I used to do this in the early days of twitter so, before this place becomes feral...got any questions about children's publishing/writing? I won't have all the answers but I worked in publishing for 15 years before going full time as an author, here for all your demystification needs. #Kidlituk - ThreadSky

louiestowell.bsky.social • 215 days ago

I used to do this in the early days of twitter so, before this place becomes feral...got any questions about children's publishing/writing? I won't have all the answers but I worked in publishing for 15 years before going full time as an author, here for all your demystification needs. #Kidlituk

Comments

kirawrites.bsky.social•215 days ago

Do you feel that good literature is being overlooked in preference of viral literaature? ie- something likely to trend on Booktok is chosen of great writing?

louiestowell.bsky.social•214 days ago

I'd say for my area, children's books, no, because booktok is so YA or adult focussed. That doesn't mean great writing is what rises to the top though -marketing spend does! So yeah I think a lot of amazing books are overlooked because they're not highly promoted.

sophiamustdye.bsky.social•214 days ago

hi louie! i’m currently an english major whose looking to join the publishing world after graduation! could you tell me your thoughts on using an actual publisher vs self publishing? do you think we should be worried that more people will choose the self publish route in the future? 🤍

louiestowell.bsky.social•214 days ago

Hi there! I don't have very strong opinions about this because I don't know all that much about the world of self publishing. I never saw self pub as a threat when I was a publisher - it's a very different route and not in direct competition with publishers cos routes to market are so different.

louiestowell.bsky.social•214 days ago

I only have an experience of working with a publisher vs doing it myself so can't judge both sides, but what I get from working with a publisher is having experts working on each step of the process eg a whole production department working on the physical book.

carlydraws.bsky.social•213 days ago

Would love to know any tips for what editors/ads/marketing look for in art portfolios- would love to do more mg/ya covers but it seems a hard area to get into!

louiestowell.bsky.social•213 days ago

When I was scoping out illustrators to pass on to art directors I'd always look for a range in the portfolio - not necessarily of styles, but of subjects. You know, can they do animals/children/cars/backgrounds etc. #KidlitUK #ukpublishing

carlydraws.bsky.social•213 days ago

thanks Louie! I'll have to work up some new samples when I get some free time (said every illustrator, ever :-D )

louiestowell.bsky.social•213 days ago

PS have boosted in case anyone has other wisdoms.

carlydraws.bsky.social•213 days ago

thanks!

louiestowell.bsky.social•213 days ago

hahah yes that mythical notion of "free time". I've heard of it....

carlydraws.bsky.social•213 days ago

yes I'm sure it must exist, somewhere...

louiestowell.bsky.social•213 days ago

I'm going to check behind the sofa