How I got my first book contract

Of the 40 or so illustrators I when to college and grad school with that had real passion and/or talent. About 10 -15 of us are working in the field. Others gave up, some others chose different directions in the art field. It's not an easy career choice, Illustration is just about the hardest career path I could have chosen for myself. So far though, I'm glad I did. Sometimes though it's all about being in the right place at the right time.

It took me 5 years to get one book contract. This is because it seems like no one will publish you without being published by someone else." I constantly asked myself, how do I get published if I'm not already published? How does anyone new, get work? Well, it's all about timing and connections.

I got my first book deal because of an artist being flaky, this is more common in the commercial art world than you would think. I was friends with someone who also worked for the same publisher, but who had accepted a contract with DC so could no longer freelance. This friend called me, because he knew I was trying to get a book, I was not a flake and could work pretty fast. I had a 3 month deadline, start to finish. I worked on that book every night, even while I had the stomach flu for 3 weeks. I got it done by the target deadline, and my second book sort of fell into my lap because of who my teacher in grad school was.

So it really is who you know in life and being in the right place at the right time. I've made it a point to try not to burn bridges with anyone, because you never know if you might need them in some different way in the future.

Wish List

Getting started in the illustration business full-time is exciting and a lot of work. I'm planning on some mailers to go out in March/April to get more clients. I'm working on a self promotion piece involving my moving for the mailer. I'll do I show and tell once I have them ready to send.

These are some of the companies that are on my client wish list:
EeBoo -awesome games and puzzles for children
Chronicle Books
Ginger Bread Books
Scholastic
McGraw-Hill

I've decided on Marketing Mondays. I'll use most of Mondays to update my portfolio sites and website. Design Mailers, mail things and research companies. That's probably when I'll update this blog too and give a review of the past week.
Tuesday-Fridays will be Illustration days, and any extra time that I don't find myself busy with travel or personal commitments will be when I work on my fine art pieces. That's when I get to do the weird dark art that I like so much.

If you think about it, I just went from a 40 a week job to an 80 hour a week job. I believe though, that if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. It's all going to be worth it when I'm a well know illustrator and get mountains of work without even trying (that's the goal atleast, correct?).

Confirmation of my decision

So last night confirmed it in my head that I need to be a fulltime illustrator.

I was finishing a storyboard that was due on Friday by 1pm after dinner. This means by the time I get off work, cross the bridge, pick up mom, cook and plate it's 8:30pm. That means didn't get to start my story board until 9pm. I was up until 1am, which is when I finished. I decided to go to sleep and scan the images in the morning at work because I was exhausted. I spent the morning at work scanning and sending of my work, not something I should do, but something I needed to do.

Now if I didn't have to wake up at 6am to get to my full-time job across the bridge by 8am, then I could have stayed up all night and finished the scanning. I wouldn't need to stay up all night though, because I would have had all day. I am so happy that starting February I will be a full time illustrator, I can do this... I'll still be busy.

"If it's meant to be. It's up to me"

I believe that I can make a living in the creative field. I have been successfully creating books for small publishers on a part time basis since 2008, and since college I have had a few smaller illustration jobs. It has been 7 years since college and it is 4 years after grad school, but 2010 marks the year that by January 1, I had signed 4 contracts for books. All those contracts have completion dates due before July. That's not a bad living, it's not a great one, but it's good. After much hemming and hawing, I decided to resign from my cushy-full-time -benifited-city-government-job as a Facility Supervisor. It was a good position and good benefits, but it was not for me. Totally not my passion and a case of the grass is not greener.

I have the drive and determination needed to make it in the creative field. I will knock on publishers doors and be persistent, until they see me even if it's just so I'll stop knocking on their door and go away. I have to admit I'm not 100% confident in my style, but I'm not waiting around until I'm better. I am going to get myself out there now. I have made every excuse to not be a freelance illustrator "I'll be broke for too long", " My work isn't up to par", "The economy sucks" and "I have no time", plus a few others. Well I have time now. I'm changing my whole life. Now IS the time. Time to seek bigger publishers. I have compiled lists for mailing, sketches for new portfolio pieces. I need time now, and time is exactly what I will have starting January 29th... well sort of.

On February 6th, I am moving from Richmond to Crockett, a 15 minute drive and $400 a month savings. So that first week of my new life will include packing, moving and unpacking. Something I hope my friends can help me with. Who doesn't like to unpack other people's stuff? I know I love to do that. I'll need all the help I can get.
For 2 years while I was in the process of reaching this point, not the moving part but the dream career part, I had a full time job, freelance design commitments, and a ton of personal and family commitments. Nothing could stop me, and I'm glad it has brought me to this point. I HAD to do this. I had to resign for that cushy job, for my boyfriend, friends, family and my own sanity. On February 1st, I will be a Full- Time Illustrator.

I'll be updating this blog with projects I'm working on, how I market, and more of my general insanity regarding following my dream. So stick around, buckle your selt belt because we are in for a wild ride.