The turn-around time for responses from both agents and publishers vary, but usually it is months. I spent lots of time waiting. Then came the responses...countless rejection letters about how
“theproject was not right for them.” I was prepared for these and took them in stride. I asked for feedback and anything I received I absorbed like a sponge. I made recommended changes which I
amso thankful for because i fully believe that I made my book better.
Sprinkled in with the rejection letters I got a couple of interested parties. Most of them has the same question of “would I be providing my own illustrations?” My gut reaction initially was nobecause I wasn’t sure I would be able to capture the story and do it justice the way a real artist might.
At this point I had narrowed down my interested publishers to just 2. The one I chose to pursue encouraged me to submit some rough sketches for review. Putting my faith in the publisher, I submittedthem and got a positive response. This was how I became the illustrator of my own book.
Unfortunately, that initial publisher and I did not end up working together, but I received an email offer with a contract attached. That was how my partnership with Pen It Publications wasborn.
So in response to that “how” question from the start of this blog, my answer is a lot of research, trial and error, and hard work. Stick with it, don’t get discouraged, and your book will find itsway out into the world!
Sprinkled in with the rejection letters I got a couple of interested parties. Most of them has the same question of “would I be providing my own illustrations?” My gut reaction initially was nobecause I wasn’t sure I would be able to capture the story and do it justice the way a real artist might.
At this point I had narrowed down my interested publishers to just 2. The one I chose to pursue encouraged me to submit some rough sketches for review. Putting my faith in the publisher, I submittedthem and got a positive response. This was how I became the illustrator of my own book.
Unfortunately, that initial publisher and I did not end up working together, but I received an email offer with a contract attached. That was how my partnership with Pen It Publications wasborn.
So in response to that “how” question from the start of this blog, my answer is a lot of research, trial and error, and hard work. Stick with it, don’t get discouraged, and your book will find itsway out into the world!
