“How do you self publish a (children’s) book?”

(The words and opinions of this blog are that of the author and her experiences. This is not professional advice, and should not be used in lieu of that.)

This question. I get asked it a lot. Like A LOT a lot.

And I get it. The authoring world (I think that what it can be referred to as) is a closed gate community where the gate is wrapped in barbed wire, fed a continuous supply of fuel and is lit up in flames…

Ok, that may be slightly dramatic, but what I am trying to say is it’s VERY gatekeepy. Tall poppy syndrome is rife, and if someone wants to share advice, it is usually behind exorbitant paywalls.

When you have the dream of creating a book for the world to read, you begin excited, full of inspiration and hungry for direction or guidance. All that can get swatted down pretty fast if you’re not careful. Until you find ‘your people’ or ‘your corner of the authoring world’, you can face a lot of rejection, judgement, and individuals/companies taking advantage of inexperienced writers (inexperienced as in never been published/self-published before).

When it comes to aspiring children’s book authors, I find them so full of passion and vulnerability, with this burning pursuit for connection. This is both their greatest strength (things created with heart are always so special), and biggest weakness (dreams can be so powerful and simultaneously so fragile). In my opinion and experience that is the case, so I hope that this blog helps strengthen anyone who reads it to getting their very much needed AND wanted story out in the world.

Super quick about me:

Just incase anyone reading this has never heard of me or my books (they are for a niche audience).

Hi, I’m Nell Harris and I am a self-published author / illustrator of my ‘Neurodiversity without the Terminology’ series. My first book ‘My Brain is a Race Car’ is currently my physical best seller, while my second book ‘My Body has a Bubble’ is the most popular on my YouTube. I published my first book in January of 2023 with help from my best friend who had also published children’s books dedicated to her kids. Without her, I know my books would still be only on my daughter’s iPads.

My bestie is an incredibly talented artist, author and illustrator she even made an amazing ‘how to publish’ specific to printing with Ingram Spark, and going into more depth of character development etc. which you can find on her Etsy here.

These are my books!

To the right is a snap of my books and are the first 3 in my Neurodiversity without the Terminology series.

My Brain is a Race Car is about understanding and accomodating for a neurodivergent brain.

My Body has a Bubble is about understanding, respecting and protecting personal space.

My Feelings are Waves is about big feelings and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).

Since then, I have collaborated with a friend who is an amazing and passionate Play Therapist on a book called ‘Sometimes Play’, a book that celebrates and normalises ALL types of play.

I wrote my books because I couldn’t find them! I was so upset I could not find books for kids that explained neurodiversity simply, factually, did not use damaging/incorrect words, did not focus on deficits or othering.

So without too much more rambling, here is how to publish a children’s book - the Nell Harris way.

I just want to clarify and add a couple of disclaimers (I think thats the right word). I have no affiliation, connections, or agreements with any of the companies, products or people mentioned below nor do I make any profit from recommending them. This is my all learning, experience, and genuine process from me, it’s my way.

• Step 1: Write your manuscript.

  Start with the words, get them down in your most natural way. How you write is the right way for you, don’t feel you need to sit at a desk on a dreary winters morning typing away on an early 1900’s typewriter for your manuscript to be legitimate.

  Eventually they will have to make it into digital format.

  I’ve built mine with post-it notes, the notes app on my phone, in a Word doc, and on a whiteboard. Once you have your manuscript and you’re happy with it, it’s time for editing and proofreading. Proofread a thousand times by yourself and those around you who you feel safe wit. You can even pay for a professional editor service IF you have the available funds and have found a reliable AND reputable editor.

  For a more in depth account, I have a blog about writing here.

• Step 2: Decide who you are printing with.

  I personally believe this is the next step, as the choices you make on who you are printing through will affect your books files, which means the shapes and bleeds, which means the art, which means the layout. I print through Ingram Spark and Amazon KDP.

  Ingram Spark is the print house I use, they have locations in Australia (Melbourne), the UK (London), and America. It costs $0.00 to start an account with them, and to upload a book for print. They are efficient, affordable, and I approve the overall quality. You need to outlay money to order a batch of books to sell yourself (expanded distribution is an option which means that stores can buy your book wholesale from the print houses catalogue) but there’s no minimum order.

  Ingram’s file requirements are slightly more advanced and you need to access and use (or pay someone to) convert your files to a specific InDesign PDF format (more on that later).

