Hey Valerie - I really relate to your story, and you inspire me. I'm also a later bloomer, trying to start my career over again as a 46 year old with three kids - I'm also a children's book author/ illustrator, and I'm so glad I found your substack!
That’s awesome that you got replies! I’d take that as a win. 💯 If you get advice for improvement, that’s also amazing. I sent to an agent once and she replied with a pass, but gave really good advice on how to improve upon my dummy. Like, a long email. I took that as a sign that I was moving forward. 😆
It was super helpful and I now I’ve had an agent for a few years. I also started my kidlit journey later in life. It’s been about 7 years now and I have my first book as an author/illustrator coming out next summer. Keep going!
I burned out and quit design last year after more than a decade in that field and am working on my middle grade novel illustration portfolio right now. Finding your writings here is a godsend, and I’m going to be eating up your work as I pre-prepare for pitching! Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice!
Thanks! My mentor is Giuseppe Constellano from the Illustration Dept. I've been listening to his podcast from some time nom, and I like his teaching style. You can find him on Substack here: https://illustrationdept.substack.com/
Hi Valerie! I too am a later bloomer and started on this quest when I was around your age. Giuseppe's ID mentorship is amazing. We had our last session a few weeks ago and I've been working on mailing my 'list'. Wow! I need to redraft my letter and stop attaching a PDF! HA! Thanks for the sage advice.
Hi Val! Thanks for writing this! It was really motivating and very actionable advice. I have been remaking my portfolio in the last year and felt like I am only drawing for the drawer… but now I am
looking for potential clients to send it and it feels more real now not just a dream. So thank you!
It seems like I run into a dead end. In my country (Hungary) publishers don’t really have art directors 😅 In your opinion who would be the next best option to send my email: chief editor or marketing manager?
Such an informative post Valerie - thank you! I’m also a fellow Canadian trying to start a new career. I was wondering, I often see on publisher websites, that there are art submission guidelines. Did you send your emails to these generic emails or to specific individuals (which is what it sounds like to me). Thanks again!
Hi Valerie! I just found your Substack, and love it! I’m assuming you used a newsletter platform to send these email. Did you just use Substack? Or something else?
This was a great piece and super motivating but I’m a little confused. Did you add all these folks to a mailing list without their opting in first? I work in marketing and this is usually advised against on all mailing list platforms. Not knocking all the work you did, just wondering if you were met with any confusion or frustration from the people you added to your list.
Hey Christina, so yes, I added their email to my list. I did not get any confused reply or frustrated people, nor did I get any demands to unsubscribe. As I see it, it was not a newsletter, it was an introduction email and I used a mailing list instead of emailing each one individually. I did get a couple of positive replies.
That’s great Valerie. Thanks for your response. I can see what you mean. You weren’t necessarily selling something just saying hi in a more convenient way then sending individual emails or mass cc’ing people and exposing their emails to others. I’ve used email lists for the latter before. Glad you got a good response so far. 💜
Yeah I would not send a promo code or something I would sell, but if I get say, a book deal or new representation, then yeah, it would go into the next email :)
Hi, Valerie! Thanks for this post! It motivates me to keep building my mailing list. I am an illustrator and an artist, and I am interested in two areas: picture books and art licensing. I totally agree with the idea of putting the best work on the first page of the website, but I'm a little confused about which of the pages should be the homepage. If I set the “Kidlit portfolio” as the homepage, it would make sense for publishers, but not for greeting card companies. And if I set “Illustrations for Licensing" as the homepage, it will confuse publishers. I created a separate “Gallery” page that combined Kidlit's artwork and licensed art, but people said it was confusing.I would love to hear your opinion if you have the time! 🙂
Hey Marina! So of course it's easier if you have one focus on your homepage, but if you want to pursuit both area, I would have 2 lists, one for the publishing industry and the other for the paper/cards/product companies. I would pitch at different times (I'd look when is the best time for them), and change my homepage portfolio focus depending on who I pitch to. Does that make sense?
Thank you so much for your reply, Valerie! It's good advice to make different pitches at different times! I think it can also help to focus on the IG content (I can publish more relevant content for publishers at the time when I make my pitching for them). I'm not so sure about changing the homepage with a pitch, but I'll definitely think about it! At the moment, I have added 5 favorite illustrations to the "About the" page (which is still my homepage). 3 kidlit illustrations and 2 flower illustrations.
Hey Valerie - I really relate to your story, and you inspire me. I'm also a later bloomer, trying to start my career over again as a 46 year old with three kids - I'm also a children's book author/ illustrator, and I'm so glad I found your substack!
Yay! Welcome to the Late-Bloomer Club Jessica!
Me too! Im a 48 year old primary teacher and I just got my first book project as a kidlit illustrator. Never too late to follow that dream.
That’s awesome that you got replies! I’d take that as a win. 💯 If you get advice for improvement, that’s also amazing. I sent to an agent once and she replied with a pass, but gave really good advice on how to improve upon my dummy. Like, a long email. I took that as a sign that I was moving forward. 😆
Wow a long email is great!
It was super helpful and I now I’ve had an agent for a few years. I also started my kidlit journey later in life. It’s been about 7 years now and I have my first book as an author/illustrator coming out next summer. Keep going!
