THANKS TO ALL WHO FOLLOW THIS BLOG!

A great big thanks to all who follow this blog! As mentioned in many posts, writing and illustrating children's books is a large part of my work as an artist. My passion for art has successfully combined with my love for literature in the form of a new organization,the Books for All Foundation. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy for emergent, at-risk and special needs learners. Specialized formatting and multiple publication options for each book title are designed to give children with a variety of cognitive and physical challenges an opportunity to be successful independent readers.

From now on, information previously covered in this blog will be combined with the Foundation's new blog to offer even more information about the creative process in the  publication of children's books and how art plays a vital role in literacy for ALL children.  If you are interested, please visit

http://booksforallfoundation.blogspot.com 

for ongoing information!


Thanks!
Stacey Adams

Finding a Market for Your Art - Part 2: Getting a Book Out There

     You've found that book waiting to be written, you have a great manuscript and illustrations you've worked out and developed for months. POOF! It's a book. Oh if it was only that easy................. I'm sorry to burst any bubbles out there, but it is so not easy. First you have to decide how to approach the publishing market. Will you look for a literary agent, send manuscripts directly to publishers, self-publish? It is daunting. I can't really offer any advice, but I can share my own experience. I hope someone out there can find it useful :)

    

      I sent queries to two literary agents when A Home for Brooks was ready for publication. I got back two very polite rejections that shared the same theme... "We like your work but your audience is not broad enough. The children's literary market is extremely competitive and we feel your work won't reach a large audience." Next, I started looking for publishers who would actually accept queries from first time authors. I sent out three. From two, I waited the standard amount of time (a range from  6 to 12 weeks) and got no response. The third sent me another polite rejection letter that said high-risk readers were not their publishing demographic. Desperate, I moved onto one of the "you pay to play" publishers. I wanted to get my book out there badly so I could start sharing my message. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES NEED PUBLISHED READING MATERIAL THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE! Note above, the feedback I got from the publishing world that told me it wasn't a profitable market.
     Yes readers, I did "pay to play." Honestly, I can't completely bash this naive and desperate attempt. I got a quality product available in a variety of formats. The publisher was willing to let me take the lead on formatting of text and used my illustrations. The book is available online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. They arranged several book signing events, and I got some good publicity. Most importantly, I could take my message "on the road" with book in hand. A huge bonus was I learned how a book gets published, information every newbie, hopeful author should have.
     The big downside was the book was financially out of reach to most consumers when it was finished. The up front money was kind of a good faith give-away. When the book made it through production, I then had to pay an inflated amount for each copy I hoped to sell. I didn't get to name my price, the publisher did that for me and printed it on the back of the book. The suggested retail was $11.99 for a 6"x9" paperback or $21.99 for a 6"x9" hardback. Holy Moly! Who could afford that? The result of my "pay to play" venture will be the sale of a few hundred copies of the book, most I cut down to my cost just to get them to a decent retail price. Did I mention that you have to become a Limited Liability Corporation and collect sales tax if you sell your own books? If you "pay to play" you really have to "pay to play"!
     The upside...I did "Get a Book Out There" with A Home for Brooks and learned a lot! Did I actually find a market for my artwork in the process? Not really, but it was a first step. You have to take step after step. You are the voice for your talent. Art dealers and book publishers don't text you begging for a chance to promote your work. You have to market yourself step by step by step.
  
 In Part 3 of this series, I will share my next step in finding a market for my art. Check it out next week!
    
   

Finding a Market for Your Art - Part 1

     I have had that secret desire to, if not write, at least illustrate a children's book most of my adult life. I played with a few "manuscripts" over the years, but never felt that what I produced had direction or purpose.

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Scenes from an abandoned manuscript................

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I never did consider myself a writer, but as a special education teacher, learned very quickly that individualizing reading/learning material for children with disabilities meant I had to write.... but even more than that, I had to identify and understand my target audience.
     Special Educators spend more hours than can be counted creating from scratch and adapting existing materials to fit the varied disabilties of their students. Independent reading materials, in particular, are scarce to say the least. Children with developmental, physical, and cognitive challenges have few books to pick from in the school library or local bookstore. These students, though challenged in many ways in their academic environment, are socially aware that the reading materials available to them are different from those of their peers. For example, a struggling 4th grader may still need 1st/2nd grade leveled books from the young reader section of the library. That same student is saddened by the excitement of his or her peers exploring chapter books on the other side of the room, painfully aware that there is a divide.

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     Let me take a moment and explain, in my view, why so many books delay and actually inhibit reading development for children with varied disabilities. Based on my background in art and art education, I think the most obvious stumbling block is that of simple formatting. Text font is often inappropriate, of inappropriate size, or is given inappropriate placement within the visual field. This idea is supported by the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), (Mayer, 2009) which states that there is finite space within short-term memory for processing data. Imagine, then, the student with a variety of challenges trying to extract text from an overly complex visual field. So much short-term memory space is used that there is a limited amount of space left needed to proceed in the actual reading process.

