Liberty oriented children's book

[lobb40118]

The concept hit me a couple weeks ago of a liberty oriented children's book. I have been jotting down the story yet most children's books are heavily animated and here is where the question comes in. Do you think there is a market for a liberty oriented children's book? I have 4 kids and 2 are young and I will finish the book and publish it for them at the minimum. I would need to find an animator if I wanted to market it. I would probably just find one of my friends or one of my teenagers friends to make some illustrations if I was going to do it for the family. Just curious if you guys think there is a market for such a thing.

[Rillion]

I definitely think there would be a market for it.  You could do it in the form of a story, or in the form of a series of lessons, but I would recommend either doing both or just the story as lessons by themselves might be viewed as boring. You might check out Dan Barker's books Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong and Maybe Yes, Maybe No for ideas on how to structure it.

If you can't find a publisher or aren't interested in using one, you might consider using Blurb to publish for yourself.  They're basically like the book equivalent of Cafe Press or Zazzle-- you choose a book format, and they will publish as many copies as you want to buy.   Also like Cafe Press, you get the profits from copies they sell to other people.  

ETA: Somewhere around here there's a thread devoted to liberty-themed children's books....I'll do some digging and see if I can find it.

ETA2: Ah, here it is.

[anarchir]

Also: LuLu

I think there would certainly be a market for that. Consider teaming up with Dale (anarchyinyourhead.com). I bet he'd be willing to illustrate.

Personally, a liberty-themed childrens book would make an excellent addition to my bookshelf, and they would make excellent christmas gifts to family members or friends with kids.

[lobb40118]

Thanks for all the help. I will keep you all posted on how it goes.

[hellbilly]

With two kids of my own, I'd be in the market for such a book.

Maybe you could find a like minded illustrator to do the artwork and cut them a fair share of the profits as the book sells. That person could probably also help you with marketing.

[Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Mommy_is_a_Democrat

http://littledemocrats.net/ Why Mama Voted for Obama

Sorry, just had to give a little humor.

[Harry Tuttle]

I have long thought about that. I have thought about doing it myself, but don't know how to approach such a project.

My one recommendation is to keep it simple. Don't go all Ayn Rand and be preachy. Just tell a good story that teaches a good moral lesson.

I was reading a "Winnie the Pooh" story to my child (not one of the original books) in which Rabbit was trying to get everyone to pass a rule forcing Tigger not to bounce any more. In the story, Piglet had the guts to stand up to such an outlandish suggestion. It struck me as such a great message and the correct way to send it.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

Don't make it all Captain Planet morality crusade, or we'll have a generation of kids trying to save the FED out of spite.

[lobb40118]

I would definately share profit with an artist. I was thinking about publishing with Amazon that way FTL and others could get some money also from people using their Amazon link to buy. I have the basic story written but it is rough and needs editing which my wife is helping with. It is dealing with various liberty aspects including civil disobedience and voting. I don't think it is preachy, it is more poking fun at beuracracy and how to peacefully deal with it. Once I get further in the process I will probably put the text up here to see what you guys think.

[Rillion]

I was thinking about publishing with Amazon that way FTL and others could get some money also from people using their Amazon link to buy.

Amazon sells books.  It doesn't, so far as I know, publish them. 

[hellbilly]

Once I get further in the process I will probably put the text up here to see what you guys think.

If you just want to share the message, that's cool. If profit is a motive too though, I'd skip posting the text until after you've published.. otherwise someone could just slip in, cut-n-paste and off to the presses it goes.

[Harry Tuttle]

But if you send me the text privately I will read it to my child and give you an honest review. If the child asks for it again then I will commit to buying a copy.

[lobb40118]

Amazon has a section called "CreateSpace" at https://www.createspace.com/ and they will set you up in their system and everything with Print on Demand. This is a bit higher in price for the buyer with less profit for creator but would get the marketing of Amazon and no bulk order or storage.  One could also order some in bulk at a lower price and store and ship themselves. If you use their sales channel feature with the print on demand they make the lions share I.E. they would get around $13 and anything over that is profit which would have to be divided between the author and illustrator. So even lowballing it at $15 the author and illustrator would have to split the $2 per book. If we were to order several and store, market and ship ourselves, with the liability of maybe eating the copies we do not sell, we could get them at $8 a book but by the time we shipped and it would be near that price anyways plus we would have to be liable for any unsold copies. Purchasing a Pro plan would drop the price by a couple of $'s but It costs an upfront fee to do. Which is what I would probably do to get the price down some if I thought the book would sell well to get back the starting fee. I would like to have it lower price so more people could afford.  To make a small nominal rate a book would be fine by me because I would not be in it to get rich but would like to be compensated a little at least as well as compensate the illustrator. If the first few sales went good then we could use that to buy in bulk and lower price a bit more. Plus If we went the Amazon route if the books were ordered with the FTL link they would get some cash as well I would assume. $15 is a bit high for a Childrens book but if it had a good story line, message and illustrations I do not think it would be price prohibitive to make. What do you guys think?

[fatcat]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO



no

[anarchir]

ahhhhhhhh