Creating Soaring Soren, Part Seven: Royalty and Vanity and Assisted, Oh My!

One of the most daunting aspects of my quest to make Soren’s children’s book a reality, was navigating the vast sea that is publishing.  The options seemed endless, the terminology foreign to me and the differences between the various options was unclear at best, overwhelming at worst.

Once upon a time, authors wrote books, publishers published them, marketed them, distributed them and paid authors a royalty (portion of the profits from sales) for books sold.  But in today’s world, that traditional publishing arrangement is only one way to publish a book.

“Vanity Publishing,” as it is called, is at the other end of the spectrum.  Basically this is publishing for a fee.  You pay, and they will produce your book.  They don’t have to like it or think it worthy of publishing or that it will sell.  Since you are making the investment, and you assume all the risk, how the book does once it is published is your concern.

Then there are a million options in between.  Assisted self-publishing options abound.  Some lean more toward vanity publishing, others do review the book, provide input on the quality and likelihood to succeed, and only accept books they feel have a shot at success.  You do pay them for services, which can include design of the interior, cover design, editing, illustrations, marketing, etc.  Some include distribution, warehousing, a webpage from which you can sell books directly.  Often these services are a la carte, though many offer bundles.  For example, if you are publishing a children’s book, they may offer a package that includes features and services typically associated with that genre (illustrations, hardcover binding on heavier paper stock, etc.).  Some providers allow you to retain full ownership of the book and any royalties, and others take a portion of the royalties.

There are self-publishing options like Amazon’s CreateSpace, that will allow you to upload your file in one of their templates, and publish it for free, or at a very low cost.  You get an author’s page on Amazon, can select from various distribution models, and can purchase a la carte services from them as well for editing, cover design, etc. as needed.

I am certainly not an expert on publishing options, nor do I play one on TV.  If you are interested in publishing a book (children’s or otherwise), there is a great deal of information out there from experienced sources.  What I will do is just share a few of my own observations I made as I sorted through the options for my own book, in case they are helpful.

First observation … Buyer Beware!  There are some very reputable providers out there.  But there are also many who are ready, willing and able to milk all they can from passionate-but-naïve would-be authors.   You can easily end up spending a fortune to produce a book that, unless you are savvy about marketing and have a top quality product, may never come close to recovering your initial investment.

If you want to take a stab at publishing a book yourself without a huge upfront investment, options like CreateSpace (and there are others like Barnes & Noble’s similar offer) aren’t a bad choice.  CreateSpace is perhaps not ideal for children’s books because they only offer softcover at this time and the paper quality is not as substantial as some children’s books.  But it is quick, doesn’t require much upfront investment, and since it is print on demand (the book is printed only when someone orders it), you don’t have to invest in or store a supply of books to fulfill orders. I thought it was a great option to "get your feet wet" without going into hock to give being an author a shot. 

CreateSpace is also a great option if you want to create a book for a limited audience.  For example, a friend told me of a book she wrote for her grandkids about their own family.  I adore this idea, and CreateSpace is an easy and affordable way to make that happen.  What a wonderful gift to give your grandchildren!

If you can’t invest money upfront, don’t want to own the responsibility for marketing and distribution and you have the patience to go through what can be a slow process, traditional publishing can be the best route.  What I discovered is that many larger publishers will not accept submissions directly from authors.  You need an agent, and getting an agent seems to me to be almost as tricky as getting a publisher.  If you like to network, joining writing groups and associations can help create contacts.

Submitting your book directly to traditional publishers can be a waiting game that requires stamina and patience

There are some traditional publishers that do accept direct submissions from authors.  Most have very specific guidelines for those submissions that you must follow exactly if you want to be considered.  And the majority indicate that it can take up to six months to respond.  Materials are usually not returned to you (for snail mail submissions), and many state that if they are not interested, they will not respond at all.  So it can be a waiting game, particularly if you want to submit to publishers who require that your submission to them is exclusive (as in you submit the manuscript only to them and not to any other publisher).  If your book falls into a specific niche, finding a publisher that specializes in that niche can certainly increase your chance for success.  They not only may be more likely to be interested in your manuscript, but they also have expertise in that market that can help sell books for you in the end.

