Even though you wrote a good book, an illustrator can make or break it. Good chemistry and the right price and style equal a potential winner. Sandy Baker, an author and sometimes illustrator, will provide examples of various media and styles of illustrations, discuss how to find the right illustrator, give an example of a simple contract, discuss cost, and show how to work with that artist. This is a basic how-to on finding and working with an illustrator.

Actionable Takeaways:

1.  Finding the right illustrator for your book.
2.  Deciding the right medium and style for the illustrations.
3.  Determining budget, contract, and deadlines.
4.  Giving your illustrator artistic license

Sandy Baker writes, reads, gardens, and crafts. Her 17 years in the Sonoma County Master Gardener program inspired her eight children’s gardening books; they are nonfiction with characters and a plot. Since graduating from Penn State with a bachelor's in English, she was a technical writer and editor; newspaper reporter; proposal and speech writer; country music song writer; university development director; and now, author of eleven children’s books and a thriller. Sandy illustrated two of the children’s books plus a coloring book for grownups. Her twelfth book, George Washington’s Kid Spy for middle grade will be released in June. She has been a member of Redwood Writers since 2009 and was its president 2015-2017.