money behind.

Beware of all the scams, and the "self-publishers" charge ridiculous set-up fees. With Lulu.com, it's free to set up, you just pay for the copies you order.

Author: Anthony Ravenscroft
Date:   11-09-08 18:20

Yah, this is a perfect project for Lulu.com -- realise that you're going to have to do a lot of work yourself, or cut corners.

Commercial publication... well, not impossible, but really unlikely.