I’m sending out my manuscript to Sterling Publishing tomorrow. Here’s the cover letter I’m using. Wish me luck!
<My Contact Info>
July 7, 2010
Children’s Book Editor
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
387 Park Avenue South, 11th floor
New York, NY 10016-8810Dear Editor:
The Squishy, Stinky Diaper, is a sweet story about a baby getting her diaper changed. It appeals to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with younger siblings. All young children love stories about themselves, yucky subjects, and other children being naughty. This combines all three while never crossing the line between a cute story and a gross one.
Although diaper changing is a daily activity for all young children, no other book currently available covers this topic like I do. There are many goodbye-to-diapers stories and what-to-expect-with-the-new-baby books, but there aren’t any approaching it as merely an entertaining story.
This is my first book. I self-published a kindle version through Amazon and a print version through CreateSpace. I have had good results with the kindle version. It has been available for two months and has ranked as high as #2 in the Amazon category of kindle children’s books for ages Baby to 3. It seems to average around #4 and ranks highest at the end of the week. I am certain that the resources of your company can help bring even better sales to the print version of the book.
I chose to send this story to you for consideration because of your Potty Animals book. To me, that says that you are not afraid to take on yucky subjects and present them in entertaining ways. I was also happy to see that some of your books are produced as board books. My story would make a great board book for toddlers to hold and flip through while on the changing table.
Enclosed for your consideration is a copy of my manuscript which contains 220 words, an illustration sample and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for your response.
This story is being considered by several publishers.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
<Signature>
Karen B. Jones
Enclosures (3)
Tags: author, children's book, cover letter, diaper, humor, illustrator, Karen B. Jones, KS, manuscript, Olathe, publisher, Sterling Publishing, submission, sweet, toddler
July 18, 2010 at 5:51 am |
Always a pleasure reading your posts, will add you to my bloglists and RSS feed
July 24, 2010 at 9:26 am |
Some good points, thanks, will add to RSS feed
October 30, 2010 at 1:52 am |
Maybe you could edit the blog subject Submitting to Sterling Publishing The Squishy, Stinky Diaper Blog to something more suited for your subject you create. I loved the blog post yet.
October 30, 2010 at 8:45 am |
Subject? You mean you want me to change the title of the post? What would you suggest?
December 4, 2010 at 5:29 pm |
I absolutley love this picture book concept and I imagine there would be a big audience for it. After spending nearly two decades working at a nursery school, I can honestly say a book on this topic would have been a hit. I hope that by now you have an answer as to whether you and the rest of the world will be seeing The Squishy, Stinky Diaper in print. My very best wishes to you! Susan Wigden http://www.swigden.com
December 9, 2010 at 10:53 am |
Sorry for the delay in the reply. Silly WordPress categorized your post as spam. I only just now rescued it.
It’s in print, but only as a self-published work, unfortunately ( http://www.karenbjones.com/index.php?id=80 ). It is doing great on kindle, but not so well as an over-priced paperback (don’t have much control over pricing with a POD book).
I’ve been focusing on building a portfolio and promoting myself as an illustrator. In the meantime, I have been kind of ignoring my little diaper book. I don’t even have it out for consideration anywhere just now. Once the rush of the holidays is over, I’ll send it out again.
Do you have any suggestions on what to do to get published? Who published your books with their darling illustrations? I see both Schiffer Books and Tidewater Publishers listed. Do you think either would be interested in my book? If so, who do you recommend I contact?
Thanks so much!
December 5, 2011 at 11:37 pm |
Do you only publish children books or can you publish teen books, because your company published my favorite book, tiger voyage, and I want to publish teen books. Could I do this with this company or do you have any publishing companies to suggest? Please get back to me when you can.
-Mara
December 6, 2011 at 7:43 am |
I’m an author and illustrator, not a publisher. Sorry for any confusion.