Episode
14. Self-Publishing Children's Books: From Idea to Success with Award-Winning Author Darcy Pattison
- Published
- Sep 19, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 2296
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- https://podcast.kirstenwlarson.com/e/self-publishing-childrens-books-from-idea-to-success-with-award-winning-author-darcy-pattison/
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Summary
Ready to take control of your children's book publishing journey? Join host Kirsten Larson as she interviews self-publishing expert Darcy Pattison, who has successfully published 70+ children's books through her own publishing house, Mim's House Books. What You'll Learn: When self-publishing is the right choice vs. traditional publishing How to develop your art directing skills for picture books Essential business skills every indie author needs Marketing strategies that actually work for children's books How to get your books into schools and libraries The truth about making money in self-publishing Using Kickstarter for book launches and pre-orders Key Takeaways: Why self-publishing is about "abundance vs. scarcity" The importance of building a backlist for long-term success How to find and work with illustrators (contracts included!) Metadata that boost discoverability Why one book won't make you rich (and what will) 📖 About Darcy Pattison: Award-winning children's author with 8 traditionally published books and 70+ self-published titles. Founder of Mim's House Books and creator of the upcoming guide "Publish: Find Surprising Success Self-Publishing Your Children's Book." 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Mim's House Books: mimshousebooks.com Indie Kids Books blog: indiekidsbooks.com Darcy's Kickstarter (launches Sept 15): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darcypattison/publish?ref=profile_created&category_id=48 Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome & Introducing Darcy Pattison 01:48 – Darcy’s Publishing Journey 05:00 – Betting on Yourself as a Creator 08:03 – Why Self-Publishing? Speed, Profit & Control 11:30 – The Power of Series and Backlist 14:45 – Misconceptions About Self-Publishing18:12 – Becoming Your Own Art Director 22:30 – Ensuring Quality for Schools and Librar…