I’ve often thought about publishing an ebook online or getting something into print media (a physical book). Getting an ebook together wouldn’t be a difficult feat for me. I’ve read enough of them to recognise the layout, I’m quite comfortable in a variety of publishing and layout packages - convert the end product to PDF and find a home for it online.
So this morning I collect my mail and find a question from someone interested in publishing a book but also looking for illustrators for their book so I thought, why not make some suggestions through a post and share the information.
Publishing Your Book
I won’t lie - I’ve never dealt with physical book publishers. However, at CreativeCamp in March (I was one of the three main organisers of the conference), we had a talk on self-publishing books and what your options are online for print-on-demand books.
One option is Lulu.com who offer a variety of paperback books, hardbacks, photobooks, cookbooks and more. If you have all your files ready to go, you can upload the individual pages of your book to Lulu.com and get instant quotes on how many books you need.
My query for a 68 page (consider 4 belong to the cover, inside and out) colour A5 book, perfect bound, worked out at €281 for 20 copies of the book, meaning the manufacturing cost per book would be €14.05. Buy in bulk and save, opt for black and white and save, change your stitching types and save, change your page size and save.
Lulu.com also allows you to define your own price, sell the books online from your own store front, get your own ISBN number and look at distribution options in up to 60,000 outlets online and off.
Another company in the self-publishing marketplace is InstantPublisher.com who will turn around a minimum order of 25 copies of your book at trade quality in 7-10 days. For 25 books at 68 pages, colour cover, black and white content, perfect-bound in similar size the cost was significantly lower - at just $113.50.
Freelance Illustrators
So you’ve found a publisher you’re happy with and you now need an illustrator for your book. Why not explore the options provided by the many freelance illustrators working online?
The NJ Creatives Network, based in New Jersey, is home to several freelance illustrators whose samples of work and contact details can be found here.
Creative Freelance are a UK-based organisation drawing on freelance artists and illustrators from the Ipswich and Suffolk area of the UK. You can find some of their freelance illustrators here.
The Freelance Alliance (creative freelancer network) also plays home to a number of freelance illustrators working online, again all with samples of their work, viewable CVs and direct contacts for the illustrators in question.
Something To Add?
If you’ve got something to add or would like to share a resource on self-publishing or sourcing freelance illustrators for books, then leave a comment or drop me an email and I’ll get your link added.
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