Start thinking about possible illustrations, he says

I seem to have an ongoing (periodic, not continual) thread diary here with my non-fiction How To book proposal. It's all new to me - the idea that an editor will answer his extension, ask me what I'm proposing, tell me it's a pretty good idea, read my proposal, email to say he is impressed and will submit it to the board, which is meeting this month, and now...

He lets me know they are meeting the last Friday of this month. Meanwhile, start thinking about possible illustrations.

I hadn't even thought about ANY illustrations, much less possible ones. I didn't realize my book even lent itself to illustrations at all! Aside from the occasional diagram, form example, perhaps a scintillating sample of a wine back label in all its glorious Mandatory Information beauty - Contains Sulfites, Drinking impairs your ability to operate machinery - oooh.

I did search the forums and found nothing quite in this vein. I know I could ask the editor, but I feel I have called him enough to sufficiently expose my naivete and ignorance, so I thought I'd try you guys first.

By illustrations, does he mean line drawings, full colour scenes, flow charts, quirky little diagram people pointing out things, abstract chapter markers, or anything else?

BTW, this is a wine How To book on importing and distribution, livened up (hopefully) by my own journey, but with lots of particular detail about the process and what specifically to do to move yourself along this track - including all the boring details of licensing, registrations, permits, etc.

Hope that's clear. I would appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks for that alleycat. I know it sounds sort of idiotic, when the word illustrations might seem so self-explanatory, but I didn't know what it encompassed, wondered if the word had a special connotation to non-fiction books and hadn't realized that photos could be considered as such.

Okay, I should have included this in the original post, but if I could just get a bit more I would really appreciate it.

Does a publisher expect me to provide the drawings/photos/etc.? I can draw, but not sure if I want to tackle this or have the time. I still haven't finished the book.

Do they have artists/resources/libraries in mind or at hand? It's a small publisher, I think.

If not me, or them, who pays for illustrations? Normally, or as a rule, or in your experience.

Hi Laurie. Not behind at all, as far as I'm concerned! Thanks for chiming in.

This is not even in the negotiation stage, but I'm so excited about the way it seems to be going that I'm trying to do the right thing - whatever that is!

The editor of the publishing house has told me that my proposal (writing samples, marketing plan, Table of Contents, etc.) is going before the board this month (very end) which is meeting to decide on Fall 2009 titles and in the last email all he said was to start thinking about possible illustrations.

Because he has been very complimentary (dare I say really encouraging?) about the concept, my writing thus far and my chances, I am trying to be proactive and educate myself. I'm not counting my chickens, because currently there is no contract, nothing to say definitively that they are even willing to publish it, but I am very hopeful, based on these comments by the editor.

I didn't realize that things like this could be in a contract, so that's more information and thanks for that.

Thanks, Bonobo. Another interesting perspective. I appreciate the input.

I don't have an agent to ask, because I went directly to the publisher (was only calling for submission guidelines and that got the whole ball rolling!) and also felt (based on information I searched in other threads) that my How To might not be sufficiently lucrative enough to warrant an agent's interest. No one has said that, and I haven't asked, but based on the subject matter I thought I should see where this went, have an IP attorney look at it (again, these threads have been amazingly helpful from those who have trodden the path before me) and go from there.

It's also such an unreal feeling for me to know that a publisher is seriously considering my work, that I'm enjoying staying in that feeling by continuing to think about what else is needed. I'm not sure I have billionty seven photos, but I do have quite a few that might interest them!

I'm also still working on writing the actual book!

Hey, and good luck with your own journey! Very happy for you.

Thanks K1P1 (knit one, pearl one, lol!)

I just got up the courage to email him with my questions and he was very nice and said basically that he wanted me to think about anything "graphical" that illustrates a point. It could even be cartoons (as alleycat suggested). I think I get myself too worked up about this stuff at this stage, so anxious to make just the right impression and not overlook something that might be obvious to others.

Thanks everyone!