Sourcebooks Preempts Self-Pubbed Kids' Book

by Lynn Andriani, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 4/4/2007 9:00:00 AM

Sourcebooks has just acquired a children's hardcover title that has sold 179,000 copies since the authors self-published it in 2001. I Love You More, a rhyming picture book by Laura Duksta and Karen Keesler, will be on the fall 2007 list of Sourcebooks' new children's imprint, Jabberwocky, priced at $16.99.

Cathy Hemming, with LevelFiveMedia, brokered what publisher Dominique Raccah called a "very significant" deal, which is the first preempt in the house's 19-year history. "It is the kind of book I have been looking to publish ever since I had children of my own," said Raccah. Almost all of I Love You More's sales have been through nonbookstore channels, including galleries, museum shops and other specialty retailers. Sourcebooks will take over distribution of the book to all accounts.

The first two Jabberwocky books (volumes one and two in the Fairy Chronicles by J.H. Sweet) were also self-published; they will be released in May.