Kelly Mangan, Author & Illustrator
Looking for an illustrator?
Traditional Publishing
If you are a picture book author, and you're looking to get your story traditionally published, it's important that you understand how that process works. Typically, an author will query a literary agent about representing their work. Literary agents have in's with editors that you simply do not have access to. However, there are some small publishers who will accept queries from authors directly, even if they don't have agents.
Either way you decide to go, you're going to have to find a publisher who wants to buy your book. That means getting your story in front of a lot of editors. If you're lucky, you might find an editor who loves your story-- loves it more than any other story they've read that year-- and wants to make it into a book. Congratulations!
At that point, you (or your agent) will negotiate with the publisher over the terms and if both parties agree, you'll sell them your story. You'll work with an editor to make the story the best it can be, and the publisher's art director will start the search for an illustrator for your book.
This is the important part: YOU DO NOT CHOOSE YOUR ILLUSTRATOR. Some publishers may provide authors with some options for feedback, but the publisher is ultimately who chooses and hires the illustrator for the book. Not the author.
So if you're here because you want to traditionally publish a picture book, then you're doing things the wrong way 'round.
Self Publishing
If you're an author looking to self-publish a picture book, it's important to understand that self-publishing is expensive, and most self-publishing authors don't make much off their book sales. So please understand why illustrators are not interested in a percentage of your future book sales in lieu of payment. Because we know that-- chances are-- you will never sell enough books to adequately compensate us for our work.
If you want to hire an illustrator, then you should expect to pay them fairly for their work. If you're down with all that, then read on!
Rates & Important Info
1.) Please check out the portfolio on my website, and make sure that my art style fits what you're looking for before contacting me.
2.) Please note that I will not take on projects or clients that are bigoted or hateful, and I reserve the right to decline clients that are disrespectful or abusive. I am not a serf. If you want to work together on a project, then I expect to be treated as a respected colleague and collaborator.
3.) I do not use AI, and I do not consent to my work being used to train AI.
4.) My self-publisher rates are $34.47/hour, which constitutes a livable wage in my state (https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/50).
5.) To illustrate a 32-page picture book, plus cover and end papers, takes 8-12 weeks of dedicated work (approx 20 hrs a week). That works out to a minimum of $5,515.20.
6.) If you want to hire me, I will consult with you and provide you with a price estimate. If you decide to move forward, I will require a $1,000 deposit, which will go toward my total fees. This fee is non-refundable.
7.) After consult and receipt of deposit, I will provide rough sketches of the book for client approval. I will do ONE round of sketch revisions.
8.) Once the sketches approved, I will create the line art and the color palette for the book, and submit both for client's approval. I will do ONE round of line art revisions.
9.) Once line art and color palette are approved, I will provide color and texture, and submit the final pages for client approval. This is the LAST chance for the client to request revisions.
10.) I will do ONE round of revisions on the final art pages. Please keep in mind that all changes and revisions are included in the hours worked. The more changes you ask for, the more hours I have to spend on your project, and the more your final bill goes up.
11.) I require payment in full within 72 hours of the client receiving final artwork.
12.) I do not "ghost" illustrate. Please credit me on your book and anywhere you use my art. That's just a professional courtesy.
Cover Work
If you'd like to hire me to design and illustrate the cover for your book, my rates are $34.47 an hour. A cover design can take anywhere from 10 to 30 hours to complete, depending on how much detail and complexity is involved, and how many changes you want to make. I'm happy to consult with you to give you an estimate. And much like above, I'll provide a sketch, a black and white proof, and then a color version for feedback. I require a $150 non-refundable deposit for cover projects.