Illustrations in novels

As the title says, I'm intending to add my own book cover, but what is more important, my own illustrations into my novel (23 pieces) and my question is, how the agents are going to like this? Or do they appreciate it at all?

Unlike other books, here the illustrations have a great essence, which is coming from the storyline as they're connecting together on a unique way and can give a unique experience after reading the whole book (Illustrations comes after the last chapter and get a separate chapter where only these draws will be in an exact order.). I'm also a pro graphic artist, so the quality is guaranteed for both the illustrations and the cover art. (Drawing is my favorite hobby and I'm also used to make freelance jobs as an artist in many cases.). But the question still remains... what the agents and / or publishers are going to say for it? Because I'm intending to add them, but I also don't want to crush my chances.

Any experiences on this front? Any ideas?

Cyia. The book's target audience is from 9-99.

Ken. Yes, I'm intending to pitch it to agents or publishers, because as a freelancer I can't achive alone to make this book as a bestseller, which is the primary goal in our case (As the story has an already written mini series too, the book would give the background for it before we would do anything with the series itself.). As an illustrator I worked for few movie and computer game studios as freelance CGI animation artist, concept artist and cover artist. So, yes, maybe I can say I have some experience... well, there are surely better artists that I'm, but I can do what I must on a pro level too. But as the story and the world is unique, it is requiring the knowledge of the world and the elements to make the illustrations for those things that are in it. There are no cliche in the storyline and the illustrations, even the cover is requiring the same approach as many elements are unique in it. Also your idea may work out. Thanks for the heads up.

KTC. Do you have any experience on this front? At least I'm making this conclusion from your response. Your NO was damned determined.

Okay. Thanks for the heads up.

Well. Somehow I'm intending to find a solution for this, because those illustrations would just make the whole product better and unique, would make the story to complete with some plus.

If anyone have some experience on this front, please tell me.

Epiphany. Actually I already had an agent until the end of 2005, then I turned to freelancer. Now as the goal is became a bit greater then just simple publishing, we'd like to achieve more, making something huge and different, I'm looking for a new agent to get back into the game. But I don't know have a clue what is changed on this front in the last four years. I don't know what the rules are in 2009 and what is the projected one for 2010.

Cyia. Yeah, I know it sounds strange. But this one is for 9 to 99 and not I was the one who figured out this range for the book. This is what I got back from the beta readers as they feel, this book is for everyone. I written it to this range without my very own knowledge. As one of my beta readers said after read just half of the book; this is a book, what a child, a teenager, or even a grandpa may read to their granddaugthers anytime. Well, I just intended to write it to a balanced book, where everyone, regardless from origin, regardless from religion may find something in it, something good. But maybe that's the primary reason it's already around 300,000 words and it's still not ready. Plus the illustrations...

Ken. Thanks. I'll keep in my mind. This quote what you added is good for a start. I believe I will be able to figure out something. Thanks again.

Nope. Actually it's the first episode of the trilogy. But it has this length with a reason. It's a detailed and fresh, brand new world, with new creatures, new cultures, many twists, cause and effects, etc, etc... It's not a rip off of any fantasy. The second episode is already a mini series (We written that one first as a 9 episode long series, 90 minutes each. This book is the prelude of that story, but it's also a standalone story.). The mini series what we're holding back until this book is not going to be published also will be converted to the second book and there will be a third one. But each book is presenting different stories from different angles. Each of them has a beginning and an ending. But you get the whole picture with all three. At least, that's the plan.

You have some good point and this one is also bothering me, but at the moment this one will remain around 300,000 for now, then we'll see how is it going to work out. But as I written, this one can stand on it's own. Just it has it's own sequel already as we written the sequel first. But both of them are standalone story in the same universe.

ChaosTitan. I always took risk in the business as I always listened to my instincts. But I know the world and it's potential and I'm rarely mistaken before. So, I'll try it this time with this length. Then we'll see. The story is whole on this way. Maybe I'm going to mistake this time. Maybe not. Who knows? But that's sure if I'm not going to even try it, I never going to learn what would be the result. Also I'm unpublished as an author, but I'm not unpublished completely as a writer (1 award winner short movie / 2 published video games / 1 optioned series and few other published things.). Maybe these things can help me a bit. Maybe not. Who knows...

I would gladly see them in the first edition as they're part of the storyline. That's one of the unique features of the book.

Also I'm going to meditate on all the advice that you gave me here. Maybe I can find a third path. Thanks for the help again.

Libbie. No problem. I appreciate when someone is telling her own opinion. I'm glad for it.

1. I know what my book is all about and as I look at it now, yes, I must agree with the people who read. It's a fantasy for 9-99. Also if an agent don't know how to sell a story, especially after he read it, that agent is wrong.
2. Well, maybe I don't know how to edit, as I'm not an editor. But my co-writer knows how to edit as she is an official editor. But it's a long, twisted and detailed story. Sometimes even she can't cut from it. Strange, but long stories are still existing. Okay. I admit. This one is became extreme long. But when the story is layered and using so many subplots, cut can be so hard. But the second edit is still ahead of us. Maybe we can do a miracle... maybe not.
3. Could be amateurish, or I just figured out something what no one before regarding the illustrations. And unfortunately this second is the valid in this case as this method is really not existed until this time. That's why I'd like to add the illustrations into it. I know trying out something new is not the favorite things in the U.S. No offense; that's why so many cliches are born. Well. I like new things. I'm not intending to create a cliche. Maybe I'm going to fail with it, a great one. But at least I tried.

Willowmound. No. Actually I directly written this for the worldwide market, not just for Hungary, or U.S (I'm usually working into the U.S. and Canada.). Nowadays if you're making something just for the U.S. market, you can't sell that in Europe, Asia or other places. At least this is what I experienced until this time. I've tried to make this one to have a chance on all continents. Also I'm intending to find a publisher in Canada, U.S. or in the U.K.

ccv707.

e.g., if they see the book as a once in a lifetime thing

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Actually that was the primary goal to create a book and a story like this. I believe this one is on the right track. Also the illustations are not crude at all. They're completely giving back the atmosphere of the story and also they're well detailed as they must be. If they wouldn't be good for illustrations, I also wouldn't add want to them. Yes, I like to balance at the edge, taking risks, but I'm not willing to jump into the deep as I'm not that suicidal.

Illustrations aren't something a writer can dictate to an agent/editor/publisher unless he/she is already established as a known commodity.

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Okay. That's what in I wanted to believe in. Thank you. So, if I can establish a larger commodity somehow (I also intending to do this), presumably I can add the illustrations. Excellent. Then the standard plan probably can stay.

Well. I try to stay on the ground, in the world of reality. As all of you kindly suggested many things and said many good advices; I'd like to say thanks for that. I'll also try to keep the storyline intact as it should be. We'll try to cut it as we can and as it possible, maybe we can go down to 250000, then we'll see how is it going to work out. Also I don't want to sacrifice elements that would hurt the storyline. For me the story's integrity and to deliver something new is much more important, then the word count.

I'm always writing in English and usually an editor, that with I worked in the last eight years and used to be my co-writer too is correcting my grammar mistakes (She is Canadian.). I know my grammar is never going to be perfect, but who knows me, knows I'm a storyteller, who loves to create unique worlds and tell unique stories or create new designs as I used to incorporate graphic into the creation of the worlds. But I'm not an English grammar master. English grammar is used to be my Achilles heel. But I used to compensate that with better storytelling and with some plus (That's where the graphic used to come in.). I have an editor / co-writer, who knows my writing style very well. In the last years I wrote few things in English that were released or published and yes, this one is also in English.