[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello,

I am curious if anyone knows a good place to hunt for non-SCBWI grants. I am in discussions with a small regional publisher that is interested in a picture book about the natural history of California that I have written and illustrated but they would like me to find a grant for it. I do not qualify for any of the SCBWI grants and am not sure where one finds these kinds of grants. So far I've had little luck with google.  Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

Gwynne. Interesting problem to have. Your state might have an arts council that offers grants, esp. if it's a book that has regional interest. I'd check there first.

Funds for Writers lists a few: https://fundsforwriters.com/grants/

A google search on grants for writers brought this up:
https://authority.pub/grants-for-writers/
https://thewritelife.com/get-paid-write-great-grants-writers/
https://lusterlexicon.com/most-comprehensive-list-of-grants-for-writers/

Good luck! And let us know how it goes.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

I'm confused about what the publisher gets out of this if you are grant funding the publication of the book. It's not something I've heard of before. Can you explain more details?

[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi Debbie,

The publisher is a local publisher that works with regional subjects only. They do a lot of guide books and local history books. I'm in San Diego and my picture book is specific to hiking in the region. Because they are very small they ask authors to help with the initial production of the book and most authors end up getting collaborative grants to pay for the costs. They are the only regional publisher that does picture books so I don't have much choice if I want to keep the book specific to this area.  I've started looking into grants locally and have found one general art grant but wasn't sure if picture books would qualify. I'm going to try it but I thought I would check to see what else was out there.

[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you for the information, Vijaya!

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Have you spoken to other authors who've worked with them? Are they earning money on their books? I'm still not sure how the publisher earns it's money here. And what are they providing you that you couldn't use the grant and fund for yourself? It feels like hybrid publishing rather than traditional publishing to me. (Self publishing is often better than hybrid models, but not always.)

Also, have you considered a California or Southwest publisher who might be fine with a book that is locally focused? (Maybe you could do a series on different regions of the state for them.)

[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you for you response Debbie.

I have been taking classes at the University of California San Diego extension's program for Children's book writing and illustration. One of the instructors told me about this publisher and I have found copies of their books at the very park my picture book is based on. According to the website they claim that because they are a small publisher they ask new authors to help out with production costs. When they accepted my book they told me first time authors pay for the printing on the first book and if the books sell out they will pay for all future printings.  I am considering self publishing as well but the publisher does have good distribution to local museums and parks which would be the appropriate place for the book.  I looked them up on the BBB and they have been around for 36 years focusing on books on San Diego's natural history and they did not have any complaints, hopefully a good sign. I've been torn as to which direction to go but decided if I could find a grant I would go with them and if not I will go on my own. I also found many of their books had gotten grants from local museums but so far have not been able to find out where one can apply for such grants. I have also been looking at other publishers in California but have not had any luck finding one that is accepting submissions that relate to my book.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

What's their name? I'd like to look into this more. In traditional publishing, money flows to the writer. I just don't like that you have to find the money. It makes me wonder if they have business issues. Be sure you know what happens if they close. I have a good friend whose publisher went out of business and it was tough on her.

And even books on specific places can have broader appeal if the themes are universal. In fact, this is usual. Look at how many books are set in NYC but read widely. Of course, I have no idea what your work is really like. But a hiking for kids in San Diego area book might be picked up by a publisher with work for adults on a similar theme. You don't know unless you try. For example: Timber Press has a book on hikes with kids in California and is part of Workman which has a children's imprint. https://www.workman.com/work-with-us/author-submissions?_ga=2.24964218.1988578611.1613182057-1379278680.1613182057

[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you again, Debbie.

The publisher's name is Sunbelt Publications. Great information on Timber Press. I have another picture book that is not regional that I have been submitting to different publishers and forgot about Workman, thank you for the reminder.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

I know nothing about this publisher, but they are not traditional. Anytime you see the words Services on a website, you can be assured of that. So the question becomes, what type of publisher are they. Here's a link to a great resource to help you figure it out and decide if this is still how you want to proceed: https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/small/.

[Gwynne Posts: 7 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you, Debbie!