Self-Publishing for Kids•KidPub Press

•Story Spark by Tikatok•TaleSpring

Children as authors?

Vanity press or legitimate authorship?Parents support extracurricular interests:

Soccer, Saxophone or Stories Financial resources/encouragement

Does it matter which “team”?

Success stories

“No prodigies in literature” ~ Tom RobbinsChris Paolini –

Published Eragon – Age 15Inheritance Cycle – 25 M copies/49+ languages

Ben HeckmannVelvet Black novels800 copiesFeatured in NY Times

KidPub PressKidPub Press launched in 2008Membership

Required only if publishingVia parent registration$12.95/yr

Targets tween and teen authorsFiction, poetry

Creative ProcessCreated offline and uploaded

MS Word preferred, but will consider other editable formats.

Illustrations:Provided by authorFelt-tip pen drawing preferredB/WNo photos, color, clip artScanned or hard copy

Publishing servicesEditing/DesignMarketingPrintingShippingFinancials

Print bookPrice ~$12.95Dimensions: 9x6 trade paperbackMin: 25 pgs., Max ?> 500 pgs = 2 volumesPerfect BoundWhite Paper/black inkFonts - choice

CoversFull-color on heavy, glossy cover stockFront cover: Title, author, artworkBack cover

Book summaryAuthor bioISBNCopyright statement

SpineIf book > 100 pages, Title, author, artwork?

Editing/Design“Light editing”Formatting

Poetry will have more white spaceLimited enhancement of author’s illustrationsCover: overall design by staff

Marketing

Amazon: Print & eBookKidsPub Press online – Print onlyPress releases to local news media,

bookstores, librariesBooks in Print

eBook

Kindle format only – Available on AmazonReflects the print book in design, artwork,

pricing.

FeesInitial investment: $250

EditingCover DesignMarketingRegistration with Books in PrintISBN5 copies to authorAdditional copies at discount

RoyaltiesAmazon – 15%KidPub Press – 20%Barnes & Noble – 10%

Quarterly Sales Reports

StorySparkby Tikatox

Tikatok – B & NOnline - UINook Color/Tablet app

Creative Process

Entirely onlineGraphics library, or uploadStory prompts, pre-formatted pages, plot

templatesOr, start “from scratch”

Cookie CutterUsing a pre-designed template.

Starting from Scratch

Formats Minimum – 7 pgs Maximum – 100 pagesHardcover - $18 + .18/pg

Bound & laminated full-color covers/interior Heavy, glossy paper

Paperback - $15 + .18/pgeBook –$2.99/download

EPUBPDF

Editorial ServicesNo MarketingSales to account ownerAuthor’s name not revealed until after book is

ordered.No ISBNCopyright to author

Exception: Build-a-Bear story templates

Tikatok’s new app

Draw, Write, ReadDraw - App’s pens, paint brushes, Write - Choice of font style, color, page layoutsRead - Recorded audio

Oops!StorySpark – available?Draw, Write, Read – unavailable?Orders for books not currently accepted?Between the lines

Microsoft enters the picture as Tikatok takes a break

B & N support says it’s “up to the publisher”.

Going Interactive

TaleSpringDIY No programming requiredApple’s App Store, Android Market

Creative ProcessFree to register & create.Fee to publishAuthor provides illustrations & audio filesBuilt on HTML5Safari, Chrome, FireFox 5 supported.

User Interface

AnimationsMovementScaleRotateFade In & OutAppear/DisappearHot Spot – triggers sound effect and/or another

object’s animation

Media

Graphics – JPG, GIF, PNGAudio – MP3 onlyVideo – MPEG 4

Marketing & Financials

$150 to publishTaleSpring submits to Apple.Timeline – 2-3 weeks to App StoreRoyalties:

Author – 50%Apple – 30%TaleSpring - 20%

http://slidesha.re/kidspubBetsy Dobles

bdobles@libraryweb.org