Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are your clients?
A: Almost 100% of my clients are individuals from all walks of life that have dreamed for years of seeing their children's stories and other ideas in book form. A large number of these writers have submitted their stories to the major book publishers and have either been rejected (for any of a variety of reasons) or have never heard a response back regarding their submission, and have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Q: What are some of the reasons that stories don't get reviewed (or get rejected) by the major publishers?
A: The major book publishers prefer to publish such a few books by new authors, that they give very little regard to the NEW author. Also, the major book publishers receive 5,000 (or more) book manuscript submissions per month to review, and most of the publishers do not have the staff to review even a small fraction of those manuscripts. *First-If the submission does not meet the requirements EXACTLY, they immediately toss it. Maybe 1% of the submitted manuscripts are selected for publication by the major publishers.
Q: Are there any other ways to get my book printed/published?
A: You can send your book to a Traditional Publisher and wait for an acceptance, rejection, or no answer at all. Remember that fewer than 1% of submitted books actually get picked for publication by major publishers. You can also go the self-publish route in that you use a FREE publisher. There are some out there. Some people do it. Then, there is a publisher like Sleepytown Press. You do have a say on a lot of things. You actually get to make choices for yourself. Feel free to contact any of our authors and ask them questions. There are pros and cons to every method of publishing .
Go with your heart. Do what you feel is right for you.
I wish that Sleepytown Press could be a traditional publisher. At this time, I am offering you $100 off the publishing fee of $500. We know that a lot of people are hurt by the economy. We all need a break.
Q: Will you personally illustrate my children's story?
A: I do not actively seek out illustration jobs. I do not always have the time. I am willing to talk to you about it, if you are looking for an illustrator. If I do illustrations, I charge per illustration. I do have contacts that I will be happy to give to you, if you need an illustrator. *I do know of people who hire-out for illustration.
Q: How long will it take to illustrate my book?
A: It all depends on the number of illustrations and the detail. If, by some chance, I have time to illustrate, I will do it per illustration only.
Q: Do you know of any successful self-publishing authors?
A: The most famous ones that I know are Beatrix Potter, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and L. Frank Baum (the Wizard of Oz).
Q: Do you accept book royalties as payment for illustrations?
A: Sorry, no. Due to the many variables that are out of our control with the marketing and selling of children's books we do not accept book royalties as payment for illustration work.
Q: Do you offer your titles as eBooks?
A: Yes, All Novels are formatted for Kindle. (Color books are now being formatted for Kindle, at this time.)
Q: Will I make a lot of money on my book?
A: This is very difficult. Some authors do quite well. Some do not do well. Sleepytown Press has authors who have "well" made back their investment and there are some that have not done the same. *I can never promise a "high-selling" book. It takes time and it takes work.
Q: What do you think is the "KEY" to making money on a book?
A: Here are my gut answers to the question...
1. You must "find your niche." Readers are looking for something NEW and FRESH and not like everyone else. Also, finding your niche means that you find a "PLACE" for your book that makes it desirable. You have to find that place, where your book has a specific appeal.
Examples:
Wanda Lane, the author of "Wrinkles in Paradise" and "More Wrinkles in Paradise" has found her niche. She wrote for a newspaper and decided to compile her stories into a book, and that book led to book number two. She has done a great job of finding that place for her books.
Ron Miller has two "Car Books" with Sleepytown Press. They are amazing. There are tons of people who collect cars and restore cars and show cars. That is a "niche" for Ron. In time, he will well make back what he invested in the publishing of his book.
Jerilyn Ito lives in Hawaii. Her books sell in local stores. She has book signings and has been on television. She works hard and has put a ton of things into her books. She goes places with her books. She has a vision of what she wants to accomplish and she goes for it.
Every Sleepytown Press author has their thing...it is not "one" magic idea.
2. It takes a lot of time to marketing and getting the word out there. I know traditionally published authors who have "no marketing budget," but they spend hours upon hours making contacts and sharing and trying to get noticed by the reading public. You have to have a plan and go for it.
Examples:
One author has book signings in an Ice Cream/ Yogurt store during the Summer. She tells her friends and co-workers. Many come and they check out her books. Many buy a treat, while there. It works for that author.
Another author visited local stores and asked if they could just leave a couple of books near the register. He told them that he would give them something off each sale. BAM! They liked it. They did not have to buy books. They just provide a place for display and they sell them and give him his money.
Still, another author talked to their local book store and asked them to carry the book, at their cost. The book store liked it and I ordered the books for the book store as cost. The author just wanted the book local for friends, family, and readers. The book store gives him a percentage off each sale. It is a win, win, win all the way around.
3. The bare hard facts include this...
Thousands of people will not buy your book, just because it is on Amazon. Think of the competition! There are thousands of books listed on Amazon each week. Amazon does not care how many. They make a profit off every sale. They do not even care, when a book goes out-of-print. They sell in volumes from all books.
PLUS: if you book has the same title as another book, guess what? Yep, all those books show, too, when someone enters the name of your book. Plus, it makes it look like you copied someone's title. OUCH! I am just telling you what I hear and what I believe. (Please, do a search of book titles before you name your book.)
