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Anita Lester

Anita Lester

London, United Kingdom

My name is A.D Lester. I'm an Australian, London based Illustrator, focusing on all things whimsical, adventurous and a little spooky.

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About the author

My name is A.D Lester. I'm an Australian, London based Illustrator, focusing on all things whimsical, adventurous and a little spooky.

I have a BA in Illustration and Animation from RMIT, and a teaching degree with 8 years art education experience.

I focus on a style that is dreamy and classic with a dark edge.

Aside from children's books, fine art projects and animation, I provide a service for commission based works, including invitations, brand design, logos, portraits and anything else your imagination draws you towards.

This is my first Children's Book THE FORBIDDEN TREE and I couldn't be more excited to show it.

www.instagram.com/moonpie.illustration

www.facebook.com/moonpieillustration

moonpieillustration.tumblr.com

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Pre-orders

61

Funded

$1,405.00

Days left

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61copies
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Success! The Forbidden Tree has already sold 61 pre-orders , was pitched to 17 publishers , and is in discussions with publishers .

$20 Signed First Edition hardback

49 readers

I'm very excited to share with you the first run of my first book!

In this package You will receive a first edition, numbered and signed hardback book, prior to the official release.

Additionally, if you are in London, you will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

1 copy + ebook included

$5 shipping

201 of 250 left

$50 3 First Edition hardbacks

4 readers

I'm very excited to share with you the first run of my first book!

In this package You will receive 3 first edition, numbered and signed hardback books, prior to the official release.

Additionally, if you are in London, you and 3 people will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

3 copies + ebook included

$5 shipping

196 of 200 left

$500 Package Deal

0 readers

Purchase one of the package deals, perfect for schools, christmas gifts, retail and Forbidden Tree Enthusiasts ;) .

-2 first edition art prints, taken directly from the images in the book. The image you choose will be signed and numbered.

-You'll get 10 first edition, numbered and signed hardback book, prior to the official release.

-Additionally, if you are in London, you will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

10 copies + ebook included

$5 shipping

30 of 30 left

$500 Artisan Printed Book

0 readers

This pre-order only artisan books a perfect gift for anyone who loves bespoke binding!

The book is presented in a wooden box and printed at a boutique artisan binder in London.

They are numbered and will be the only edition printed this way.

You'll also receive 5 first editions, numbered and signed hardback book, prior to the official release.

Additionally, if you are in London, you, and 5 other people, will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

6 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

30 of 30 left

$1500 7 A1 signed art prints

0 readers

Purchase a set of the first edition art prints, taken directly from the images in the book. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to decorate a child's room, a nursery or just have them as gifts!

You'll also receive 5 first edition, numbered and signed hardback book, prior to the official release.

Additionally, if you are in London, you will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

5 copies + ebook included

$5 shipping

100 of 100 left

$3000 Artisan Bound book with personalised portrait.

0 readers

Have you ever wanted to be in an illustrated book? This is a very rare and indulgent opportunity to be in one!

I'll paint you as one of the characters in the book, sneaking you throughout, and have a full size portrait of your character

Pre-order a commission only artisan book printing and I will paint you into the setting as a character in the story.

They are elegantly presented in a wooden box and printed at a boutique artisan binder in London.

These are a one off, exclusive offer.

You'll also receive 3 first edition, numbered and signed hardback book, prior to the official release.

Additionally, if you are in London, you, and 5 other people, will get an exclusive invitation to the book launch.

4 copies + ebook included

Free shipping

50 of 50 left

The Forbidden Tree

Lilly needs to save her brother, but the only way to do it is to reach the top of the Forbidden Tree. Once she arrives, something happens that she couldn't have predicted.

The Blue Wood Forest was once full of medicinal flowers, but after years of destruction, only one flower remains...and it's at the top of a Forbidden Tree. Lilly's brother ate poison berries and she must find the last flower to save him. Once inside the tree's giant trunk, she unexpectedly shrinks and must find her way to the top.

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Children Fiction Adventure
2,500 words
100% complete
5 publishers interested

Synopsis

THE FORBIDDEN TREE is a tale about bravery, the environment and love. The story is about a girl who enters a mysterious world that follows in the stylistic footsteps of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. Along the way she is taught lessons about fear through the characters she meets. She ultimately finds herself and saves the integrity of the forest.

The demographic is between 7-11…and anyone who likes unravelling adventures.

My protagonist is a girl that I believe defies gender stereotypes in subtle ways. The supporting characters are all designed to reflect parts of her and hopefully the reader.

