[amanda-domergue Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi guys,
I'm new. I hope I'm not breaking any newbie rules already.

Here's the deal: First book. I'm a former teacher/writer and graphic designer. My book is illustrated but in a photo manipulation/scrabooky sort of way. Note: Not drawn traditionally. My story is very reliant on graphics.
My "dummy" is currently in a flipbook format, hosted online (is flipbook a bad idea?). Also, it's fully illustrated.  I've read over and over that that is a no-no. I noted in query letters that I am flexible to all suggestions and edits.  Should I change my presentation? Do I need to make it look more "unfinished"? Does flipbook scream newbie?

Thanks all!

[marie-dentan Posts: 102 Status: Offline chocolate fan]

do you want to query agents and publishers? If this is the case, I believe that having already the pictures is not something advisable.
I think agent want the author to stick to what they're good at, ie writing and want to find someone who is good at illustration for your book.
Have you tried sending out just your text? And if it rellies havily on illustration to understand the text, you can always put some art notes.
Hope that helps.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,001 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I don't know if flipbook is an acceptable format, and I'm not an illustrator, but if your work is professional, which your graphic design background suggests, than it is fine for you to do the illustrations. I'm hoping an illustrator will stop by soon to let you know about the formats.

[olmue Posts: 3,528 Status: Offline WWW]

I don't know anything about flipbook. But if you are a graphic designer, then yes, you can illustrate your own book.

The advice to not send in illustrations is for people who are not illustrators. People new to writing commonly think that in order to sell a picture book, they have to produce the artwork (whether or not they can draw), and that is not true. You are not required to draw your own illustrations, and it's frowned upon to find someone yourself to provide them. The publisher is responsible for hiring the artist. However, if you ARE an artist, then doing the whole thing is a perfectly normal proposition. You will need to research what format a dummy is expected to take these days. You might peruse the illustration section of this board: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?board=4.0

[MeghanMcC Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Do not send a dummy with all finished illustrations. I send mine as PDFs. The sketches are extremely rough. Then send some sample finishes.