MJ Scholz, a good friend of mine and part of my writers critique group, just published her debut book, Connecting Colors, Feelings, and Words. I’m so excited for her because this book was 2 years in the publishing process—from contract to finished book, with lots of questions in between! This unique children’s book—a coloring book with a purpose— took a lot of work from start to finish, but its a terrific book!
MJ’s journey isn’t really that unusual. Even with traditional publishing, it can take up to 2 years or more to get your book from contract to the bookshelf. And that’s not just for debut books but for any book you might publish.
In today’s world, you can opt for 3 different publishing options: traditional, self (aka subsidy), or independent. To learn more about these options, watch my Publishing Basics video. Whether you are writing your debut book or your second or third, understanding your options is important.
MJ found what I would call a hybrid publisher, a publisher that is in between subsidy and traditional publishing. I’ve asked her to share her experience.
What major hurdles did you have to get through and how did you do it?
- The first and most important was creating something I believed was important enough to spend time on. Then setting aside time to actually write!
- Allowing honest critique and truly appreciating the suggestions and recommendations of others. Being able to share the work with a few others, always checking for responses, and taking seriously their suggestions.
- Finding the the right publisher. I attended writers conferences and learned all I could about the publishing process. I recommend writers join a local writing group.
- Being able to let go and submit to the publisher’s and illustrator’s suggestions. (I really liked my working title.)
- Deciding together with the publisher what the title should be. We both made suggestions, and kept at it until we found one we both liked. I was also concerned about how easily the book would open, how flat it would lay so a child can color, as per suggestions from professional counselors.
- Staying true to my goals (often unspoken) for the book. One of my goals was to focus on things in nature so the illustrations would be timeless.
We all know there are pros and cons to every publishing avenue. Tell us about your publisher, Electric Moon Publishing, and how they’ve helped you.
Electric Moon Publishing is a small Christian company located in my home state, owned by an energetic, organized Christian wife and mother. She was my contact person, contract signer, editor, and prayer warrior when times got tough. Although not totally a subsidy publisher, the methods and procedures she uses are similar, so an author could easily move into a total subsidy situation.
Because of the unique layout of your book you couldn’t work directly with KDP to independently publish your book. How did you navigate that issue?
We worked a while on getting the layout idea across. It wasn’t until I described the design as similar to a calendar that it clicked. The cover is portrait; the inside is landscape. (Does that give an idea of just HOW different this book is?) So, instead of KDP, my publisher offered to submit to Anchor, a distribution company that supplies to Amazon and other retail outlets.
What would you tell beginning writers to be sure to do and why?
- I wanted to make sure my writing truly was mine, so I wrote before I read any similar writings.
- Check to see what is already available.
- Edit, edit, edit!
- Listen to those who have gone before and learn from others.
What would you tell writers to avoid and why?
- Resist the temptation to think or say “God told me…” and don’t refuse to edit. We must think about what benefits the reader!
- Avoid the idea of instant success. Writing may be a joy, but getting others excited about your work is hard work!
Marilyn, thanks for sharing your debut book journey and advice with my readers. Keep me posted on how book sales are doing. Your book has such a wide variety of application from school classroom to counselors offices to a unique tool for parents to help their children express their emotions.
Watch the book trailer and discover its fun illustrations and pages designed just for children to draw their own pictures.
About Connecting Colors, Feelings, and Words
Have you ever wondered… allowed your curiosity juices to flow… or asked yourself where colors come from? Do colors affect how we feel? How do we express those feelings? As adults, we seek to manage feelings in positive ways, but children may need help finding words to describe feelings and encouragement to express those feelings constructively.
Connecting Colors, Feelings, and Words, a coloring book with purpose, gives opportunity for children to think about and talk about colors, illustrate how they feel, and then visit about those emotions with a trusted adult. Words identifying shades of colors and shades of emotions are provided as additional tools.
A special feature of Connecting Colors, Feelings, and Words is the calendar style binding that allows either right-handed or left-handed artists to draw freely. Buy the book here. Also available on Amazon.
Author Bio
Yes, this is MJ, although quite a few years ago! Just consider her still a kid at heart. Since her retirement from teaching upper elementary students, she has been able to pursue writing for children. You have discovered her on the ground floor.
After 30 years of teaching, she is now retired, a mother of four, and grandmother of 28! She always wanted to own a horse, but that never happened. She has a fairly large rock collection and a variety of sea shells. Please be aware, you might find her sitting on the porch swing, chatting with her neighborly squirrels!