I first met Ellen when she contacted me about designing her first book,
The Giving Book, Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving. I was immediately drawn to her enthusiasm for her book, and her courage and determination to start her own publishing company,
Watering Can Press. She had very little publishing experience, but really wanted to get her book published to her exact standards. She decided that she needed to make this happen on her own without the help of a traditional publisher. I decided to interview Ellen because her story is a true success story of going the "indie" publishing route that Ellen Lupton discussed during her interview at
The Casual Optimist that I blogged about
here.
Her company slogan is, "Watering Can Press, Growing Kids with Character". I think this is brilliant! Here is Ellen's story (
my comments are in italics!)
1. How did you get your first book published?
My first book,
The Giving Book, Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving, was originally meant as a birthday present for my 6-year-old niece. It wasn't until I got hundreds of calls and e-mails asking for a copy of the book that I thought to get it published. I went to several publishing houses to offer the book, but decided that the changes I was being asked to make changed an inherent part of my message. I decided to start my own publishing house,
Watering Can Press.
2. What was your next big break?
I had so many breaks it was crazy! After calling the executive offices of a major bookseller (I have to say, Ellen has guts...she'll call just about anyone!) I found myself at breakfast with their head of publishing who became a mentor, and still is to this day. My designer (me), illustrator (Keri Barbas Steckler), and editor all had more experience than I did and made my product far more than it would have been. A marketing director at a major financial institution wanted thousands of branded copies of my first book, which led me to custom publishing. The list goes on of the people who have advised, helped, guided, and supported me and my books.
3. What is your educational background?
I have an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Emory, a Master's in Health Administration from NYU, work at the London School of Economics in Medical Anthropology, and a Master's in Public Health from Harvard.
4. Where do you get your inspiration?
My first two books were written directly as gifts for my niece, so she was my inspiration. Following books came from my life or issues in the world around me. For example, I wrote a
The Healing Book for kids after a summer when my family faced several deaths and I found a huge need for the book. I wrote an
The Greening Book for kids when an executive at Barnes and Noble asked me to do so while guaranteeing a large pre-order. My most recent book,
The Healthy Body Book, seeks to inspire kids to develop healthy habits. I wrote this one because of the epidemic of childhood obesity and avoidable illness that I think can be reduced by getting kids "hooked" on caring for their bodies.
5. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Ignore all the "nay-sayers". There will be many people telling you why it will be so hard to publish, write, get distribution, etc. If you love your message and book, then other people will too! Also there are hundreds of ways to get to the same end goal. Sometimes doing it your own way and not knowing the traditional way gets you there too!
6. What were some of your first rejections, and what made you keep going?
I went to one or two agents and publishers at the beginning and found that a different idea was often equated with something too risky so they wanted to fit my idea into a proven niche. To me, that felt like a rejection (Ellen's books are interactive...having the child "co-author the book, which may have been a little too "different" for some publishers). I kept going because I really liked my book and my message—it was all about getting kids involved in making the world a better place, so I figured that even if I was wasting my time and money, if I got the book out and it inspired a couple kids to get excited about charity and giving, than my downside was pretty low and it was worth doing.
Thanks to Ellen for sharing her bold journey into the world of indie publishing! I hope she inspires you...she has definitely inspired me as I've worked with her to design these great books!
I just came across these great journals made from some of my favorite vintage games (does it date me that I played with these when I was little?). Many of them have game pieces attached with key chains, and have really fun endpapers. The name of the Etsy store, Another Work in Progress is "based on the idea that each of these handmade books are an unfinished work until the pages inside are filled." I think the "Around the World World" journal would be a be the perfect travel journal!
As I've finally decided to take down our Christmas wreaths, I'm sort of missing something on each of our two front doors. While I think these wreaths are very pretty and seem welcoming, I'm not sure they're "us" (not that we're not welcoming!). Our house is cute...sort of cottage-ish, but our taste is just a little more modern. I do like the forsythia wreath. and the pussy willow wreath...they seem a little more natural-looking to me, and might fit in with the plantings around our house. Anyone have any ideas?
Author and illustrator, Grace Lin has started a project called Small Graces where she is auctioning off an original painting a month through eBay with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Foundation of Children's Books. The original paintings are bits of illustrated wisdom that she has been collecting on her blog and for Fortune Cookie Fridays. There will be a new painting each month for 2009.
Since I just discovered that Lilly Pulitzer is doing licensed stationery products, I thought I would show some here. I'm actually embarrassed that I didn't know this as I work for a gift/book publisher and it's my job to know these things! However, to my credit, the line just launched through Life Guard Press in January, and I'm sure I would have caught on by the time the NY Stationery and Surtex Show rolls around in May! Life Guard Press are the folks that licensed the Vera Bradley Stationery line which I'm sure has done incredibly well for them!
I first met Ellen when she contacted me about designing her first book, The Giving Book, Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving. I was immediately drawn to her enthusiasm for her book, and her courage and determination to start her own publishing company, Watering Can Press. She had very little publishing experience, but really wanted to get her book published to her exact standards. She decided that she needed to make this happen on her own without the help of a traditional publisher. I decided to interview Ellen because her story is a true success story of going the "indie" publishing route that Ellen Lupton discussed during her interview at The Casual Optimist that I blogged about here. 
I wish I was here again today! We drove from Rome down the Amalfi coast a couple years ago on the most amazing, romantic trip. I found the hotel from my favorite movie, Only You, starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.
Paula from the lovely design blog Two Ellie wrote this great post about Alys Beach "an oasis of luxury with a distinct Mediterranean feel" located on the Florida coast. Of course, I started clicking through all the great photos on the site! By posting this, little did Paula know how much she was inspiring me to finally get window treatments for our living room! I'm thinking of using some in a natural fiber Roman shade like the examples shown here (bottom three images) and combining it with this great fabric from Hable Construction (top image) Since the fabric is pretty pricey, I think I could just use long curtains on the back window, and put the natural fiber Roman shades on the other windows, perhaps incorporating just a little of the Hable Construction fabric in a band along the bottom of the shades. Would that be weird?
There's a great interview on The Casual Optimist about Ellen Lupton, the Director of the Graphic Design MFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and the curator of contemporary design at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The interview offers valuable insight into "indie publishing" ie. "how to publish your own book". She discusses the pros and cons of using a traditional publishing house (which can be difficult to break into, but offers design, editing, printing, marketing, sales and distrubution), and publishing yourself (you print and sell directly...very liberating and rewarding, but you must take on all these tasks yourself). Take a look, it's very interesting!
Check out this adorable little sit-on-scooter from Mahar Dry Goods. Wouldn't Jake look cute on that scooting around on Easter Sunday? They also have these adorable snap-on-shirts. Just pick the animal you want on your shirt for the day and snap it on! (Just remember to take the felt animal off before you wash it!
Yesterday I had to buy a dress to a semi-fancy function that we're going to on Sat. night. It was one of those "Pretty Woman" days. I NEED a dress, and I have very little time to get it. I ended up going all over the mall and wish I had just started with Anthropologie first. They never disappoint. And they're nice. And they help you. I haven't found Westchester NY to be the world's friendliest place so far, and the Bloomingdale's sales associate's comment of "that dress does nothing for you" didn't change my feelings any! Perhaps she could have helped me out and offered up some alternatives?
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