Sheryl Bass of Be Kind Publishing - Self-Publishing Success: How PR Skills Transformed a Children's Book Launch
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Sheryl Bass is a children's author and book PR expert with a master's degree in social work and journalism. Her Baby Dragon series focuses on social emotional learning for children, teaching important life lessons through engaging stories. Starting from a flash of inspiration during a sneeze 15 years ago, Sheryl brought her first book "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" to life through self-publishing after traditional publishing routes proved unsuccessful. She runs Be Kind Publishing, emphasizing kindness and social emotional development in children's literature.
In this episode:
- Origins of "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" from a sneeze inspiration
- Importance of social emotional learning in children's books
- Working with developmental editors to strengthen storylines
- Finding illustrators through self-publishing resources
- Understanding work-for-hire contracts with illustrators
- Self-publishing vs traditional publishing in children's literature
- Using pubby.co for obtaining book reviews
- PR strategies for children's book authors
- Marketing through podcasts and in-person events
- Building a children's book series
Resources mentioned:
- Self Publishing Made Simple - April Cox's mentoring service - https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoodOm97WpZCXhBvTukZyUleNWbf4QPvbmp0DJGvSO4-EyZ5SJr8
- Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/
- Pubby.co - https://pubby.co/
- IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/
- Amazon KDP - https://kdp.amazon.com/
Book Recommendations:
- "Hunger for Words" by Christina Hunger - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DYHW2K?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Connect with Sheryl Bass:
- Website - https://www.be-kindpublishing.com/
- Baby Dragon Finds His Family: A Picture Book About Belonging - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRX6WKG?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
- Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze: A Picture Book About Empathy and Trust - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJTFPQ55?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
- Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target
Connect with Teddy Smith:
- @teddyagsmith
- Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
- Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
- Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
- Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
- Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/
92 episodes