4. You have to find what works for you. Not all marketing ideas work for all people.
A: Almost 100% of my clients are individuals from all walks of life that have dreamed for years of seeing their children's stories and other ideas in book form. A large number of these writers have submitted their stories to the major book publishers and have either been rejected (for any of a variety of reasons) or have never heard a response back regarding their submission, and have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Q: What are some of the reasons that stories don't get reviewed (or get rejected) by the major publishers?
A: The major book publishers prefer to publish such a few books by new authors, that they give very little regard to the NEW author. Also, the major book publishers receive 5,000 (or more) book manuscript submissions per month to review, and most of the publishers do not have the staff to review even a small fraction of those manuscripts. *First-If the submission does not meet the requirements EXACTLY, they immediately toss it. Maybe 1% of the submitted manuscripts are selected for publication by the major publishers.
Q: Are there any other ways to get my book printed/published?
A: You can send your book to a Traditional Publisher and wait for an acceptance, rejection, or no answer at all. Remember that fewer than 1% of submitted books actually get picked for publication by major publishers. You can also go the self-publish route in that you use a FREE publisher. There are some out there. Some people do it. Then, there is a publisher like Sleepytown Press. You do have a say on a lot of things. You actually get to make choices for yourself. Feel free to contact any of our authors and ask them questions. There are pros and cons to every method of publishing .
Go with your heart. Do what you feel is right for you.
I wish that Sleepytown Press could be a traditional publisher. At this time, I am offering you $100 off the publishing fee of $500. We know that a lot of people are hurt by the economy. We all need a break.
Q: Will you personally illustrate my children's story?
A: I do not actively seek out illustration jobs. I do not always have the time. I am willing to talk to you about it, if you are looking for an illustrator. If I do illustrations, I charge per illustration. I do have contacts that I will be happy to give to you, if you need an illustrator. *I do know of people who hire-out for illustration.
Q: How long will it take to illustrate my book?
A: It all depends on the number of illustrations and the detail. If, by some chance, I have time to illustrate, I will do it per illustration only.
Q: Do you know of any successful self-publishing authors?
A: The most famous ones that I know are Beatrix Potter, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and L. Frank Baum (the Wizard of Oz).
Q: Do you accept book royalties as payment for illustrations?
A: Sorry, no. Due to the many variables that are out of our control with the marketing and selling of children's books we do not accept book royalties as payment for illustration work.
Q: Do you offer your titles as eBooks?
A: Yes, All Novels are formatted for Kindle. (Color books are now being formatted for Kindle, at this time.)
Q: Will I make a lot of money on my book?
A: This is very difficult. Some authors do quite well. Some do not do well. Sleepytown Press has authors who have "well" made back their investment and there are some that have not done the same. *I can never promise a "high-selling" book. It takes time and it takes work.
Q: What do you think is the "KEY" to making money on a book?
A: Here are my gut answers to the question...
1. You must "find your niche." Readers are looking for something NEW and FRESH and not like everyone else. Also, finding your niche means that you find a "PLACE" for your book that makes it desirable. You have to find that place, where your book has a specific appeal.
Examples:
Wanda Lane, the author of "Wrinkles in Paradise" and "More Wrinkles in Paradise" has found her niche. She wrote for a newspaper and decided to compile her stories into a book, and that book led to book number two. She has done a great job of finding that place for her books.
Ron Miller has two "Car Books" with Sleepytown Press. They are amazing. There are tons of people who collect cars and restore cars and show cars. That is a "niche" for Ron. In time, he will well make back what he invested in the publishing of his book.
Jerilyn Ito lives in Hawaii. Her books sell in local stores. She has book signings and has been on television. She works hard and has put a ton of things into her books. She goes places with her books. She has a vision of what she wants to accomplish and she goes for it.
Every Sleepytown Press author has their thing...it is not "one" magic idea.
2. It takes a lot of time to marketing and getting the word out there. I know traditionally published authors who have "no marketing budget," but they spend hours upon hours making contacts and sharing and trying to get noticed by the reading public. You have to have a plan and go for it.
Examples:
One author has book signings in an Ice Cream/ Yogurt store during the Summer. She tells her friends and co-workers. Many come and they check out her books. Many buy a treat, while there. It works for that author.
Another author visited local stores and asked if they could just leave a couple of books near the register. He told them that he would give them something off each sale. BAM! They liked it. They did not have to buy books. They just provide a place for display and they sell them and give him his money.
Still, another author talked to their local book store and asked them to carry the book, at their cost. The book store liked it and I ordered the books for the book store as cost. The author just wanted the book local for friends, family, and readers. The book store gives him a percentage off each sale. It is a win, win, win all the way around.
3. The bare hard facts include this...
Thousands of people will not buy your book, just because it is on Amazon. Think of the competition! There are thousands of books listed on Amazon each week. Amazon does not care how many. They make a profit off every sale. They do not even care, when a book goes out-of-print. They sell in volumes from all books.
PLUS: if you book has the same title as another book, guess what? Yep, all those books show, too, when someone enters the name of your book. Plus, it makes it look like you copied someone's title. OUCH! I am just telling you what I hear and what I believe. (Please, do a search of book titles before you name your book.)
4. You have to find what works for you. Not all marketing ideas work for all people.