Frequently asked questions

You can choose illustration, book design, or a full-service publishing package—whatever best supports your story.

   •   🌱 Sprouting Acorn: Book design and formatting (no illustrations)
   •   🌿 Growing Oak: Illustration only
 •   🌳 Mighty Oak: Full-service creation (illustration + design + prep)

If you already have illustrations and just need help with layout and publishing, The Sprouting Acorn is likely your best fit. If you have a manuscript and need illustrations only, go with The Growing Oak. If you're starting from scratch and want a full-service experience from sketches to final files, The Mighty Oak is for you. Still unsure? Reach out here and I’ll help you choose the right path for your project.

I specialize in picture books for children ages 3–8, but are open to other formats like early readers, educational books, and select middle-grade projects if they align with our style and values.

Here’s a general flow:

      1.    Discovery call or inquiry

      2.    Contract + deposit

      3.    Planning phase (brief, characters, thumbnails)

      4.    Sketches + revisions

      5.    Final illustrations

      6.    Layout + print-ready files

      7.    Optional launch materials

We will guide you through every step with kindness, clarity, and plenty of communication.

Yes! The Painted Acorn is a proud member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), CANSCAIP(the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers), and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC).

These memberships help ensure that I stay aligned with best practices in independent publishing, children’s literature, and illustration—both in Canada and internationally.

I'm here to walk you through the process—or help you choose the package that fits your story best.