Children's Author
Action Plan
The step-by-step system to become a published children’s book author—without years of waiting, and without an agent.
Landing a children’s book deal can feel like winning the lottery.
You spend months polishing your manuscript, then wait even longer for an agent’s reply—only to hear “no” (if you hear back at all). Years can pass without progress on your dream, leaving you discouraged and wondering if you’ll ever call yourself an author.
But here’s the truth: there's another way.
What if you could start publishing children’s books this year? What if you could get feedback directly from editors, get paid for your writing, and finally see your name in print—all without an agent?
That’s exactly how I’ve published more than 50 children’s books with major publishers like American Girl, Disney, National Geographic Kids, and Scholastic.
Achieving my life-long dream feels amazing! And it's why I created the Children’s Author Action Plan—to show you the exact, proven path into children’s publishing that most writers don’t even know exists.
The Secret Sauce
Here’s what most aspiring authors don’t realize: editors at traditional publishing houses are actively seeking freelance authors for book projects.
It’s called work-for-hire.
It’s how I broke into the industry—and it’s how you can, too.
Work-for-hire lets you build your author career faster than waiting on an agent or query letter. You’ll gain insider experience, sharpen your writing skills, and even get paid along the way.
Children's Author Action Plan
Here's what you'll learn:
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How work-for-hire projects can kickstart your author career on a much faster timeline
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10 kinds of work-for-hire projects (and what they actually pay)
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How to discover these hidden gigs (that are never listed online)
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The exact formula to pitch yourself as a work-for-hire author
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The author onboarding you need but will never get from a publisher
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How to leverage these opportunities to pitch your personal projects later
Meet Your Instructor
I’m Aubre Andrus—an award-winning children’s book author of more than 50 books published by Disney, Scholastic, American Girl, National Geographic Kids, and more.
Not too long ago, I thought it was impossible to get a children’s book published, let alone build a career from it.
I went to conferences, listened to panel after panel, and realized the traditional path was painfully slow: years of waiting, microscopic odds, and tiny paychecks (if you even got one).
With a lot of courage (and not a lot of knowledge), I discovered a faster path: work-for-hire projects. I started pitching editors directly, and one by one, I began landing assignments.
That process turned into a career. Today, I’ve published dozens of titles, seen my books translated into different languages, signed at book festivals, received fan mail from kids, dedicated books to my daughters, won awards, and yes—spotted my name on spines at Barnes & Noble and at the Scholastic Book Fair.
And I want to show you how to do the same.
Why This Works
Instead of waiting years for an agent to pick you, work-for-hire gives you:
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Faster publishing opportunities (you could land a project this year).
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Direct feedback from editors (your skills sharpen faster).
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Credibility as a published author (yes, this counts—you’re an author!).
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Payment for your work (instead of years of “exposure” or waiting on royalties).
This isn’t an either/or situation. You can pursue an agent and work-for-hire opportunities at the same time. In fact, one supports the other: work-for-hire builds your portfolio, your skills, and your connections, which makes you more attractive to agents later.
FAQ
Do I need an agent?
Nope! That’s the beauty of work-for-hire. Editors assign projects directly to writers.
Does this make me a “real” author?
Absolutely. Most work-for-hire projects are sold wherever books are sold—both online and in-stores. Your name is on the cover or title page. Kids read your words. That’s as real as it gets! And FYI readers don't know whether this project was agented or work-for-hire. Heck, you didn't know my books were until I told you!
What if I don’t have writing experience yet?
The course is designed for both beginners and intermediate writers. I’ll show you how to pitch yourself even if you’re starting from scratch. And if you have one or two low-paying work-for-hire projects, I can show you how to spin that into higher-paying projects.
Can I still pursue traditional publishing later?
Yes! Work-for-hire and agent representation aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, work-for-hire experience often makes you more appealing to agents and editors. Down the line, an agent can even help you find really elusive and fun work-for-hire projects! It's all in support of building an author career.