Thanks for joining us today for episode eight, your why Behind Becoming a Children's Book Author.

We'll examine in this episode how to know your why and focus on your why.

We'll give you a few examples of continuous improvement as you launch your book throughout the year.

We'll also talk about the many reasons people become children's book authors.

Challenges Traditional publishing versus Self publishing the perception by some regarding self publishing, the cost of a self published book, the importance of a website helping each other as children's book authors and readers will talk about the incredible global reach whether it's through a podcast or even through how you publish your book.

Enjoy the listen here.

Why Becoming a Children's Book Author for our children's book readers who are listening to this podcast, we will encourage you to purchase children's books.

If you've listened to the first seven episodes of the Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors, you have heard four of our grandchildren and co authors share their thoughts as co authors and narrators of our books and audiobooks.

We offer free activity pages as part of our books.

You can download them also from our website.

We are adding two new pages to our free activity pages.

The change is to help your children or grandchildren learn to develop and draw their story heroes.

We also have made a small change to our first children's book by adding a book plate.

Our most significant children's book retailer loved the new edition to the inside front cover and described it as a lovely touch.

We had an area shaped like a heart consistent with our brand that says this book belongs to an area for either a message from the person purchasing our book for a child or a place for us as authors to sign and leave a message for the child your book was purchased for now that you have a complete picture of our grand children's involvement and our desire to keep improving for our readers, I want to share more of my why.

My why to becoming a children's book author is simple.

I love my grandkids and their interest in writing stories about our adventures together.

The joy of creating these stories drives me.

I hope inspires you too.

Our podcast is more than just a platform.

It's a gateway to the world of children's book authors, aiming to introduce you to those who can truly resonate with your love for children's literature.

I'm always interested in children's book authors.

There are multiple reasons why they become children's book authors, including writing books for their children, teachers and retired teachers who have interacted with children and that have great stories to share or from their childhood experiences.

The reasons are endless, but I have never heard an aspiring children's book author say it was to get rich or to turn children's book writing into a full time job.

Tim Kuhl, writing for Quora.com stated that the million or so self published books versus the number of books published annually by traditional publishers is less than 1% according to a recent article on words rated 2023.

Even when someone has written the best story in the world, they still need to find an agent to get a seat at the table with a publisher.

You might be saying, no problem, I'll get a literary agent and away I go.

What are the odds of traditional children's book publishing?

According to the statistics, there is only a 1 in 3,000 to a 1 in 6,000 chance of an author being picked up by a literary agent.

You might be thinking, Rick, aren't you Wendell Lejoy?

You started the podcast show Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors and you are breaking my children's book heart and not pumping up my author's heart.

However, to put my author's head in the sand and not outline the challenges that we've lived through is not who I want to be.

I want to share some of the challenges and how to work with these challenges.

I've written and published my first children's book, the Adventures of Caboose the Rocky Mountain Bear, with my oldest granddaughter.

The book is a project from the heart.

We never thought we would get rich or create full time employment from writing a children's book.

A relatively popular children's book published by a traditional children's book publisher may sell 5,000 copies which generates around $3,750 in net sales.

Remember this revenue has to be split by all parties involved in writing, selling, marketing and distributing the book.

The portion to the author is generally the smallest piece of the pie.

On average, self published books sell under 100 copies.

The revenue percentage portion self published authors get to keep is much healthier than traditionally published books.

However, selling 100 copies is not a ton of revenue.

It is evident that the traditionally or self published children's books are not a path to fame and fortune.

You better understand your why, which can never be about the money or creating full time employment.

Should I go the traditional publishing route or be self published?

You may ask yourself.

It depends on your motivation to bring your children's book to life.

If you are up to learning the new skills to self publishing, there are many great free resources.

This may be your way but if you don't have the time or the mindset to take on the new skills, try the traditional publishing approach.

Our mission is to help children's book authors, whether traditionally published or self published, gain recognition can reach readers.

As a self published author you will encounter new challenges as I mentioned before, but remember, with determination and perseverance you can overcome them.

The journey may be challenging, but it will be rewarding.

I have approached all the major libraries in the province of Alberta.

At this point we have only received support from one library.

The main reason is that librarians warrant took purchase from a distributor.

They don't want to purchase directly from you.

As a children's book author, I've joined a children's book writers organization.

However, some children or youth book associations will not support self published children's book authors.

I recently had this happen to me.

I didn't get upset.

I thought no problem.

There are other organizations that include self published authors.

However, I'd like to share a little bit of that story.

Recently I reached out to the Young Alberta Book Society and was excited when I read their mission statement.

It read as follows.

To foster literacy and a love of reading among young people in Alberta by providing access to the provinces literary artists and their work.

When I tried to join, they said thanks but no thanks.

Why?

Because the people who funded their organization will not support self published book authors.

That's not a problem.

As I mentioned, I found other ways to reach young people worldwide and the youth in my home province.

My last word to the Young Alberta Book Society is Change your mission to match your reality and state the followings by providing access to the provinces traditionally published literary artists and their work.

Not including the words traditionally published is misleading because you are not supporting all of the province's literary artists and their work.

You are discounting a small but essential part of the provinces literary artists and their work.

Those throughout the world who are listening in on this, don't be discouraged.

Know there's other organizations you can join and there is a role for self published authors.

Thank you the Listener for allowing me to go on a little bit of a rant.

My background is in sales, marketing, distribution, but my real motivation is that I'm a lifelong learner.

Bringing a children's book to life requires more skills than I have.

However, I was up for the challenge and have learned a ton.

I've also shared my new skills with my grandkids including writing, narrating, podcasting, marketing and much more.

Our initial investment in writing, editing, book layout, illustrations, distribution, sales and marketing of our first book has been between 6 and $8,000.

This investment doesn't include website development.

We didn't have a website when we launched our children's book.

However, it didn't take us long to realize we needed a home.

We are proud of our website and how it is developing.

Please Visit our website www.caboosetherockymountainbear.com and take a peek at the different ideas we've incorporated to support our book and podcast show.

Please know that we are always open to suggestions as we try to attract more listeners to our website.

We now have a web home for our books, podcasts, press, radio, interviews, Caboose's Cub Club and much more.

If you are an illustrator, you not only can reduce your time in bringing a self published book to market, you can dramatically reduce your costs.

However, we are not illustrators and it will take us more time to build our book series.

We have a five year publishing plan.

We know the first couple of years are critical for building a base of readers and followers.

I have to be sure I don't get caught up going down too many rabbit holes and we need to pick a couple of areas to grow including our home website and focusing on areas on our website is critical.

We aim to encourage the world's children to cultivate opportunities to be inspired by children's book authors.

Every child should have a chance to write, illustrate, narrate from their own creativity and imagination and develop strong literary skills.

Every child should experience the pleasure of writing, drawing, narrating and reading no matter where they are in the world, regardless of location or social economic status.

I mention worldwide because in today's world we are truly global and even though our podcast is primarily listened to in North America, we have listeners in 14 different countries throughout Europe, Asia.

Wow.

I want to thank all of you listening to our podcast.

Your support is heartwarming.

Our listeners all have their whys when listening to our podcast.

We hope we are bringing inspirations for the world of children's book authors and readers.

Cheers to your why.