Lisa Van Der Wielen is a Perth-based writer and the author of several picture books. Late last year, her book Little Dune (illus by Alison Mutton) won the Spark Award in the picture book category, an annual award from the US-based Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators that recognises excellence in a self-published children’s book. Lisa spoke to Independent Publishing about Little Dune and her tips for other self-published authors.
Congratulations on winning the SCBWI Spark Award for Little Dune. Can you tell us a bit about your book?
Thank you. Little Dune is a sweet and endearing story about how one little girl learns to conquer her anxiety.
As both a mother and a teacher, I find the rates of anxiety in children of today’s modern world extremely alarming. This was my inspiration behind writing a picture book on the topic of anxiety. Some recent global studies suggest that around one in four children are suffering with some form of anxiety. Little Dune covers the difficult topic of anxiety through a heart-warming story about a girl, a puppy and the waves of the beach.
As an Australian author, what does it mean to you to win an international award for your self-published work?
I am absolutely honoured and humbled to receive the SCBWI Spark Award. It is a great feeling to be rewarded for something you put your heart and soul into.
Can you walk us through your process of self-publishing? Which services did you use to get your book printed and why?
My book is self-published through both Kindle Direct Publishing and IngramSpark, which allows it to be available on Amazon, bookstores and libraries. Publishing a book is a long process from start to finish, however, self-publishing allows me to have more control over the book that goes out to the world. I collaborated with a local West Australian illustrator, Alison Mutton, to create Little Dune. This was my third picture book illustrated by Alison, so it was a smooth process from start to finish. Once the story was finished and edited, I sent across the manuscript to Alison. She promptly sent back some sketch and illustration designs for the book. With lots of hard work, the illustrations and type setting were then finished and edited by Alison, ready to upload to the world.
How did you approach the marketing and publicity process for Little Dune?
Marketing and Publishing is definitely the most difficult part of publishing a book! I use social media to help get my books out to the world, however it is an ever-changing platform and a constant learning curve. Hopefully Little Dune winning the SCBWI Spark Award will help the marketing of this book even more!
Are your books stocked in bricks-and-mortar bookshops? If so, how did you go about getting them stocked?
My books are stocked in some bricks-and-mortar bookstores like Dymocks, but I find most bookstores work with online orders these days. It seems print-on-demand book orders are the way of the publishing world these days.
What are the biggest lessons or tips you would give to others looking to self-publish?
Write, believe in your work and get your creativity out into the world as soon as possible by self-publishing! Believe in the power of words. The inspiration behind writing my Aqua Dog book is a message to my younger self: to follow your passions.
What are you working on at the moment?
There are two books I am currently working on. The first is a picture book titled Echo, which is a book for Heart Kids Australia, with all proceeds going directly to the charity. I am really excited about this book being published very soon, as I am a Heart Kid myself, as are my two daughters, so this book is very close to heart! The second book I am working on is my first YA literary fiction novel titled Dear Universe. Writing novels is very different to writing picture books!
Comments are closed.