How to Find and Negotiate with a Child Book Illustratorby Caterina Christakos Hi everyone, Recently, I received an email asking how to locate an illustrator for a children's book. Below is the return letter that I sent. I hope that it helps. Sincerely, Caterina Christakos http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com Hi You are a writer in one of the best time periods ever. With the Internet comes access to resources that we only dreamed of. Elance.com is a great place to start looking for your child book illustrator, although it can be a bit pricey. The good news is that you post a project and the artists bid on it. The one with the best price, that you agree to, wins the opportunity to work on your book.
You can also look up children's book artists through writing sites, and even just by typing in those keywords in google. Ask for references and ask for samples of their work.
When you find an artist that you click with, set firm deadlines and get everything in writing. The first time that I sought out an artist, I was naive enough to believe that a contract was not necessary. He was an old friend. That old friend cost me a year and a half of time, when his original promise was 3 months.
Also, only give a portion of the payment up front. This gives the artist the incentive to fulfill your contract.
I hope that that helps. Please feel free to email me anytime with questions.
Sincerely,
Caterina Christakos
http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com
P.S. I am glad that you enjoyed my site. Please email me with any suggestions on how I can improve it. If there is a resource that I have not provided, I want to know.
Child Book Illustrators can bid on book projects here
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