Assisted self-publishing choices can be great if you can find the right package of services for you, but be prepared to weed through lots of options, and it can be tough to determine what services are essential, vs. nice to have, vs. a waste of money.  Do you want to have your book available in bookstores, online bookstores, on an author website?  Do you want hardcover or paperback or both?  Do you want an ebook version?  For children's books I learned that hardcover with heavier stock paper is preferred for little (sometimes grimy and not so gentle) hands to hold, and that ebook format is not the best for that genre.

You will also need to carefully weigh the money you will need to invest against what the potential sales might be.  Once you subtract the cost to produce the book and the portion of the profits that goes to the sales/distribution channel, you need to sell a lot of books to recover a substantial investment.  That means you have to put in a lot of effort marketing, or pay still more money for someone else to do it for you.

Another route you can go is to find your own providers for individual services, and then use a company that offers printing and distribution services to publish the book yourself under your own imprint.  You find an editor you like, an illustrator and/or cover designer you like, etc., produce the ready-to-print product, and then hire a printing service to produce the book.  Many also offer distribution services including warehousing inventory, fulfillment services, etc.

One thing you might consider if you are serious about publishing a book for the first time, is investing in professional advice.  It can save you a great deal of money in the long run.  Krista Hill, of L Talbott Publishing Consulting and Editorial Services, has been a great resource for me.  Krista provided frank and constructive input on my manuscript, several levels of editing, from developing the story to detailed copy editing, and also provided insights and guidance on my publishing options.  She not only was instrumental in making my manuscript the best it could be, but helped give me the confidence to move forward and make the choices I needed to make to do so.

For me, this was the most challenging part of the process, because my lack of experience made it tough to evaluate the options open to me.  In the end, I was very fortunate to find a wonderful publisher with an interest in my subject matter and an appreciation for my story.  It was a great fit and lifted much of the burden of navigating this aspect alone.   

If you are passionate about your manuscript and motivated to get it out there, my best advice is this:  Yes, this part is difficult, and it can be tempting to throw up your hands and say I give up.  Just take it one step at a time, with your realistic goals for your book in mind.  Get professional help where you need it, to understand your options and make your manuscript the best it can be.  Having a strong, professionally-edited, cohesive manuscript will serve you well and open doors for you, regardless of which path you take.  Ask questions, do research, be persistent, and you will find the path that is right for you and your book.

Be persistent and you will find the path that is right for you and your book!

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Six: Ouch, the Editing

In my wanderings around the Internet to research children’s books, I learned that, aside from quality illustrations, the other critical aspect to success was a quality, professionally edited manuscript.  I discovered that picture books are quite formulaic—typically a certain number of pages, a certain number of words—and my stream of consciousness manuscript was clearly too long and too complex for my chosen audience. 

From my research, it seems people often assume it is easier to write for children than adults.  Certainly it is less voluminous, but there is definitely a challenge in explaining a complex story succinctly and in a manner that children can appreciate.  Whether I opted to self-publish or submit the manuscript to traditional publishers, I needed to find a good, professional editor!

Enter Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial.  Krista came highly recommended, and with good reason.  She first provided me with an assessment of the manuscript at a higher level, and then a more detailed edit.  Was the story worth telling?  Did the story have a logical flow?  Were there loose ends or inconsistencies?  Were the characters developed well?  Was there too much detail?  Too little detail?  Was the writing appropriate for the intended audience? And finally, the nitty-gritty of spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Each word needed to be carefully chosen and earn its place in the story.

I have to say that editing what you have written, especially in the case of a manuscript based on a true story so dear to my heart as this one, can be a painful process.  You have agonized over each word.  Each detail of the story is full of meaning and memories.  But I recognized that Krista’s suggestions had merit and would improve the manuscript.  Some things needed more detail and elaboration.  Others needed to be simplified or even removed altogether.

Editing the manuscript for Soaring Soren was sometimes painful, but a critical part of telling the story in the best way possible

At a certain point, I had to let go of my emotional attachment to some aspects, and just start rewriting.  Like taking off a band aid, it hurts less when you steel yourself and just do it quickly.  I had to admit that, despite the sometimes painful process, each iteration (and there were many) got better and better.

