Thank you friends for helping us all by critiquing—but also for organizing conferences and workshops where we could make contacts, all the likes and sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the childcare and cooking, tech support, and that smile of encouragement you always gave. What an amazing community you are!
Our group in this blog, Drawn to Picture Books, consists of two men and four women. We are friends as well as critique partners. But we all also belong to other groups as well. Some of us have local art groups, or writing groups consisting of members spread across the globe. I used to Skype regularly with a writer in Brooklyn, one in Germany, and another in South Africa. We are members of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and CBIG (Children's Book Illustration Group). We seek out the advice of our peers, those above us, with more experience, and those folks new to the process with a fresh eye.
Basically, we network.
And yet–most of us will tell you that social connection does not come as naturally as it looks on the surface. We be shy!
So why struggle to make new friends and connections when writing and submitting is a solitary experience? Why listen to the very friendly Lin Oliver at an SCBWI conference when she tells you, from behind the podium, to reach out and connect with others? I remember hearing her say that in 2009, 2012 and 2014 in NYC. I thought it couldn't possibly be as important as she made it sound. But she is charming, sweet and funny. How could I not try her advice?
At each conference or event, I might make one or two friends. Sometimes those friendships thrived online. And sometimes they developed into critique partners. Becoming part of this blog was an organic process with SCBWI friends picked up by Deb Cuneo along the way. She really pulled the group together!
We shared our work, occasionally met up after a CBIG or SCBWI meeting, talked on the phone, and texted when we just needed help. We've been a group for a while now–and though we don't operate with the same organization that we did in the beginning–we are all such good friends, we just like to stay connected.
So what is the point of all this connection?
It's so hard to see up close, in the moment. I wanted to be published immediately and thought friendship was too slow to make a dent in my goals. But today, I look back and see that each and every person that I shared work with, that also shared work with me, helped me to get here: two books published within a year. That could be luck or a fluke. But of the six members, two of us have books that launched on the very same day (April 3, 2018). And one more member had a book launch two weeks before us.
3 out of 6 people in our group launched a book within the same two weeks. 50% of our group. Published by traditional publishers. Within two weeks.
I'm not mathematically inclined, but I do think that speaks to the power of connection within a group of like-minded people constantly striving to improve their craft.
The three of us plan to celebrate together at Little City Books in Hoboken on Sunday, April 15th, 2018 at 11am. Stop by and say hello! There will be games, and drawing, and cookies and fun. But mostly, you will be making one more connection that might make a difference in your own journey!
A few weeks ago I finished Scoop the Ice Cream Truck for Sky
Pony Press —already up on Amazon for Presale! Whoo-hoo! It was an amazing,
challenging and wonderful experience!
But last week I felt this need to rip something up, to get over trying to make every image just right, to be random. You
know what I mean?
I got some scrapbooking papers.
Three seconds. Rip. Glue. Three seconds. Rip. Glue. Three
seconds. Snip. Glue. It's important to be quick or your 'creative' brain will
take over and be really annoying . . . "You know, Patricia, those colors don't
work." "Just sayin'." "You're going to put that there? Really?"
So. You’ve got a book coming out. Or maybe your friend does. Or your critique partner? Or maybe it's your social media pal that you’ve never met in person but you feel like if you lived closer that you’d BFFs forever and hang out all the time. (Odds are that if it's the last one, you've got a problem — but that’s another blog.) What are some of the ways you can support that book to give it it’s best shot at sales success?
I’ve been thinking about this recently. I had a book out last year and, while it sold some copies, it didn’t break any records if you know what I mean. Now I’ve got some friends (yes—I have friends. You're jerks for thinking I didn’t.) who have books that have been recently released and I want to support them. These friends include fellow D2PB bloggers Barbara DiLorenzo and Patrica Keeler. (See — they’re friends!) I’m trying to take what I learned from my first book release and apply those lessons to them. This list is, by no means, exhaustive. I’m sure there are things I’ve forgotten or things I just haven’t figured out yet but here’s what I’ve got:
1)Buy the book.
DO IT (if you can)! I try to support all my friends in their endeavors. Which also means I end up buying a bunch of books. I will say, sometimes my wife looks at me funny (not ha-ha funny) when I’m making a huge book purchase —mainly because we’ve run out of room to put them. If that’s something you're not able to do, go grab it from the library and read it over and be proud of your friend’s accomplishment.
2)Talk to the library.
Pretend those are books in her hands instead of shampoo.
If you are at the library and you don’t see your friend’s book, you march right over to the children’s librarian and you ask who’s in charge of ordering books. You tell them kindly, but forcibly, to order your friend’s amazing book and put it on their shelves! You’d be surprised at how many librarians would love to hear a good recommendation for an addition to their collection. And they talk to each other— so maybe your librarian will talk to another librarian about the book. They’ll tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends. It’s like that shampoo commercial from the 70’s. You’ll be doing a public service by getting a good book out there for all to read. You’re a hero now. Happy?
3)Show up.
If you live locally and can attend a launch party or a book signing, do it. Your author/illustrator friend will be so pleased that you did. I mean it. There were people that showed up to some of my events that I hadn’t seen in years and it meant more to me than I know how to communicate. You do not have to buy a second copy. I promise. I’ll also add that we’ve all had the book event that no one shows up to and deep down inside, it can be heartbreaking. Don’t do that to your buddy. Bring your kids. Sometimes, there are even cookies. COOKIES. Who doesn’t love cookies?
4)Talk it up.
Tell your friends and loved ones and people on the street about this book. Lend your copy out to friends with kids. Word of mouth really helps with these things and people love a book that they have some connection with — however tenuous it is.
I can't help it. That's my face. I was born that way.
