How do you get a children's book published?

Question

My mother has written a children's book and would like to get it published. It's a very good book and has started a series for the books. We would like to get them started to be published and do not want to just hand it over to anybody. She also doesn't want to sell it. We want to have it published and pay a percentage of the earnings. Are there any places you can suggest?

Answer 1

Realistically, a first time author is highly unlikely to find a good agent to represent her.  Agents are looking for authors with a track record.

Your mom's best bet -- learn the right way to submit a manuscript to a publisher.  And, perhaps even more importantly, learn how to polish a mansucript so a publsiher will consider it.

As for someone stealing the idea -- that really doesn't happen very often.  If she's concerned, though, she can copyright the mansucript.  Here's a link on how to do that:

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

Now, here are a couple of links to help your mom get started:

Tips for beginners:  http://www.write4kids.com/basics.html

Tips on polishing a manuscript:  http://www.write4kids.com/craft.html

Frequently asked questions about writing children's books:

http://www.write4kids.com/faq.html

Good luck!

All the best,

Jon Bard

Managing Editor

Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers - http://write4kids.com

Answer 2

You'd have to shop around for something that specific. Any way that you do it, though, you need an agent. They can help you through the ins-and-outs and usually only take about 10% profit.

Go get yourself a copy of "Writer's Market", they have listings for agents and publishing companies and all sorts of useful things to get you started.

Good luck.