When it comes to publishing a book, there are primarily two ways to go: traditional or independent. Former Quarryville resident Lindsay Bandy opted to follow the traditional route for her historical novel, "Nemesis and the Swan," which will be released in October.
Lindsay first realized that she wanted to become a published author while an English major at Millersville University in the mid-2000s. As a teenager, Lindsay had used poetry as a way to process her emotions, but when she began to pursue publication, she discovered that it is difficult to get poetry published. Instead, she started writing her first historical novel.
"I had no idea what I was doing, but it was really fun for me," Lindsay recalled.
After graduating, Lindsay married Clay Bandy and subsequently had two daughters. Lindsay became intimately acquainted with children's literature by reading to her girls. As the children grew, Lindsay wrote poetry with them, and she began thinking again about publishing.
With a new interest in children's literature, Lindsay found the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and joined a critique group. She sold several poems to Highlights for Children magazine and volunteered to act as blogmaster for the Eastern Pennsylvania Region of SCBWI. She was later appointed co-regional adviser. Lindsay and her team plan two big conferences for writers every year: one in the spring at the Highlights Foundation retreat center and another in the fall in Philadelphia. Lindsay recommends that aspiring authors attend conferences like those, especially when representatives of major publishing houses participate.
"It's a really nice way to get professional feedback on your work and make personal connections that might get you somewhere," Lindsay said. The educational opportunities afforded by conferences are also valuable, she asserted. "You meet other people in all different stages of the process. The peer connections are definitely awesome," Lindsay reflected. "Before I joined SCBWI, I had no idea of what I was doing in publishing. They gave me all the resources to get from where I was to where I wanted to be."
For Lindsay, "getting there" meant pursuing the traditional publishing route. She wanted the support of a publisher, which independently published authors do not have. Lindsay's publisher is helping to publicize her book, so the marketing does not rest solely on her shoulders. For authors who are seeking traditional publishing, Lindsay offered advice gleaned from personal experience and years of SCBWI membership:
- Don't send your manuscript to everybody. "Agents are looking for specific things," Lindsay said. "Research the agents and editors who are interested in what you have."
- Get a lot of feedback and polish your book before you submit it. "You get a lot of rejections, and you have to be stubborn. You have to be hard on yourself," Lindsay remarked. "People who do it have revised and revised. It's a long process."
- Don't be fooled: Picture books have fewer words and pages than novels, but that doesn't make them a breeze to complete. "The words themselves can be easier, but finding a niche and getting those words to work as a 32-page illustrated book can be harder," Lindsay said, pointing out that the printing process constrains book size. Authors need to have a unique idea and then consider page turns, what words will be on what pages, the intended reading level, and how illustrations will fit.
- Be flexible. "Publishers don't want you to illustrate your own work unless you're a professional illustrator. You don't choose," Lindsay said. "The same works with novels. I try to at least try (the suggested edits) first. Sometimes people can push you to make something better."
Lindsay recently accepted the role of youth services coordinator at Manheim Community Library, and Clay is working in sales for an agricultural publication, so the Bandys have moved to Brownstown to shorten their respective commutes. Lindsay is excited about her new role. "I love working with kids, sharing books with them, and finding books they love," she said.
Currently, the library's Summer Reading Program is entirely online, but Lindsay is anticipating in-person activities. She would like to offer writing workshops for children and teenagers so they can be creative in a supportive environment. "I would like to see programs that pair up kids with other members of the community - older adults, teenagers with tutoring - to get some intergenerational stuff going on," she added.
Interested individuals may contact Lindsay by visiting http://www.LindsayBandyBooks.com.
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