  Amazon have a print on demand service called Kindle Direct Publishing, which is great for not having to financially outlay any money to release your book. Theres no upload fee, and you set the price your book retails at which then sets the amount of for your royalties. The PDF file required is the generic one and Amazon have print houses all over the world which gives fast international delivery (Ingram Spark are bringing a very similar feature soon). The down side is books under 70 pages are unable to be made hardcover, the packaging is lacking in aesthetics and care.

  Check this blog entry specifically about deciding how and where you will print our book here.

  NOTE: Be wary of ‘vanity publishers’, who come with all the promises in the world of success and supposedly exposing you to large publishing houses. Only IF you pay their packages that begin in the thousands, and only go up to ridiculous amounts. Nobody, NOBODY, should be paying thousands to have their manuscript published. I actually have dedicated a whole rant - uh, I mean blog here.

• Step 3: Book font, material, size, shape, etc.

  You’ve found your printer. Now it’s time to decide the physical properties of your book. E-book or physical copy? Both? E-book dimensions are a completely different file type and visual layout, having your print house lets you find what those dimensions are. Build to them and it will all look better.

  Paperback or hardcover if the book will be a physical one? Cover files will be completely different, and consciousness to what is visible towards the centre of the book page wise (hardcover seem to be able to show less of where the pages meet at the spine).

  You need to be conscious of page bleeds (the blog about files is here) and what your print house requires, what is allowed to be in those bleeds, file colour format (eg. RGB or CMYK).

  Font and word size. A font needs to be a public domain font otherwise you’ll be (or should be) paying commercial licensing fees. Search up public domain fonts and find one that matches your books vibe, and while you’re at it factor in readability too. Another option is you can turn your own handwriting into a font - how cool is that, and just a bit more of a personal touch! I did that for my books and used Calligraphr.

• Step 4: Investing in yourself.

  I mean this literally (with cash money) and figuratively (learning, dreaming and doing). If you are not wanting or able to pay someone else to do it, you need to pay in time to learn, and learn in the way you will produce quality.

  Be prepared to spend a reasonable amount of coin (reasonable is a variable amount and should be reflective of your capacity, I do not recommend financially stressing yourself), or spending TIME (like reading this blog entry and a lot more).

  Or both. Most likely both.

  Things that are going to cost time and/or money are -

  Writing, editing, and proofreading book.

  Software (Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Canva Pro, Scanner, etc.)

  Hardware (Laptops, IPad, Apple Pencil, etc.)

  Illustrator/illustrating for the combo author illustrators out there.

  File building.

  Marketing (ads, promotions, etc.)

  Stock.

  There’s a LOT of learning that happens along the way. I have shed a lot of frustrated tears.

• Step 5: Illustrate (or contract an Illustrator).

  In my opinion, the relationship between the words and the art MUST be completely harmonious, they have to pair perfectly.

  So ANY illustrator WON’T do. Your brother’s cousin’s cat’s neighbour’s friend may be a very talented artist (and could be the perfect match but what I am trying to say is) just because you know them, it does not mean they’re the default artist choice. If their natural style isn’t exactly what you want, and you’re asking them to change or mimic another style… they’re not the artist for you.

  So, how do you find your artist? Maybe you already follow them, and are obsessed with their art style to the point you can see their illustrations telling your story. The key point here is, that it’s art YOU LIKE, for more than just getting a book illustrated. Their lines and representation they achieve, and telling through their pictures.

  Instagram has always been the ‘artist’s platform’ (image based, low person presence pressure - us artists can be a bit shy). I would start there, look under hashtags of the style of art you like and/or #illustrator #digitalartist #illustrationartist #childrensbookillustrator but y all means use that for any of your preferred social platforms. Googling the same things can give some top hits too.

  When you find your perfect artist, please don’t take advantage of other them, us creatives have got to stick together and support each other. To be creative in this world is such conscious effort and needs to be seen for the importance it is.

  How much do you pay? Well that comes down to the artist, you, and the agreement options you come to. I am going to do a BIG breakdown of that in an upcoming blog.

  If you are illustrating yourself, you can create the art traditionally then scan and upload into your file building software, do minor edits digitally, balance colours, etc.

  So far I have illustrated digitally using Procreate on an IPad Pro using an Apple Pencil, but I intend to create a book using traditional art and I will keep you all updated on how that goes. I go more in depth on illustrating / relationships with illustrators here.

• Step 6: Marketing your book.

  I have to begin even here with the BIGGEST disclaimer - my SELF marketing is terrible, lacked conscious strategy, and has me in awe of how my books even made it. It is truly thanks to those who have read my books, loved my books, and shared my books as if they were their own.