Also just started following my heart career, so pleased I found your substack!! Thankyou for writing and sharing. 😊
Welcome to the Late-Bloomer Club!
I burned out and quit design last year after more than a decade in that field and am working on my middle grade novel illustration portfolio right now. Finding your writings here is a godsend, and I’m going to be eating up your work as I pre-prepare for pitching! Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice!
You're most welcome! Let us know how it goes!!!
This is lovely--both your art and the story you've shared!
Happy you enjoyed it Calee! :)
Nice inspirational storie specially on this AI days. May I asked, where or how did your find your mentor?
Thanks! My mentor is Giuseppe Constellano from the Illustration Dept. I've been listening to his podcast from some time nom, and I like his teaching style. You can find him on Substack here: https://illustrationdept.substack.com/
Great post, congrats on the forward momentum! I’m excited for you! I just started my mentorship with Giuseppe! Yay!!
thanks Jennifer! And wishing you the best with the mentorship!
Wow, this is so thoughtful and helpful. I joined Substack in October and I’ve been slow to learn the ropes. I appreciate your advice. 🙏
my pleasure :)
This was so helpful!
Happy to help! :)
Hi Valerie! I too am a later bloomer and started on this quest when I was around your age. Giuseppe's ID mentorship is amazing. We had our last session a few weeks ago and I've been working on mailing my 'list'. Wow! I need to redraft my letter and stop attaching a PDF! HA! Thanks for the sage advice.
Just went and took a look at your portfolio :) Love your work! Where you at this week's critique?
Awww. Thanks a bunch, Valerie. Yes, I was at this week’s critique. I love that group. Were you there as well?
yes, but I didn't have anything to submit this week :) I had a one the one before that, it was a black/white middle grade piece :)
My pleasure Jennifer! Welcome to the Late-Bloomer club!
Hi Val! Thanks for writing this! It was really motivating and very actionable advice. I have been remaking my portfolio in the last year and felt like I am only drawing for the drawer… but now I am
looking for potential clients to send it and it feels more real now not just a dream. So thank you!
My pleasure Laura, hope it helps in your journey!
It seems like I run into a dead end. In my country (Hungary) publishers don’t really have art directors 😅 In your opinion who would be the next best option to send my email: chief editor or marketing manager?
Chief editor would be my pick :) And I would for sure pitch in other countries too. Don't limit yourself!
Saving this! Thank you, Valerie :)
pleasure!
Such an informative post Valerie - thank you! I’m also a fellow Canadian trying to start a new career. I was wondering, I often see on publisher websites, that there are art submission guidelines. Did you send your emails to these generic emails or to specific individuals (which is what it sounds like to me). Thanks again!
Hey Cansu! I send them to specific individuals.
Hi Valerie! I just found your Substack, and love it! I’m assuming you used a newsletter platform to send these email. Did you just use Substack? Or something else?
My website is on Squarespace, I used their native newsletter service.
This was a great piece and super motivating but I’m a little confused. Did you add all these folks to a mailing list without their opting in first? I work in marketing and this is usually advised against on all mailing list platforms. Not knocking all the work you did, just wondering if you were met with any confusion or frustration from the people you added to your list.
Hey Christina, so yes, I added their email to my list. I did not get any confused reply or frustrated people, nor did I get any demands to unsubscribe. As I see it, it was not a newsletter, it was an introduction email and I used a mailing list instead of emailing each one individually. I did get a couple of positive replies.
That’s great Valerie. Thanks for your response. I can see what you mean. You weren’t necessarily selling something just saying hi in a more convenient way then sending individual emails or mass cc’ing people and exposing their emails to others. I’ve used email lists for the latter before. Glad you got a good response so far. 💜
Yeah I would not send a promo code or something I would sell, but if I get say, a book deal or new representation, then yeah, it would go into the next email :)
💯🙌
Hi Valerie! Thank you for sharing, it’s so inspiring and empowering🔥. I’m on the same journal at my 31. Let’s
do it! 🙏 Wish you the best
Hi, Valerie! Thanks for this post! It motivates me to keep building my mailing list. I am an illustrator and an artist, and I am interested in two areas: picture books and art licensing. I totally agree with the idea of putting the best work on the first page of the website, but I'm a little confused about which of the pages should be the homepage. If I set the “Kidlit portfolio” as the homepage, it would make sense for publishers, but not for greeting card companies. And if I set “Illustrations for Licensing" as the homepage, it will confuse publishers. I created a separate “Gallery” page that combined Kidlit's artwork and licensed art, but people said it was confusing.I would love to hear your opinion if you have the time! 🙂
Hey Marina! So of course it's easier if you have one focus on your homepage, but if you want to pursuit both area, I would have 2 lists, one for the publishing industry and the other for the paper/cards/product companies. I would pitch at different times (I'd look when is the best time for them), and change my homepage portfolio focus depending on who I pitch to. Does that make sense?
Thank you so much for your reply, Valerie! It's good advice to make different pitches at different times! I think it can also help to focus on the IG content (I can publish more relevant content for publishers at the time when I make my pitching for them). I'm not so sure about changing the homepage with a pitch, but I'll definitely think about it! At the moment, I have added 5 favorite illustrations to the "About the" page (which is still my homepage). 3 kidlit illustrations and 2 flower illustrations.