14. Self-Publishing Children's Books: From Idea to Success with Award-Winning Author Darcy Pattison

Ready to take control of your children's book publishing journey? Join host Kirsten Larson as she interviews self-publishing expert Darcy Pattison, who has successfully published 70+ children's books through her own publishing house, Mim's House Books.

What You'll Learn:

• When self-publishing is the right choice vs. traditional publishing
• How to develop your art directing skills for picture books
• Essential business skills every indie author needs
• Marketing strategies that actually work for children's books
• How to get your books into schools and libraries
• The truth about making money in self-publishing
• Using Kickstarter for book launches and pre-orders

Key Takeaways:

• Why self-publishing is about "abundance vs. scarcity"
• The importance of building a backlist for long-term success
• How to find and work with illustrators (contracts included!)
• Metadata that boost discoverability
• Why one book won't make you rich (and what will)

📖 About Darcy Pattison: Award-winning children's author with 8 traditionally published books and 70+ self-published titles. Founder of Mim's House Books and creator of the upcoming guide "Publish: Find Surprising Success Self-Publishing Your Children's Book."

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Mim's House Books: mimshousebooks.com
• Indie Kids Books blog: indiekidsbooks.com
• Darcy's Kickstarter (launches Sept 15): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darcypattison/publish?ref=profile_created&category_id=48

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Introducing Darcy Pattison

01:48 – Darcy’s Publishing Journey

05:00 – Betting on Yourself as a Creator

08:03 – Why Self-Publishing? Speed, Profit & Control

11:30 – The Power of Series and Backlist

14:45 – Misconceptions About Self-Publishing
18:12 – Becoming Your Own Art Director

22:30 – Ensuring Quality for Schools and Libraries

26:48 – Distribution, Metadata & Marketing Strategy

32:55 – Kickstarter for Children’s Books

Perfect for: Children's book authors, illustrators, indie publishers, picture book creators, nonfiction writers, anyone considering self-publishing