  Is what I have done replicable for success purposes? With the right book in the right hands I’m sure it is, but honestly all I can do is assume.

  I do know you want to start talking about your book LONG before it releases. Give snippits along the way, take people on the journey and process with you, approach your local library for a book launch or author read, and get on social media!

  One thing an amazing author and business owner said to me that has stuck like glue in my mind is ‘If you do not talk about it, how are people going to know it exists?’. So obvious, but so true.

  Not talking about it just once either, talking about in ALL the time, in EVERY way (again this is a do as I say not as I do, but I am trying).

  I won’t go too much further on this, as the more I talk about it the more hypocritical I feel and my imposter syndrome already has waaaay too much content to work with as it is, but I will do a big pull apart on what I have observed or believe has attributed to my books successes soon.

• Step 7: Building your files.

  Building my book files was a huge ‘lesson portion’ of my self publishing journey (and the cause of a lot of my tears). The following tips (or hard lessons I had) are what I think are essential reminders when building files:

  You need to plan you page layout and remember the pairs of pages that will be facing each other. These pages in picture books have an interactive element that you can realy capitalise on.

  Page bleeds needs to be added around three of the four sides of a page, this is all sides EXCEPT the binding side. It ranges and usually sits around 3mm (always check with your printer on their requirements).

  You can build your file in Procreate (this is where I illustrate and create my files). Procreate has RGB and CMYK file options but you must choose and amend that BEFORE you begin creating your artwork / files.

  I don’t know if you can change colour profiles in Canva, but I do know people have successfully built files and published books using Canva.

  I create my file by making the dimensions the same as the physical book I want to print PLUS the three side bleed. For example, if you are making a 20cm square book, and the print house requires a 3mm bleed your file size will be 20.3cm wide (bleed only on outer side of width) and 20.6cm high (bleed on top and bottom edges).

  DPI (Dots Per Square Inch) correlates to the resolution/clarity/quality of the file and needs to be at least (and ideally) 300.

  Every single one of these steps (apart from marketing), I will be expanding in its own blog post in the coming weeks.

• Step 8: Setting your prices.

  How much should your book cost? Well, there’s a lot of things to consider before you set that amount.

  Lower price points mean lower profits/royalties BUT could potentially generate higher sales due to affordability.

  Are you wanting to wholesale? You need to factor in the profit margin and if you want to wholesale, what your wholesale amount will be so that both you and your stockist are making a profit.

  Factor in delivery to YOU. A book may cost $12 to be printed for example, but once they’re shipped to your house, the cost of postage will bring it up to something like $14.

  Think back to your target audience, what would they be comfortable paying for a book? Imagine being them and seeing this book, would the price be palatable or a deterrent?

  Amazon include their shipping costs in their takings, but you need to create an amount that gives you a profit you’re ok with AND that it doesn’t upset the buyers (those Amazon reviews can get ruthless, I want to talk about reviews more soon).

  If you’re super stuck, look to peer pieces, see what they’re charging and how do you feel about it.

• Step 9: Selling your books.

  Selling your books, what are you going to use, where are you going to advertise it and how?

  I began on Etsy (like most creatives), and sold my books on there for a year. Etsy is great in the sense that you can get unexpected exposure from Etsy browsers. I left Etsy after a end of year report showed me that my customers were coming from actively searching my book titles AND I paid over $2000 in Etsy fees for the year (jaw dropped seeing that one.).

  A website was a much cheaper option for my situation.

  Relevant markets or expos have been a good (and exhausting) experience for me, While I do well there, I do need 5 - 7 business days to recover.

  Wholesaling to independent book stores and businesses is another option (if your margin allows to wholesale), a bit of networking and kindness never goes astray. Expanded distribution through the print house can open you up to international stockists. Through Ingram Spark, Barnes & Noble in America have picked up my book on their website as a print on demand option. Social media sites have business or shop options, and it’s up to you to take into account who your auience is, where they would be hanging out, and what is also compatible with you.

Whew, that was a lot hey. I hope the drop down topics reduced the overwhelm, because it can be so daunting and I’ve tried to write out in the most succinct way how I create and publish my books.

Is my way the only way? No.

Is it the best way? Possibly no (I cold even go as far as say most likely not). But it’s my way and I like it.

Do you have to do it this way? Absolutely not! Take what works and leave the rest.

I just hope this gives direction, inspiration and the reality that YES, it s achievable, and if you have time I’d love to hear if this has helped you or not.