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In publishing, the wins aren’t just the book deals or the big moments. They’re the people who hand you coffee. The mentors who show up. The gut feelings that say, this one’s worth it.

As someone who designs websites for authors, I've seen firsthand how a strategically built website can become a review-generating machine.

Deciding whether your children's book manuscript is truly ready to send out into the world—whether that means querying agents or diving into self-publishing—can feel both thrilling and terrifying. And honestly? Only you can make that call. But as an agented and traditionally published picture book author who’s helped hundreds of writers navigate both traditional and indie publishing paths, I’ve found that most successful authors can answer YES to the following question

If you’ve spent any time in the world of children’s publishing, you’ve probably heard the name Kirkus whispered in hushed tones—like a legendary creature that can make or break a book. For over 90 years, Kirkus has been one of the most respected names in book reviews. Their critiques are known for being sharp, honest, and sometimes… well, a little intimidating. For self-published authors, the big question is: 👉 Should you pay for a Kirkus Review?

Children’s book authors, on the other hand, face a unique challenge.  We must write a book that appeals to two very different audiences: 4-8 year olds with limited vocabularies and the attention span of a fruit fly; and adults who may have already maxed out on the amount of Bluey they can handle in one day.

You finally did it. You finished your manuscript, polished it until it gleamed, had a few beta readers swoon over it, maybe even worked with a freelance editor. You're confident it's strong—maybe even really strong. So why are the rejections still rolling in?

Write because you want to write, not because you want to be published. Because that is the one thing that is truly under your control!

Your Amazon book listing doesn’t need to be perfect on Day 1 — but the more polished and professional it is, the better your chances of making a sale.  Use this checklist to audit your book’s page today (and revisit it regularly after launch). A few thoughtful tweaks can make a big difference!

But, if you want to SELF-PUBLISH a children’s picture book, then YOU are the publisher, and you are going to have to invest some money to create a quality product.  So, how much should you expect to invest? 

If you know me at all, you know that school visits are one of my absolute favorite parts of being a children’s book author. The hugs, the high fives, the curious questions like “How long does it take to write a book?” and “Do you know Mo Willems?” (yes, that’s a real question I’ve been asked)… I live for this stuff.

Not just royalties. But smart money moves. Tiny financial shifts that make a big difference. And most of all, let’s talk about building stability—one choice at a time.

These days, I might find out I hit a bestseller list while I’m cleaning Play-Doh out of the carpet. Or while one kid is yelling that their banana broke in half and the other is crying because I dared to sing the wrong version of the clean-up song.