5)Talk it up —Internet Style - Part One.
Do post about your pal’s book on social media. Hold up the book and take a picture with it or a shot of your kids reading it. Or repost a great review from PW or Kirkus. Don’t cram it down people’s throats. Sometimes a pic and a blurb are enough.
6)Talk it up - Internet Style - Part Two.
If you've got a blog or access to a blog, do a post about your amigo’s book. It can help. Most kidlit blogs are great sources of knowledge and can also be a cornerbIock for building great kidlit communities. I will say, however, that sometimes I feel like we’re just selling to ourselves. I think the things we see again and again on kidlit blogs sometimes have little bearing on what the outside world is seeing. But I digress.
7)Review it.
I actually think this one might be the most important and it probably takes the least amount of time and effort. Go to amazon.com and goodreads.com and any other review site, and review your friend’s book. Go give them 5 stars and write a nice description of why you love it. These reviews and rankings can be so important to sales and noticeability. We can argue over the finer points of these things another time. There are always going to be jerks who write really crappy things and troll a book with 1 star so be the other end of the spectrum and bring the average back up. It’s emotionally gratifying for your author/illustrator friend to read too.
3 Stars isn't awful. Those are some of my fave bad reviews for Mr. P.
There’s always more you can do but I think that’s a pretty good list to start with. Be proud of you friend. You all know that making a book is hard. Spread the word and I’m pretty certain that your friend will do the same for you when your book comes out. And go support my friends and review Patricia’s Lizzie and Lou Seal and Barbara’s Renato and the Lion. And if you’ve got another free second, go review Mr. Particular. It’s never too late.
By day, Jason is an emmy nominated set designer for
television, with credits that include Harry, The Meredith Vieira
Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Late Show with David
Letterman. By night, Jason is an author and illustrator of children's
books. You can find his debut picture book, Mr. Particular: The World's
Choosiest Champion on shelves in bookstores everywhere. See Jason's
work, both illustrations and set designs, at www.jasonkirschner.com .
Follow him on instagram @jkirsch118.
I've been showing my art for over
15 years, everything from basements to corporate
galleries. Take whatever chance you get to show your work, you'll grow from it,
trust me. To me, showing my work has always been a social event. I love being at the
opening, talking to people, sharing an experience. It's an important part of the
process for me. I'd like to share a quick look at some of the shows along my
journey, but I don't want to talk about the art. I'd like to focus on the
events.
Let's start with 2003, my first show after art school. A group of artists put together a show in my backyard. We called it Art in the Garden. It was really a bunch of young local artists
showing their work to each other. I think we had wine too. We put up easels in the backyard and around the house. It was a blast, and I learned that my work all over the
place, but I didn't care. I enjoyed the social aspect of the show and sharing
my work with friends. I was hooked.
Original invite to Art in the Garden
Next is Streets2k5, with Albus Cavus, and artist collective I worked with for many years, starting this show. It took place in New Brunswick, NJ. The show was at eight different
venues, with over 100 international artists (most mailed in their work) It included outdoor painting, musical performance, and a radio interview. This was a HUGE event that created incredible memories, lasting
friendships, and fuel to continue pursuing my art. I'm still in touch with many
of the artists I met from this show.
Streets 2k5, Showing the Harvest Moon, Feaster Park, TheCORE, New Brunswick NJ
Right around the same time I felt I
could hold a solo show. I had three successful solo shows over three years, at
The Harvest Moon, New Brunswick, NJ. I started to look at the solo show as more
of an experience I was creating for the viewer. It wasn't just about the art on
the walls. It was also the announcements, the promotions, and the environment.
Commuter, Harvest Moon Brewery, New Brunswick, NJ
In 2011, Hinterland, was a group
show at Aristeia Metro, in the NY Design Center. Four artists of varying style,
brought together by a super cool interior design company, to show work and have
a party for their clients. This group can throw a fun party. They had an
amazing DJ, passed hors d'oeuvres, bartenders, dessert trays. I
learned that passed hors d'oeuvres REALLY makes a difference. An upscale event
can change perception for your audience. It's not necessary, but it's something
nice to offer your guests.
Hinterland, Aristeia Metro, NY Design Center, NY
Daydreams, Solo show at Salon Concrete, Red Bank, NJ, in the fall of 2014. Our twin boys
were born in February, 2015, so I knew I wanted to take a break. I also knew
that after that show I would be switching gears to get into the world of
children's literature. This was a CRAZY show. The salon based a collection of
style, cut, and color, on my work. Click here to see styles. We had a live photo shoot in the front space
of the Salon. You could see the photo shoot from the street through a nice big
window. Inside you were greeted by a wall my original skateboard designs, and a
whole bunch of people. Once you walked into the space, we had two tables of hot
and cold food, passed hors d'oeuvres, and an amazing DJ. My art filled the walls, both framed work and line art paintings directly on
the walls. It was jam packed with people. What a night!
Daydreams, Salon Concrete, Red Bank, NJ
Why am I telling you all of this?
I'm starting to understand that creating picture books, for the most part, is a quiet, solitary
journey. It's easy to get caught up in that, but what happens when you have a
book launch, or need to promote your book? There may be long breaks between those books. How can you maintain a following? Hold
events with your art. Socialize.Join group shows, promote your work, gain a following. Put
yourself out there. You work so hard on this process, you should share the work that you
create. Do it for yourself. Trust me, if you've never shown your work, you
don't need a corporate art gallery or fancy design center. You can show at a library or restaurant. Just try it. Invite some friends and
have a good time. See what happens.
After a short hiatus, (our twin boys are now two yrs old) I am getting back to showing my work... and I have two coming up.
The Wondrous World of Children’s Book Illustrators
