FAQs
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Do you offer a discount for bulk orders?
Exciting news! I am now able to offer a discount on bulk orders of books. The discount will vary based on the number of books ordered and delivery time may be between one week to 4 months depending on the size of the order. Please email kelly@kellyshuto.ca to connect with me and discuss options.
What publisher are you working with?
Me! I am proudly self-published. I learned how to do it by asking a ton of questions to anyone who would answer, watching a million YouTube videos and reading every article I could get my hands on. I still have a lot to learn but I'm happy to answer questions or take advice!
How did you find your illustrator?
Maria Burobkina is amazing and she is the reason my ideas came to life the way they did. I have actually never spoken with Maria directly: I work with a company out of Kelowna, B.C. and they do all the formatting and communicating with Maria. We go back and forth a million times until everything is just right. I found the company that I work with by doing some google searches on how to find an illustrator for a children's book. I sent off some emails (it was very scary) and filled out inquiry forms on a few websites. I spoke with two illustrators before I was contacted by the company I went with. It was a perfect fit for what I was needing--I am very grateful to have found them. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact me.
How much does it cost to self-publish a children's book?
Good question! I was quoted anywhere between $2000 and $9000 to complete all the illustrations and the formatting. Different companies charge differently. Some charge per illustration and only allow a fixed number of changes, while others are more flexible and allow for more back and forth conversations. All of this is put in writing when signing the contract.
If you are interested in the publishing process, you might consider joining The Local Bookshelf. This is a group I co-founded with three other local authors. We have also created an 80 page How To Guide on publishing your own book!
How long did it take to publish your book?
The first book took about 8 months, the second (I was not in a rush) took a little over a year, and the third book look over a year and a half...I wasn't in a hurry though. There is always more to learn in the self publishing world.
How long did it take you to write your books?
I have always wanted to write children's books but I had never written one that felt right. My first book (still not published) took me a few years to sift through my thoughts and get down on paper. Maybe one day it will make it out into the world for people to read.
What Does It Mean to Be Brave? was the second book that I wrote and I wrote it in about 30 minutes. It was inspired by a group of students I was working with at the time. This group was very nervous about doing everyday activities and struggled to find their brave for everyday activities. We spoke a lot about supporting each other through these moments and, with time, patience and bravery, they were able to overcome many of the things they feared. It was amazing to watch!
From "Brave" came many other ideas. I have currently written several in the series but only three are published at this time. What Does It Mean to Be Your Best? and What Does It Mean to Be Smart? are the latest in the series thus far. They each took about an hour to write. Of course, there are a million edits and changes that happen after the original idea is down on paper...or in my case, written on notes in my phone!
Do you still have a question that I didn't answer here? I am happy to answer any other questions that you may have. Please feel free to contact me and ask away!