Timeline from Creation to Publication

Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show and Tell was conceived in 2011.  Ever since signing the book contract, I've kept a record of the steps taken to prepare for the release of Maggie.  

Below chronicles the journey of a debut picture book.   

Querying:
Wrote the first version of Maggie 2011

Edited, edited, edited and submitted from 2012 - 2015 

Shelved the manuscript for a year 2015 - 2016

Re-edited 2016

Queried late Oct. 2016

Connecting with a publisher:  Fall and Winter 2016
Received an e-mail from an interested publisher:  Nov. 3

Sent an e-mail to thank publisher:  Nov. 3

Spoke to publisher:  Nov. 10

Signed contract:  Nov. 11

Promoting: Winter and Spring 2017

Edited and embellished ending of the story:  Dec. 11
Created a bio and head shot: Dec. 11

Developed a website:  Dec. 15

Studied book signing and how to market the book: Dec. 15 - 30

Wrote two articles about rejection/publication: Jan.  5 - 18

Studied illo styles to give publisher the vision of the book: Jan. 19

Looked at three illustrator's renderings of the character Maggie:  Feb.1

Chose an illustrator*:  Feb. 6

Looked for reviewers:  Feb. 9

Read about school visits:  Feb. 13 -  17  

Created a discussion guide; reviewed the first illustrations:  Mar 1 - 30 

Published articles about Maggie in writer's magazines:  March

Designed gifts for giveaways: April
Guest blogged for other writer's blogs:  April

Had guest bloggers on  http://www.childrenswritersworld.blogspot.com Apr/May

WHEW!  There's been a lot going on!  And as we look forward to a release date this summer, there will be lots more to do.  Stay tuned to find out the next steps in preparing for the launch of Maggie.  

*I have the honor of working with the creative director in making decisions about the illustrations.  Not every publishing house follows this policy.