That is the question. Yes, I’ve been querying agents and small publishers for Charley’s book. No, it hasn’t been very long since I began querying. But I’m an impatient person. I want to share Charley with the world! I want to publish this book! Now! So I toy with the idea of self-publishing her story. But that would require hiring an illustrator, and the quotes I’ve been getting from artists with a style I like range from about $1,000 to $6,000 for 15 two-page spreads and a cover. Couple that with production costs (I would want to find an offset printer, probably, rather than Print On Demand), and then warehousing and distribution costs, and it just seems impossible. There’s always the option of a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money, but that comes with a whole other set of costs and management and headaches.

This publishing gig is hard work!

I have recently joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to try to network and maybe hook up with the local chapter, so maybe that will help. Learn from the pros, right?

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