When we thought we had the manuscript “together,” I handed it off to Morgan to begin mapping out the illustrations.  She came back to me with the news that it was still too long.  We had two options:  make the book longer than we had intended, which added expense and took us farther from the accepted formula for a picture book for children, or find a way to shorten the manuscript.

And so my struggle to strike a balance between reality and telling the story began.

Soren was born in Denmark, and bred by someone who has, over the years, become a cherished friend: Tove Rasmussen of Daulokke Kennels.  Tove has produced many Champion French Bulldogs, and many, like Soren, who are also very athletic, smart and with much humor and much heart for those they love and everything they undertake.  Along the road, Tove has taken great interest and pride in Soren's accomplishments.  She shared my journey with Soren, and I often thought of her as his "first human mom."

Baby Soren in Denmark

In the original manuscript, the story (true to real life) included someone else who has become a cherished friend over the years, Suzanne Orban-Stagle.  

Suzanne on the left

Suzanne of JustUs Kennels, was Soren's "second human mom" and had brought Soren over from Denmark to the U.S. when he was a puppy to be a show dog and part of her French Bulldog breeding program. 

Soren as a puppy, at his home with Suzanne in MD -- even then you could see his intelligence and soulful, loving nature

When Soren grew too big for the show ring, it was Suzanne who recognized how smart, athletic and determined he was, and who decided he was destined for other things besides the conformation ring.  We met through mutual friends in performance sports who knew I had competed with another Frenchie in Obedience, Rally and Agility. That is how, at the age of 1 ½ years old, Soren came to live with me to be my agility dog, and as it turned out, my very best friend.  

Young Soren celebrating Christmas at Suzanne's.  Can't you just hear him saying, "isn't it time to open my presents yet?"

It was Suzanne’s love for Soren, her appreciation of the many things he had to offer and her willingness to let him to have the life he was meant to lead, even if it was different from the one she had planned for him, that prompted her to let him go.  That selfless decision made my story with Soren possible, and her generosity over the years that followed, enabled us to accomplish more than any of us ever could have imagined back then. 

I will be forever grateful for the generosity and love that Suzanne showed in allowing Soren to come to live with me -- as it turned out, it was such an amazing gift for me and for Soren.  

The very first publisher who reviewed the manuscript had suggested that having two owners in the story might add too much complexity for young children.  Morgan and Krista agreed.  But in my heart, this was very much Suzanne’s story too, so it was a difficult decision for me.  Suzanne and I discussed it, and agreed that I would make the change, and that the character that was Suzanne and the character that was me would become one character who had Soren from the time he was a puppy. 

I was not sure how to tell the story that way initially, but once I looked at that character as a combination of the two of us, it seemed somehow appropriate and the rewrite just flowed.  We both loved Soren and vice versa.  Suzanne was the first person I called whenever Soren did something wonderful or something funny over the years, and the one who cried on the phone with me at the end when we had to make the decision to say goodbye to him.  He brought us together and took us on a most amazing journey that will forever bind us in a special friendship born of shared adventure, and I feel incredibly blessed that we have been able to share the ups and downs over the years.  

Finally, when the major rewrites were complete, a long-time friend and author, Rory Janis Miller, who (lucky for me!) is a retired children’s librarian, agreed to have a look at the manuscript and was kind enough to give me her perspective based on years of reading books to children in the age group of my target audience.  Her insights helped me make those final adjustments to the story to ensure it was one children could both understand and embrace.

The manuscript today is quite different from the one I wrote well over a year ago.  One of the challenges, and I suppose the art of a good children’s book, is knowing when to use words to tell the story, and when to let the illustrations do the talking.  In many instances, less is more.  The process, though sometimes emotionally taxing, allowed me how to look at storytelling in a fascinating, new way.  In the end, I believe the manuscript is much stronger for all the rewrites, and I am grateful for the wise and wonderful input that helped make it so.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Five: A Little Help from My Friends

The next big piece of the puzzle I needed to solve for was professional editing.  And perhaps most daunting, I needed to figure out the complex and seemingly endless options for publishing.   The more I read, the more confused I became.  So I decided to throw up a flag on Facebook and ask my friends for help. 

Did anyone know, or know anyone who knew, anything about publishing a children’s book? 

