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Creating quality picture books is part art, part science (books are actually quite technical to bring to market), and a lot of collaboration. The collective expertise of the author, illustrator, editors, book designer, formatter, and others is what makes a book ‘pop’. And while all partnerships matter, when you are the author and publisher, your collaboration with the illustrator of your book is particularly critical, delicate, and more nuanced than many expect.

Traditional publishing is 100% free to the author, but you might want to consider services that will help you perfect your craft and query. When you self-publish, you are the publisher so you have all the expenses of a publisher.

If you’re reading this as a pre-published author, you’re in the best possible place to start building your social media presence. The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be.

You can read every blog post, watch every YouTube video, or even get a degree in creative writing. But sometimes what you really need is practical advice from people who’ve been there.

The word “editor” can mean very different things to different people in the publishing world - and often it depends on who you’re talking to.

Could someone steal your story? It's one of the most common fears new children's book authors have. Here's the truth — and why sharing your work is worth the risk.

When a kid pulls your book off a school library shelf, you aren’t just a "self-published author"—you’re a storyteller who has passed the test of the world’s toughest gatekeepers: Elementary School Librarians. But here’s the no-nonsense truth: You can’t just walk into a front office with a stack of books and a smile. Schools are government-funded and highly regulated. If you want in, you have to play by their rules.

When it comes to Amazon advertising, there's a lot to know. I'll be the first to admit that when I first started with Amazon ads, I had no idea what I was doing and my results were subpar. And now that I'm AMS certified and managing ad campaigns for traditional publishing houses, I see my author peers asking the same questions and making the same mistakes that I did in the beginning.

Board Books vs. hardback books vs. paperback books...Oh my! In this post, we’ll describe the three most common print formats.

If you're an aspiring children's book author, then you're probably wondering whether it's better to self-publish or go with a traditional pu

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?

Here are the top five ways to find reliable critique partners who will give you constructive criticism and help you improve your writing.

Using IngramSpark also puts your book in Ingram's database which is where schools, libraries, and bookstores go to order books...

Here’s why they’re wrong and why you should ALWAYS have your manuscript fully edited BEFORE your illustrator begins:

A print-on-demand company like KDP makes your book available worldwide on Amazon.