by David O’Boyle

Some basic thoughts:

I am a children’s book author and (to a much lesser extent, children’s book illustrator). Here are my cutting cost ideas for illustrations:

1) limit the size and complexity of the illustration

2) have some pages that are illustrated purely by words

3) limit the color scheme perhaps to black and white or one or two colors only- this will also help printing cost

4) alert prospective illustrators that you are looking for illustrations within a certain budget and you are okay with those illustrations being ‘not their best’, as you are respectful of their time

5) give the illustrator part of the sales proceeds (this can be complex). I’ve done essentially all of those things and have put out ten or so children’s books with three different illustrators, all of which I continue to reuse.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Don’t Devalue the Illustrator

Do NOT DEVALUE the illustrator when you are trying to arrange a deal for illustrations. Be transparent with them up front. I like to state that I know you are worth more but this is what I have to offer, take it or leave it…and not because I don’t want to pay but because I just don’t have the money for this project.

PLUS I like to let them know (in jest) that while they aren’t getting paid a good amount, they are making a lot more than me who wrote the thing (almost always making a children’s book self-published is going to be a labor of love and lose the writer money…it certainly does for me). My experience is that some illustrators get that fellow starving artists line and some illustrators get pissed like you are insulting their art form…which I never am…I envy the illustrator…they are such a major part of the project value.

Also, in the event that the book does make any money (rather than running its usual deficit) I would throw them some more bones at the illustrator…perhaps even inject that into the service contract. Again though, you need to point out to the illustrator that this enterprise is probably a net loss for you (the writer) and a net positive for the illustrator (even if that net positive is not as high as they like, or even deserve). So while they may be rightful in complaining, the fact that I am taking the bigger hit makes it hard for that complaining to stick.

Now that all that is out of the way. Why not by some of my books so I can get my illustrators (and me) some more money! Right now we are focusing on halloween:

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