Going Beyond a Simple eBook

When I started this project, the idea of creating a real paper book and an eBook was more than I wanted to deal with. I thought that I should just do an eBook and get something published as soon as possible. I believed that I had good reason to be hasty. For one thing, I had to learn how to draw…and paint…and use Photoshop…and Procreate…and learn color theory, and everything else that goes with starting a career as an illustrator. Yes, I consider myself an illustrator, an illustrator just starting out.

After watching the process of other children’s book illustrators, I got to thinking that, to be taken seriously, I have to publish an actual paper version of my book as well as an eBook. Even though a paper book has mean special considerations than seem complicated, I have to face them. There’s the front matter, title page, cover images — all every exciting features that contribute to the professional “feel” of a book. I want my book to have that feel.

Today I created a second inDesign project for the paper version. The main change is that the paper book will be in portrait mode, not landscape mode. I’ll have to redesign the layout of images and text, and even create images that cover two pages. This is exciting stuff!

Here’s a view of the some ideas I have for the first few pages of front matter as they would look in portrait mode.