I hope to inspire children to know to not judge something by the way it looks, to find the truth in fear and to respect and love the earth we live on.

Outline

The book is sectioned into 15 sections/ chapters and follows the structure of the Heroes Journey.

Each chapter is in rhyme, following the culture of oral tradition and classic storytelling.
Each chapter is approximately 150-250 words

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the mythology of the forest, in which the story takes place.
Chapters 2- 4 is the introduction to the protagonist 'Lilly', and her mission.
Chapters 5- 10 is a series of challenges and characters who will plant metaphorical seeds for the last 5 chapters.
Chapter11 is where Lilly meets her biggest moral test and the direction of her journey makes a turn.
Chapter 12-14 is the completion of her adventure, still meeting obstacles, but having the support of all the characters met early in the book.
Chapter 15 is the final chapter, and the realisation of herself and bravery.

Audience

I've targeted my audience as 7-11. I see it sitting in a demographic that exists before YA and chapter-based books.
Although it is rhyme, it's easy to read.
I also hope to engage an adult audience.
After managing a vintage toy store, I am aware of a growing niche market that focuses on Children's books for adults and kids.

Promotion

I have a very clear marketing plan, that involves Blogs, social media and practical placement.
I also plan to partake in Book fairs.

If selling this independently, I'd like to initially engage online communities and sell short runs as physical copies. Additionally, I'd be interested in digital books.
I am familiar with the potential of being promoted in high end blogs and multi-platform websites (such as general children's services and literary websites).

I run Facebook, a website and instagram and am active in posting across multiple social media platforms.

Competition

I'm a big fan of the curation style of Brain Pickings Blog (https://www.brainpickings.org/)

I definitely align myself with the classic, yet whimsical storytelling style of Through the Looking Glass, The Wizard of Oz and classic Eastern European storytelling, to name a few.

Aesthetically, I feel as though my darker edge could be aligned with artists like Shaun Tan and Tim Burton.

Specifically, some books I like:

Ghost Stories or Antiquary by Montague Rhodes James
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ghost_Stories_of_an_Antiquary/%27Oh,_Whistle,_and_I%27ll_Come_to_You_My_Lad%27

The Twits by Roald Dahl
http://www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/stories/1980s/the-twits

The Little Gardner by Emily Hughes https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1909263435/braipick0d-21

Home by Carson Ellis
https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0763665290/braipick0d-21

Enormous by Matthew Burgess
https://www.amazon.com/Enormous-Smallness-Story-E-Cummings/dp/159270171X/?tag=braipick-20

Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Three-Shaun-Omnibus/dp/0545229243/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473345085&sr=1-2&keywords=sean+tan

5 publishers interested
Odyssey Books logo Odyssey Books

500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for fiction, memoir, and narrative non-fiction, as well as novelty and picture books from Aus/NZ authors only.
Odyssey Books is committed to publishing engaging and beautifully written books. Books that stretch the imagination, challenge pre-existing attitudes and beliefs, or take readers to far-flung climes. Books are always a journey. And as our name suggests, we invest in epic journeys, adventurous voyages and intellectual or spiritual quests. Readers are sure to find a book within our range of titles to challenge, inspire, and entertain. Odyssey titles are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Novella Distribution, and worldwide via Ingram.

Traditional publisher

Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History, Journalism, Society & Culture, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

Mascot Books logo Mascot Books

Mascot Books is a full-service hybrid publisher dedicated to helping authors at all stages of their publishing journey create a high-quality printed or digital book that matches their vision. With comprehensive editorial, design, marketing, production, and distribution services, our authors have the support of an experienced publishing team while still retaining one of the highest royalty percentages in the business.

Hybrid publisher

All categories

Authors Unite logo Authors Unite

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Authors Unite helps you become a profitable author and make an impact. We take care of printing and distribution through major online retailers, developmental editing, and proofreading with unlimited revisions. We take care of the entire process for you from book cover design all the way to set up your backend so all your book royalties go straight to your bank account. We can also help with ghostwriting if you prefer not to have to figure out all the steps on how to write a book yourself.

With our book marketing services, you don’t need to worry about figuring out all the steps on how to market a book or how to become a bestselling author. We’ve helped hundreds of authors become bestselling authors on Amazon, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. We take care of the entire book launch process for you to help you sell thousands of copies of your book and become a bestselling author.