And help they did!  Several people knew other authors who were willing to talk with me about their books, the publishing options they used and why.  They were so kind, patient and generous with their time.  One introduced me to a children’s book illustrator with a major publisher who was willing to talk with me.  He gave me lots of great info about illustrations, guidelines for children's books, and he suggested a publisher a friend had used and liked.  Some shared their self-publishing experiences.  A few other friends knew another publisher I could contact. 

I reached out to a friend that had written a number of dog-related books and asked about who she used for editing, and she pointed me to Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial Services.  I’m so glad she did!  Krista was wonderful, and not only was she able to help me with editing, but she also was a great resource for starting to understand the various publishing options out there.

I was so touched by people’s willingness to help and to share their knowledge.  They were not only enlightening, they were encouraging, and their successes added to my determination that I could and would find a way. 

Little by little, one conversation at a time, the plan forward began to take shape.  I knew if I waited for all the details to fall into place, it would never happen.  So I resolved to just keep taking small steps in the right direction, and keep believing that as long as I kept walking forward, the path would become clear.

Please check out these and other books by these very generous and talented people ...

The Long Road to Antietam:  How the Civil War Became a Revolution by Richard Slotkin

Sashi the Scared Little Sheltie by Linda Greiner and illustrated by Morgan Spicer

Bev: The Invisible Sister by Rory Janis Miller

Six Sisters by P.J. Lazos

PJ Finds a Home by Sharon Wells Wagner

Chester GiGolo:  Diary of a Dog Star by Christina Potter

Grandma D's Bubbles:  A Lesson in Life and Loss by Debra Joy Hart

Paws & Effect:  The Healing Power of Dogs by Sharon Sakson

Woolbur illustrated by Lee Harper

L Talbott Publishing Consultant and Editorial Services

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Four: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

As with any project, half the battle is assembling a great team.   In hindsight, that process began before my Soren book idea was even formed.

A few years ago, I happened to see an illustration of a friend’s agility dog posted on Facebook.  It was precious and really captured the dog’s look and personality in a very “Disney-esque” way.  I loved it and wanted one of my own dogs, so I contacted the artist on Facebook and had her do a portrait of two of my four dogs:  Soren and Remus.  It was wonderful!  That very talented artist was Morgan Spicer of Bark Point Studio.

Audra, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

A while later, shortly after I wrote the first draft of Soren’s manuscript, I decided I wanted to have Morgan illustrate my other two dogs, Audra and Ferris, and do an illustration of a friend’s dog who had passed away recently as a special remembrance to give to my friend.  Morgan did those illustrations for me and I loved them as well. 

Ferris, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

While on the her Facebook page, I noticed some posts about a children’s book Morgan was working on, and the illustrations were wonderful.  I sent her Soren’s manuscript and asked her if she might be interested in illustrating his book, and she said she would be interested.  I was thrilled. 

Charlotte, one of my favorite Frenchies and beloved heart dog of a dear friend.  Morgan Spicer (c) created this wonderful remembrance.

We talked about the publisher she was working with on her current book.  I contacted them and was thrilled again when they were interested in publishing the book.  I learned that, while they provided all the guidance and services needed to publish the book under their imprint, It was up to the author to finance the project, including paying for editing, design and layout services, and printing of the book itself.  They were very professional and supportive, I liked the work they did, their services seemed topnotch and I could retain full ownership of the book and the royalties.  But the price tag was definitely out of my league.  As excited as I was by the prospect of doing the book with them, I just could not figure out how to make it financially feasible.  So back in the drawer it went.  I needed to think some more.

After Soren passed away in January of 2016, my resolve to find a path forward with the book took on a life of its own.  I started reading all I could about children’s books on the Internet, and one thing became very clear:  When it comes to children’s books, if you don’t have great illustrations, don’t bother.  I wished I had the talent to bring the words I wrote to life in illustrations, but I recognized that I could not do it justice.  So I got back in touch with Morgan, and was delighted that she was still interested in working with me on the book.  In my mind, Soren was very much the perfect Disney-style hero, and Morgan’s artistic style seemed ideally suited to portray him that way. 

