Robert Young

And here’s a warm welcome to blog readers from the Amazon Author Page site. I have recently set up this page to share the work I have done, and the work I am doing. The latest is a picture book biography of America’s most famous toymaker: A.C. Gilbert. The book is titled The Magic of A.C. Gilbert and is an e-book version, my very first ever. This version comes as a result of my association with eReadia, a very cool company that’s offering e-books as well as innovative tech support for both teachers and writers. Check out their site at www.eReadia.com. Thanks, Will (the Prez), for your vision and your support.

Another e-book will soon be available on the Amazon site, too. Stay tuned…

The act of writing is the key element for any writer. But, it’s important to put that activity in context. In the case of writing for children, it’s essential to interact with the audience – with kids. That’s why I’ll be working in some classrooms this year at a local elementary school as a visiting author and fellow writer. I’ll be sharing my ideas and work as well as listening and providing feedback to kids. My first visit was yesterday; I introduced myself and some of my books, then the kids wrote introductions. I am enjoying reading them, and I look forward to working with the fourth graders at Willagillespie Elementary School, in Eugene.

First days of school are mystical. A few are memorable. The most memorable one for me was not my own but my son’s. Tyler’s first day of kindergarten was a landmark: our first child going off to public school for the first time. Excitement, anxiety, and hope for the future filled the air at our house.
After the obligatory photos that would become a family tradition (Tyler with Mom, Tyler with Dad, Tyler with the dog), I drove Tyler the two miles to school. We talked easily on the drive, about the fun he would have and about the games we would play when school was over.

The school was buzzing with cars and busses and parents and kids. Tyler and I walked hand-in-hand to his classroom. He looked around, wide-eyed at the activity. As we neared his classroom our pace slowed. When we were about 10 feet away from the door, Tyler dropped to his knees on the ground and pulled me with him.

“Whatsa’ matter, Tyler?” I whispered in his ear.

“I’m a little scared,” a small voice replied.

I let that sink in.

“Me, too,” I told him.

We stayed frozen a while then Tyler turned to face me. His blue eyes glistened as he wrapped his arms around me. Then he stood up straight, walked past the parents that hovered outside the classroom door, and into into his new world.

What “First Day” stands out for you?

Producing a book with a publisher has advantages…and disadvantages.

The major advantage that I see is that the publisher takes the financial risk of producing the book. They are responsible (and pay) for everything: the artwork, design, editing, printing, and marketing. That’s quite huge, and there’s more. They pay for your words, too. They may pay you a flat fee or a royalty, a percentage of the sale of the book. My preference is a royalty and, if possible, a royalty on the retail cost of the book rather than the “net” (what they sell it for, which is usually less than retail). I feel much more a part of the “team” when getting a royalty, and I operate on the hopes on many different printings, which will yield more money. Reality check-in: This does not always happen.

Finding a publisher willing to take on your book in this highly competitive market is very challenging. If you are fortunate to get one, I see two main disadvantages. The first is that, since the publisher has the main responsibility for producing the book, they also are going to make most of the decisions about the book (size, what it looks like, number of copies, hard or soft cover). My experience has been that most are open to feedback from the author, but the ultimate decisions will be theirs. It makes sense, though, given they are the ones taking the risk.

However, the decisions publishers make can cause repercussions for authors. Case in point: I wrote a beginning bio of Christopher Columbus. In it, the editor had cut out some of the text about when Columbus and his crew landed in the “New World.” The deleted text had to do with the people (Tainos) who were already living. In addition, the illustrator did not show any of those people in his artwork. Result: I was criticized for the oversight. Was it my fault that this happened? No. But people assume that the person whose name is on the book is responsible for all its contents. Lesson learned for me.

The other main disadvantage of working with a publisher is that the author only makes a small percentage of the price of each book. With self-publishing, all the money goes to the author. However, much of that money will be going to pay the costs of producing the book.

My personal preference has been to work with a publisher in producing books, but to keep an open mind and be willing to “put your money where your mouth is” when appropriate. I am grateful to have had positive experiences in both realms, and I am very pleased that the stigma of self-published books (low quality, unprofessional) has improved over time. Some highly successful authors are now choosing to self-publish despite lucrative contracts offered by publishers. The popularity of e-books is making a huge impact on the publishing industry and I would suggest exploring that avenue as you consider options for your work.

In the end, as in the beginning, anyone can get a book published. It’s all about how you want to do it. And I hope you will. Good luck!

Hard at work on the next book.

Self-publishing may be for you if:

You have a book that HAS to be published, no matter what.

You want total control of the final product.

Your book will have a clearly defined market that can easily be reached.

Self-publishing in not for you if:

You don’t have the financial resources to pay for the project (i.e. illustrations, design/layout, editing, printing).

You are not detail-oriented (since you will be responsible for overseeing the project).

You do not want to take the time and energy to market your book.

Believe me, self-publishing is risky. You put up all the money to complete the book, then spend the next few years trying to make your money back, and maybe even a profit, by selling the books. If money is not an issue, you can just give the books away and all is well. Your ideas, stories, and/or information is out there. If, on the other hand, you need or want to make money on the book, you can do it if you work hard and have a bit of luck.You can also have someone else distribute your books (although that takes away a chunk of the money that would otherwise be going to you).

An example: A few years back, I wrote a children’s book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. It was an interactive book in that kids completed drawings and colored in the book as well as wrote the answers to questions. Publishers did not show much interest due to the interactive nature of the book. I had a defined market (8 to 11 year olds) and the topic was timely since it was during the lead-up to the bicentennial. So, I self-published. I worked really hard, driving the Lewis & Clark Trail, stopping at bookstores and museums along the way. Those places ordered, two or three, maybe five at one time, but it was slow going. And then I got lucky. The state’s National Guard decided to develop a Lewis & Clark program and present it to schools. They wanted to hand out my books to their student audiences. Bingo! They ordered 2,000 books, which required another print run which I was more than happy to do since the books were presold.

There are many other self-publishing stories, both inspiring and frightening. The key is to have an awareness of what you’re getting into…before you get into it.

Next time…working with a publisher.