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
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.
