Masterclass: Coming in September
Virtual MasterClass
September 27, 2025, webinar
Registration opens on August 15
Self-Publishing Picture Books and Middle Grade Books
Transform your children's book dream into a profitable reality with insider strategies that cut through today's competitive market. Join successful publisher Darcy Pattison as she reveals the step-by-step system that helps authors avoid costly mistakes and position their books for maximum success. You'll discover proven methods to create compelling stories that captivate young readers while building a sustainable publishing business. This comprehensive training gives you the roadmap to confidently navigate every stage of the self-publishing journey.
Session #1: Craft That Captivates: Writing Books Kids Can't Put Down
Master the essential craft elements that separate amateur efforts from books that truly connect with children and their parents. You'll learn how to identify the perfect age range for your story and understand exactly what each developmental stage expects from books. Discover how to research your market effectively, create multiple drafts that improve with each iteration, and find the right critique partners who will elevate your work. Leave this session with concrete techniques for revising your manuscript to achieve maximum story impact and emotional resonance.
Session #2: The Strategic Foundation: Critical Pre-Publishing Choices
Gain the strategic insight needed to position your book for commercial success before you ever hit "publish." You'll understand how to identify and connect with your ideal readers, navigate the complex world of distribution channels, and optimize your book's discoverability through professional metadata. Learn the critical pre-publication steps that established publishers use to ensure their books reach the right audience at the right time. These foundational decisions will determine whether your book gets lost in the crowd or stands out as a must-read title.
Session #3: Build Your Buzz: Pre-Launch and Launch Strategies That Drive Sales
Take control of your book's success with a proven 4-month pre-launch marketing timeline that generates buzz and drives sales. You'll discover how to secure valuable reviews from industry publications, leverage platforms like NetGalley and Edelweiss to reach key influencers, and strategically distribute advance reader copies for maximum impact. Learn the insider secrets for getting featured in local and regional media, landing podcast interviews, and connecting with librarians and educators who can champion your book. Learn the components of an action plan to launch your book with confidence and momentum.
DARCY PATTISON
Children’s book author and indie publisher DARCY PATTISON has written over seventy award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, five Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two CLA Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, a Best STEM Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children’s History Book award. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature. Her books have been translated into eleven languages.
Always active, before her tenth birthday, she (almost) climbed the Continental Divide, turning back at the last twenty yards because it was too steep and great climbing shoes hadn’t been invented yet. She once rode a bicycle down a volcano in Bali, Indonesia and has often hiked the Rockies. She’s hiked New Zealand’s backcountry for a taste of Kiwi life and then strolled the beaches of Australia. Recently, she (finally) climbed the 14,043 foot Mt. Sherman in Colorado—hurrah for great hiking shoes. On her bucket list is kayaking the Nā Pali Coast of Hawaii and eating curry in Mumbai.