I will report next week on the workshop “Top Ten Ways to Writing Fitness” by @Chris Jackson.
There is a real disadvantage if you want to write children’s books and have no artistic talent. I can’t draw a straight line without a ruler! You might wonder how did I publish four children’s books without being able to draw. Let me tell you.
I’ve been writing children’s stories ever since I began adopting children. My first (unpublished) picture book is called “So, You’re Going to be Adopted!” When I wanted to explain adoption to my first child, David Scott who was two at the time, I searched the library for books on adoption. I found only one. It was not a children’s book. I convinced a friend to draw me a picture of a mother, father, and child in their home. It was gorgeous! However, being a stay-at-home-mom meant I had no discretionary income of my own. I don’t remember if I even asked my husband for money for the drawings. I knew I was “only a housewife.” Of course, this was the late 1960’s.
My other stories went unpublished until many years later. As we adopted more (eight total), I became more confident and wrote more stories but still had no income of my own. Years later after being on my own and moving to Florida, I met a friend’s illustrator and loved his drawings. He illustrated “Puppy Gets a Family,” available everywhere and now being translated into Spanish.
My next book was about my adopted Vietnamese orphan and written for older children. No drawings (except for maps) but I added all the newspaper clippings from the 1970’s and family photos. This book is “Flight to Freedom” and won an honorable mention in the Writers’ Digest International Contest.
Still not being able to draw, I found the online websites where you can buy photos and illustrations. I used www.dreamstime.com for my next book. It is a picture book of the adoption of my Vietnamese orphan, “My New Brother Doesn’t Speak English.”
Book four is “A Dolphin’s Tale” and illustrated by Brad Sturgeon of Connecticut, who illustrated the first puppy book. I released the book this summer. It won a second place in a South Florida contest without illustrations, which were done later. This was a long time before the movie came out!
Back to the websites, www.istockphoto.com, in addition to www.dreamstime.com and I found many changes since I used them two years ago. I’ve been looking at www.fiverr.com, where I had editing done. For $5.00 you can get an illustration in black and white. Color, backgrounds, and commercial licensing is extra. I’m looking at all three sites, and others, to find the best fit.
I am still look for a reasonably priced illustrator or illustrations for my other books. I try to publish one book a year so I need to find someone soon. I want to present “My Grandma is in the Computer” next year. Know someone who can help? You can contact me at kathy@kathymckenzierunk.com.
In the meantime, happy writing, reading, and drawing!
Kathy
From Junior Journalist to Mystery Writer 