After realising it was time to get my book into production, I didn’t know where to start. In this industry and from my findings, no one tells you what to do to get a book illustrated and published, and as of right now, I am still not 100% sure.
One thing that I did know, was, I needed to get the book illustrated. I remember googling where to get a Children’s book illustrated and constantly being told that I would have to upload my manuscript. I felt vulnerable, I become shy when other people read my work, but I didn’t feel protected online enough to submit it to someone on the internet and for them to steal it.
There were guides online who were telling me to find an agent, but I didn’t know how to do that and being such a baby in this realm, I didn’t feel comfortable doing that – and I can gladly say today that it is okay. There are many ways to illustrate and publish a book and this is currently the road I am building for myself it may not be conventional but it seems to be working for me.
I found 2 possible outcomes for finding an illustrator;
1. Find an Illustrator on Fiverr
OR
2. Just Bear With Us
I spent countless hours looking for an illustrator who had the style that I wanted for my book. This is crucial when looking for an Illustrator. Know the style of the book you are writing and know that your book fits with the illustrations. If you have previously made an order on Fiverr you can understand that it feels like finding a needle in a haystack finding the right fit. I came across some very talented artists there, but I was still wary of what I was looking for. This is my first project and I wanted to make sure I was choosing the method that had my best interest at heart.
In my findings, I have found that 90% of the time, people that I have ordered from, the work I have received has been below subpar, but I still wasn’t sure what my options were at this point.
Then I came across the Just Bear with Us website and I knew they were the ones that were going to help me throughout this process. The package I chose allowed me to have someone who would help me edit my manuscript, take the time to build characters, take all the hardships that I was facing and give me a product I could be proud of. From the first message I received to the last, this was the best decision for me. Working with them is like working with a well-oiled machine. They were great listeners, patient and always open to feedback. It took a lot of pressure off me, and I am happy with the final product.