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     I hadn't planned it, but it all came together. I had identifyed my target audience. They had been with me all along in my classroom year after year. I understood first hand that something new needed to be published, and I had found a purpose for my work as an illustrator and reluctant writer. I had a market for my art, and it had been with me all along.

Art and Illustration

    

 Wow! So much has happened in the last few months. I can't believe the 4th of July is here already! Finding my path as an artist has taken some surprising turns recently. I feel like I have 2 personalities, that of portrait artist and that of children's book illustrator. Both personalities came together at the Crown Center Chalk and Walk on the 18th and 19th. We were able to display illustration and portrait work side by side. What a powerful way to critique your own work while getting feedback from the community. I really had a chance to see that both aspects of my work do somehow fit together. I don't have to be one artist or the other. I am always both.
     TAKE A LOOK AT THE EVENT SLIDESHOW! I learned something else VERY valuable through the process of getting ready for the event. The term artist does not describe a solo career. As you can see in the photos, I had the help of my amazing family to make this event a success. My father, an amazing artist in his own right, designed and built my display space. My mom, who always downplays her own fantastic talent worked side-by-side with my dad building and painting each display section. (I don't think she even realizes it, but it is her skill with finishes that appears in my work as I play with texture and color. Yes, mom, I did get that from you!)
    My close friend and business partner, Bonnie, was there talking with visitors about Books for All and sharing our passion to create a series of books for children with special needs (more info in upcoming posts). So many of my illustrations are of her beautiful daughter Grace. I love that she loves to share my view of their world.
My husband and daughters were there as well. All making me feel like a rock star. They put so much energy into the event. I couldn't have done it without any of them.
     To those of you who see a little of my journey in the path you take, embrace those around you who love you and support you. Accept their criticism objectively and cherish their support. Afterall, they are part of your art!

Requested Comission Work Price List

Thanks to all who visited us at the KC Chalk and Walk June 18th and 19th.
My Comission work Price List follows............

INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS:

16"x20" canvas $200.00
18"x24" canvas $225.00
20"x24" canvas $250.00
24"x36" canvas $350.00
36"x 48" canvas $500.00

There is a $50.00 fee for each additional subject. I will work from a photo or can arrange a photo shoot for an additional fee. If you have any further questions, please contact me and I will get back with you promptly!

THANKS!
Stacey
sadams@booksforallonline.com

I Am Grace

Click here to view this photo book larger

Wow! It has been some time since I have posted. Getting Books for All up and running has been challenging and time consuming but oh so exciting! A Home for Brooks is really beginning to take off. I Am Grace will be available December 1st. Bonnie and I can't wait! I hope you enjoy this preview. We know you will love the book!

BOOKS for ALL! Moving Forward!

I apologize that I have been slightly absent in my blogging lately. I have been very, very busy getting BOOKS for ALL! up and running. The business-ness of business is daunting to say the least! Bank accounts, state numbers, federal numbers, logos................ It is quite overwhelming, but Bonnie and I are hanging in there. We have made a huge amount of progress in a short period of time. The website is now available. Check us out at.......
http://www.booksforallonline.com

Please leave comments. We would appreciate your feedback!

As for Brooks and myself, I think we are going to bed early tonight!

On the Easel

 

 Kryptonite

Completed Canvas - Morning Coffee

BOOKS for ALL!

     The publication of a book is exciting and daunting. There are so many things to consider. Do I want an agent? Do I want to submit my work directly to a publisher provided they accept unsolicited manuscripts? Do I want to self-publish and how does that differ from using a vanity press? Who will even give me the straight answers?     
     After careful thought and consideration, I chose self-publishing. I selected Tate Publishing because they offer many services that I knew little about, were willing to accept my manuscript and illustrations, and produce a quality book with a variety of technology-based options.  A Home for Brooks will be available with an audio book download, audio book on CD, and an e-book option. (If you are wondering, this does mean that I invested money in my own book.) Tate publishing also offers marketing support providing access to major book retailers and helps to arrange book signings and media coverage. 
     These are all great services but remember, I chose self-publishing. That means if I want my book available to beginning readers and children with special needs, I need to take responsibility for a lot of the promotion myself. I really believe in my work and am committed to providing books that are accessible and inclusive for all children.
     This is Grace. She is the subject of my next book, I Am Grace. Her mom is also passionate about making books available and accessible to children with learning challenges. We have partnered to form a new company BOOKS for ALL! Our goal is to increase awareness for specialty publications while collaborating on our own set of books. We are planning speaking engagements, book signings and website development to raise awareness, and the best part of all is that we are donating proceeds from each sale back to the organizations connected in some way to our work. There will be an events calendar posted to let you all know about upcoming events!