Jenna Johnson

The Ballad of the Selkie is a poignant story that is lovely to read aloud and also gorgeously illustrated. It is based on the mythological Irish legend of the Selkie, or a 'seal woman'. The Selkies is the centre of this story- a young seal woman who lures a fisherman into marrying her as a human woman, however, she always pines for the sea and keeps her oroginal seal skin just in case,

I have obtained 4 different printing quotes and paid a graphic designer to format the book for printing.The quote I am happiest with is roughly $12 per book, therefore, to print 100 books initially will be $1200. Proofing has cost me roughly $300, marketing, aquiring an ABN number and ISBN number will be an aditional cost.

That old adage 'you can't make money unless you spend money'! The challenges have been in relaying my wants in the proofing, from Launceston to a business in Hobart. In future. I would like to manage my designs with InDesign myself but at the moment I am a computer dummy. Also, deciding on size, format and who will print has been an issue, as has been doing my own marketing. My plan is to send all the relevant Tasmanian coastal businesses and art galleries an outline of my  book and a cover letter.