In publishing, every professional has a role to play, and when that expertise is ignored or undervalued, projects can spiral into disaster. One of the most common (and avoidable) mistakes I see as a publishing professional is authors hiring the wrong people for their book—particularly in the realm of children’s book illustration. Just because someone can draw doesn’t mean they can illustrate a book. And when an inexperienced illustrator is taking direction from an equally inexperienced author without proper guidance, the results are…well, a hot mess.

The Illustration Nightmare: A Case Study in What Not to Do

A while back, I was managing a book project where the author had decided to hire an illustrator independently—before the manuscript was finished and before hiring me. Let’s pause here for a second. Illustrations should always come after the text is finalized. Why? Because illustration is storytelling in itself, and if the story isn’t fully developed, the illustrations will likely miss the mark, forcing costly and time-consuming revisions later.

But it gets worse.

The illustrator, while talented at sketching, had no experience in illustrating books. Book illustration isn’t just about drawing a pretty picture—it’s about composition, consistency, pacing, and understanding how images interact with the text to enhance the reader’s experience. This illustrator had no clue how to do that. They didn’t understand page layouts, proper dimensions, bleed, or even how to structure a picture book visually. They were treating the project like a series of disconnected drawings rather than a cohesive visual narrative. Worse yet, the illustrations were inconsistent—characters looked different from page to page, color palettes shifted without reason, and there was no visual continuity throughout the book.

The Project Manager’s Worst Nightmare

As the project manager, my hands were tied. Meetings were happening without me, meaning crucial decisions were being made without the one person who understood how to successfully publish a book. The author, unfamiliar with the intricacies of picture book creation, was leading the illustrator down the wrong path, approving sketches that wouldn’t translate well in the final book, and setting expectations that would require significant backtracking later.

When I was finally looped back in, it was clear the project was a disaster. Pages didn’t flow, illustrations didn’t fit properly within standard book formatting, and, worst of all, many of the drawings had to be redone—wasting time, money, and energy for everyone involved. Saving my professional integrity, I gladly stepped out. 

Lessons Learned: The Right Way to Work with Professionals

This situation was a textbook example of why hiring the right professionals from the start is critical. Here’s how to avoid this mess:

1. Finish the Manuscript First. You can’t illustrate a story that isn’t done. The text informs the visuals, not the other way around.

2. Hire a Professional Book Illustrator. Not just someone who can draw, but someone who understands composition, storytelling, and book formatting.

3. Follow the Right Process. Illustration comes after manuscript completion, editing, and book design planning.

4. Trust Your Publishing Professionals. If you have a project manager or publishing expert guiding you, listen to them. That’s why you hired them.

5. Keep Communication Centralized. If you’re working with a team, ensure key decisions happen with all stakeholders involved, especially the person managing the project.

The Bottom Line

If you’re an author looking to bring your book to life, trust the process and hire the right people. Talent is important, but experience is crucial. A great book isn’t just about good writing or beautiful illustrations—it’s about how all the elements come together in a professional, cohesive way. And that only happens when you work with professionals who know what they’re doing.

Otherwise, you may end up with an expensive, time-consuming disaster instead of the book you envisioned.

Want to learn more about how to avoid costly mistakes like this? Join me for my Ask Me Anything sessions on February 17 and 24, where I'll be answering questions about book marketing—and yes, making sure your book is illustrated and designed correctly is a vital part of marketing. Don’t miss it!