Indie Publisher Wants To Read The Kid's Books Traditional Publishers Won't

HOUSTON - Nov. 15, 2017 - PRLog -- Did you self-publish a kid's picture book? At least 8 illustrations, maximum of 1600 words and written in English? Print or eBook? If you think your book is as good or better than the kid's books put out by the traditional publishing houses, enter it into The 5th Annual Gittle List Book Competition. "Authors must enter by midnight, CST, November 15th. Their book must arrive by November 22nd," advises Aviva Gittle, owner of Gittle Publishing and host of the competition.

Aviva has discovered 39 great self-published children's picture books over the last four competitions.  She says, "Many readers think that only traditionally-published books are worth buying and self-published books are all bad. That's not true." Aviva sets out each year to find up to 10 children's picture books that she loves enough to read to her grandchildren and keep in her own collection. Then, she promotes these books during the holiday season.

Aviva also does something no other book competition does. She spends the nearly year-long submission period promoting the entrants' books. She encourages all The Gittle List Competition entrants to cross-market each other's books.

(Watch this short video to learn more: https://youtu.be/pnwNCcvHQTI)  An indie author doesn't have the marketing budget of a traditional publishing house. Aviva explains, "If indie authors promote each other's books, they can increase their marketing reach exponentially." For example, if an author tweets about just their own books, only their followers will hear about them. But, if 10 authors tweet about each other's books, they can potentially reach thousands of more people.

Winners get an award seal to place on their winning book, paid promotion on Facebook, an interview posted on the Aviva Gittle Publishing website and promoted on social media, and 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. To ensure that the reviews are verified (and not rejected by Amazon), Aviva purchases at least one copy of each winning book.

The contest is hard work, but Aviva loves doing it. "It's like Christmas morning when I start reading the submissions. Every year I'm surprised by the diversity of books."

The 2017 Gittle List Book Competition closes for submissions midnight CST, November 15, 2017. Digital or print versions are accepted. (Print books must be postmarked by 11/15/17 and received by 11/22/17. The contest is open to indie authors around the world. Read the full contest rules here: http://thegittlelist.com/2017/02/01/the-gittle-list-2017-....)

Aviva Gittle Publishing writes and publishes stories for children in English and Spanish. Learn more about Aviva and her books on her website, www.GoToGittle.com.