We decided to take a baby step, while still researching options to publish that might be more financially feasible for me, and did some concept art of Soren’s character.  At Morgan’s suggestion, I also had a friend of hers submit some concept art.  Both designs were fabulous, but when I looked at Morgan’s drawings, they were just so “Soren” that I was moved to tears.  The moment I saw Morgan’s concept art of Soren, there was no doubt in my mind—I knew that she had to be the one to bring Soren’s book character to life.  

This concept art by Morgan Spicer (c) touched me so much, I knew that she was the one to bring Soren's book character to life

We still had a long way to go to assemble the team we needed to move the book ahead, but I was very excited about my "first pick" and felt confident that with a compelling story and a very talented artist to portray it in a powerful and endearing way, Soren's book was on the road to becoming something special.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Two: Light Bulbs

A light bulb is full of potential.  We know that it can provide light by which to work, play, read.  But without a lamp to put it in, electricity to power it and a switch to turn it on, it is, well, just a light bulb.  So many times over the years, a thing would inspire me to say, “that would be a great book.”  I am sure many people have had similar thoughts.  But actually doing something with those ideas was another thing entirely.  I had a mental drawer where I stashed my light bulbs, and for the most part, they were out of sight, out of mind.  But sometimes an idea is so powerful, it just won’t be ignored.  When that happens, we are compelled to actually do something with the light bulb.  For me, that powerful idea was Soren.

I have had a number of dogs over the years and loved them all.  But when a little French Bulldog named Soren came along, there was a magical and almost instant connection and a little voice that whispered in my ear, “this one is special!”  That little voice was right, but at that time I had no idea just how special.  Soren was a unique being whose super power was his ability to bring out the best in everyone he met.  When he settled next to you with his calm, self-assured presence, he let you know you were someone special.  If you were hurt or feeling down, he knew it and he was by your side, offering quiet comfort.  His happy, go-for-it, can do attitude about life was infectious.  Soren made good things happen, and there was nothing that would stand in his way when he made up his mind to do something, whether it was an agility course or breaking out of a parked car to find me.  He loved his friends, he loved agility, and above all, he loved me.

Soren soaring over a jump.  He was amazingly athletic and loved competing in the sport of agility.  Photo by Barry Rosen Photography (c)

You would not think a little bulldog the likeliest candidate for an agility dog, and I admit that I was a skeptic at first.  But from the first time Soren saw agility equipment, it was love.  He lit up like it was what he was born to do, and he was a natural.  When he ran agility, people stopped to watch, and could not help but smile.  It was one of life’s greatest gifts to me to have him as my agility partner, and he brought much joy to others with his humor and passion for the sport.

We started out with few expectations—have some fun, maybe earn a few titles.  But it became clear that Soren had bigger plans.  Though he wasn’t the fastest agility dog out there, he was fast enough, and, over time, became one of the most consistent agility dogs around.  What began as a little joke—maybe he’ll get an agility championship—quickly started to look like a real possibility. 

Soren always loved to pose for photos.  One of my favorites, by M. Nicole Fischer Photography (c)

I won’t give the story away, but suffice it to say that Soren left some impressive paw prints on French Bulldog history.  And more impressive than what he accomplished, was the way in which he accomplished it.  He was full of spirit, enthusiasm, good humor and determination, and everything he did, he did with all his heart and his own special style.  He made friends wherever he went, and no friend was ever forgotten.

In 2009, Soren was featured on the cover of Clean Run Magazine.  Amazing photo by M. Nicole Fischer Photography (c)

I often thought over the years, that Soren would make such an endearing character for a children’s book:  his sweet, comical expressions, his positive attitude, his kind and loving heart.  And his fierce determination offered a powerful lesson for children and adults alike, that we are not defined by our limitations, but rather by our will and ability to reach beyond them.

Soren and Audra with their friend, Emma

A few years ago, I decided it was time to take that persistent light bulb, and screw it into a lamp, and so on a whim, I sat down and started writing.  It was like the wisps of ideas that had floated around my subconscious for years had formed themselves into a cohesive thought in my conscious brain, and I needed to write it down before it could float away again.  I confess it was a bit stream of consciousness, but I just began and, from there, let it take me where it would.  Down the road, it would go through many iterations, but more about that later.  For now, the important part is that I started writing, and that enabled all that would come after.  I wasn’t sure yet where to put the lamp, but finally the light bulb had a home.