<p>Does anyone have any interest or experience in self publishing? I have written and illustrated a children’s book and am looking into various options in terms of getting it published. Currently the market is terrible for children’s books, great timing I know! But it has been a dream of mine for many years and I can’t let it go.</p>
<p>Don’t give up on your dream!
A friend self-published a book (chick lit) through Ex Libris I believe; I think she mostly sold it to friends and family. She said her agent told her to self-publish on Kindle, but I think children’s books need to be held, illustrations need to be savored.
Have you checked out Writer’s Market?</p>
<p>yes, I’ve thought a lot about self publishing, both my poetry and children’s books. there are Lots of on-line publishers like lulu.com were you can self publish. Good luck with the process!</p>
<p>My BFF since 8th grade just sent me a book or poetry written by her father. It must be self-published, because there is no publishing company listed. It is SO well done! The poetry is amazingly good. I’ve always known him as a quiet, unassuming man, but boy, can he write well. I’m so glad he put it all together. I will ask my friend if he tried to distribute it or not.</p>
<p>there was recently a good article in The New York Times about self publishing</p>
<p>Tucker Max is a model for this. (and little else…)</p>
<p>I remember some regular poster on CC published an eBook, I think, that I also think was self-published. Maybe the poster’ll pop up on this thread.</p>
<p>Now that I have a Kindle I’ve purchased a number of books that aren’t available in print - they’re only available in the eBook form. The cost is low - $0.99 or $1.99 or something like that. </p>
<p>I think the eBook format provides a lot of opportunity for one to self publish certain kinds of books although I don’t know the mechanics of it. I don’t know how well it’d suit a children’s book where it seems that a physical book would be more appropriate.</p>
<p>Also, it’s one thing to publish a book but another to market the book so it reaches the intended audience, and yet another to actually make a profit or at least not lose too much money.</p>
<p>You need to seriously look at reviews and commentary about “self-publishing.” Many disappointments, some legal action. </p>
<p>OP, you want to publish your work for friends and family, maybe give away some copies to local schools? or make money? You often end up becoming your own PR and marketing rep. Bookstores often have trouble getting restock (it’s “print-on-demand”) and depend on margins, so they can be hard sells. The success stories tend to be few- a local author can get some attention from the stores, but that’s only so much. Just research hard and go in with your eyes open. Some would say, with your wallet open.</p>
<p>The ebook concept is still evolving. And, to sell, you still have to get attention.</p>
<p>I have a friend who spends every spare minute writing stuff to post on Scribd.com Some of the material there is free, and some is for sale in electronic format. A number of the authors have blogs/websites/twitter and the like where e-versions and/or paper versions of their work are for sale.</p>