From pitch to picture book – Tiffany Leeson, Egmont Books
Posted on June 5, 2017Tiffany Leeson, Creative Director of Egmont Books, spoke to us about the process of turning an illustration into a picture book. We got a tour around her office, and a look at some picture books from their initial sketches to the finished product on the shelf.
Tiffany Leeson showing us around her office and the importance of talking @EgmontUK @PictureHooks #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/A0NLwvGRgt
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Wonderfully insightful talk from @tiffgingersnap – Loved the art progressions! (gorgeous work by @AshlingLindsay) #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/Vz1VZhsuQN
— Alex Ashman (@little_pip) May 20, 2017
More notes from #pichooksconf Manchester. #fb pic.twitter.com/KyciWRRAd9
— Maxine Soylent Green (@Emanix) May 20, 2017
If you want to get your work in front of a publisher, you might want to consider getting an agent first…
36% of 50 titles from agented illustrators and 30% agented writers – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/LIoLomFnYP
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Tiffany Leeson ‘35% ish of published work comes through agents’ @PictureHooks #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Undertaking sample work can help publishers bear you in mind for future projects too.
@EgmontUK samples by AOI member @karlj_mountford ✨👌✨ @PictureHooks #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/zjLlHoMf9Y
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Tiffany says you get a feel how you can work with an illustrator when they undertake sample work @PictureHooks #pichooksconf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
“Atmospheric and beautiful” work submitted to @EgmontUK – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/usn1tkCh0G
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Once you’ve got your illustrations onto their desk, what keeps a publisher interested?
#pichooksconf @tiffgingersnap @picturehooks pic.twitter.com/gnLRQrzlhU
— Rachel Suzanne ✏️ (@RSillustrations) May 20, 2017
It all depends on the market.
Q’s by publishers – is the book for the UK? US? Both? Both is the holy grail! @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Generalised view: UkMarket wants humour -poo&pants- international goes for deeper more emotional. Oh Uk…. 😂@PictureHooks #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
So the publisher has noticed your work and wants to commission you for a project. What happens now?
Once the illustrator is chosen, @EgmontUK have conversations about character development – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Also conversations about layout dev, getting the pace of the story right – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
What can the illustrations say that the text does not? – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf #kidlitart
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Marketers, designers, and editors will all get input in your work. You’ll have to win over the whole team.
.@EgmontUK have weekly “cover meetings” between designers, publishers, marketers – all get a say – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
.@tiffgingersnap gives workshops to sales team to help them give illustrators constructive feedback #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Remember it’s the marketers who decide whether they think a book will sell.
If you are good at events and have online presence, that builds a good case to marketing team – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Having a strong twitter following is appreciated by publishers Tiffany Leeson @EgmontUK @PictureHooks #pichooksconf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Follow @TheThingCometh, great example of #kidlitart marketing! – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Book covers- it’s about how they will sell and look on the shelf- not personal preference. @PictureHooks @EgmontUK #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Positioning of books inside shops affects impact of cover design – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/fG1W4K1WxJ
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Need ideas for places outside of picture books to get your illustrations published?
Get involved with Early Reading books for extra #illustration opps – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
People are taking risks in non fiction arena: Tiffany Leeson @PictureHooks @EgmontUK #pichooksconf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Something you might not have thought of – illustration for corporate lit and magazines! @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/QMNgHGBOmf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
You don’t even need to limit yourself to one publisher. Get several!
Agents often encourage illustrators to work in 1 style w/ publisher, & a different style w/ other publisher – @tiffgingersnap #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
This is the first part of a series of recaps from Picture Hooks Conference 2017: Inside Publishing. Click here to read more tweets from the day and interviews with the conference speakers.