Pictures: Worth a Thousand Words or Dollars?

“Writing sells after the book presentation attracts the buyer.” The buyer must be attracted somehow to the book before he looks inside. This was just one suggestion from illustrator, author, and publisher Mark Wayne Adams, who spoke to a packed audience at the September meeting of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville.

Mark began his career as an illustrator in the third grade, marketing his own drawings to friends. In high school, his target for success was to illustrate just one book in his lifetime. With energy, passion, and humor, he explained how his raw talent, fueled by innate energy, has propelled him into creating a successful publishing enterprise with a warehouse of 35,000 books.

As CEO of Mark Wayne Adams, Inc. and past president of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, he has already illustrated forty-nine more books than he originally intended, is the author/illustrator of eight more, and has published the works of many other talented individuals. He is a prolific artist with a collection of over 12,000 of his original drawings.

“What elements are required to become a successful author?” Mark asked the audience. He admitted that he had no unusual experiences to write about, but everyone has a story to tell. His story began as a boy who loved to draw. Mark’s early dreams were specific and focused. Beyond illustrating that one book, he had a goal to work as an animator at Walt Disney World, to be part of the creative team producing fantasies that inspired millions of children and adults all over the world.

After graduating from Murray State University in Kentucky with a BFA in Drawing, he migrated to the eastern Mecca of animation, Walt Disney World in Orlando. Once there, he observed Disney artists at work. He could match other artists’ styles and he was fast – animators have to be able to draw approximately 32 times faster than the average illustrator. For him, there was no brooding over an easel, no lingering consultation with his muse. He was production-oriented in a production-oriented environment. Walt Disney World was impressed, hired him, and helped to set him on a path that he is still blazing today.

In addition to learning the craft, Disney taught him how to engage with people, to conquer intimidation through courses in public speaking. Today, he meets and interacts with audiences at schools, public service events, and festivals to energize other people, especially children, and encourage them to realize their dreams. These meetings introduce people and potential consumers to his work.

There have been diversions along the way. Scholastic Publishers sought him out as their regional sales manager. Despite tantalizing benefits, the job would not allow him time to draw, speak to groups, or participate in festivals. Encouraged by his family, he decided to continue in the publishing business because he loved it and he could continue to encourage others. “If you treat a business like a passion, you will make ten times more money than if you treat it like a business,” he told us. He is passionate about writing, illustrating, and the business of publishing.

He challenged members of the WAG audience to write that book, to consider their own life experiences and recognize how those experiences can be crafted into a story for general appeal. He asserted that everyone sitting in the room with him had begun and quit a number of different enterprises over a life span that would provide sufficient fabric to weave tales for publication.

As an example, he referenced one of his own authors who composed a series of books focusing on the eccentricities of her two young children, two subjects whom she knew better than anyone. Through humorous verse, accented with Mark’s illustrations, she produced award-winning books from the most simple of life’s experiences. It is the telling together with the right illustrations – the total product including its packaging – that can transform a simple story into a standout seller.

Writing is just the first step. Marketing makes a huge difference, said Mark. Presentation of the book, how it’s displayed, is a factor in its sales. He discussed binding styles. He cautioned self-publishers to keep in mind that it is the spine of the book that is visible to buyers on the bookstore shelf, so a series lends itself to an interesting illustration on lined-up spines. Avoid stapled bindings! And don’t forget publicity, promotion, public speaking, and other specifics of production that may baffle or intimidate first time authors, particularly those in self-publication.

Mark spent nearly half of his presentation addressing specific questions from the audience, and he is willing to personally answer more queries by email. However, he warned that his speed with a pen does not translate into his speed with email – expect some turn-around time.

For examples of Mark’s writings, illustrations and for more information, please visit his website.

(Summary of program by Elaine Beem Robinson)