View case studies here: https://authorsunite.com

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Christian Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBT Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mind & Body, Mythology & Folk Tales, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Women's Fiction, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Children Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Communication Skills, Corporate Culture, Crafts & Hobbies, Creativity, Current Affairs, Economics, Education, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Humor & Entertainment, Journalism, LGBT Non-Fiction, Management & Leadership, Marketing & Sales, Mindfulness & Happiness, Money & Investment, Motivation & Inspiration, Nature & Environment, Parenting, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Politics & Social Sciences, Popular Science, Productivity & Time Management, Psychology, Reference, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Sex & Relationships, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel, YA Non-Fiction, Science Fiction & Humour

Worldwide

Dog Ear Publishing logo Dog Ear Publishing

A publishing services company dedicated to delivering amazing results to our authors. From manuscript development and editing to book design to effective marketing tools, Dog Ear delivers. Our dedicated team of publishing professionals have spent years in both the 'traditional' and self publishing worlds.

We know how to build, distribute, and market great books.

Dog Ear authors pay less and make more than authors from ANY other publisher. Visit http://dogearpublishing.net to learn more.

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

ShieldCrest Publishing logo ShieldCrest Publishing

ShieldCrest are book publishers based in the UK who fill that vital gap for talented authors where mainstream publishers are unwilling to give them that chance. We strive for excellence and invest in our authors and are listed in FreeIndex as the number one independent publisher in the UK for price quality and service rated author satisfaction. We publish books of all genres including; fiction, historical, biographies and children's books.

ShieldCrest publishing continues to grow rapidly with satisfied authors throughout the UK and overseas. Our range of products includes paperbacks, hardbacks and digitised e-books in all formats used globally in the myriad of e-readers.

In addition to the above, ShieldCrest provides a complete range of services including book design and layout, illustrations, proof reading and editing. For marketing we offer author web page, press releases, social media marketing packages and many other support services to help both first time and experienced authors get their books into the market quickly and maximise on the opportunities available.

These services enable us to guide our authors through the process as we transform their manuscript into a professional book, which can take its place with pride next to any famous author's book of the same genre.

The staff at ShieldCrest have many years experience in the book industry and this wealth of experience is put at the disposal of our authors.

Our clients include established authors such as Diane Marshall who has been acclaimed as the best writing talent to come from Scotland for years by The Scotsman newspaper, and Prof Donald Longmore OBE, who performed the first heart transplant in the UK and has sold thousands of medical books used by students throughout the world. We also recently released "Martin Foran-The Forgotten Man" by J.R. Stephenson, which features fraud within the police, abuse within the prison service and injustices in the courts and has been featured in the press and on TV.

Service publisher

Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel

Worldwide

*

The Blue Wood Forests mysteries are known across the land,
And deep inside the woods, a Forbidden tree does stand.
But bright atop the branches, a magic flower shines bright,
The golden petals reflect the moon and light up the cold night.
Greater than a medicine, a spell or any cure,
The flower power lives and breathes, of this I can be sure.
And years before I tell you this, a girl was lost in there,
She tried to find the flower just to give her father care.
And never seen again this girl was not last to be lost,
Beware the Blue Forest and the Forbidden Tree’s true cost.

Once upon a summer day, a girl named Lilly sung
her favourite songs into the trees before the setting sun.
Her little brother Yoyo, collected spider in a jar,
He hung them round his neck and teased Lilly from afar.
As the night was creeping, Yoyo wanted to go home,
his tummy was loudly rumbling, but Lilly told him to leave her alone.
The stars began to twinkle and she hadn’t heard a peep,
And after searching near and far, she found Yoyo asleep.
She shook him so to wake him up, but he didn’t move at all,
It’s then she noticed poison berries inside his hands so small.
The doctors all came rushing fast to little Yoyo’s bed,
But saddened there was nothing left to do or to be said.
And just before walking away, a doctor turned round solemn-
‘The only thing to wake him up is the Golden Flower’s pollen.’

  • Update #1 - Happy New Year Jan. 2, 2017

    Hey Supporters, you lovely people.

    Happy new year and I'm sure all of you know how overwhelmed i was by your support.

    I'm ...

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  • Stuart Cohen
    on Nov. 1, 2016, 7:51 p.m.

    Congratulations gorgeous. You are such a talent!!!!

  • Lisa Mitchell
    on Nov. 2, 2016, 12:29 a.m.

    You're so inspiring. Undying love as always xx

  • Hazel Allison
    on Nov. 2, 2016, 11:01 a.m.

    Cant wait for my copies, you are such an inspiration and talent my sweet 😘💗

  • Alice Simpson-Young
    on Nov. 3, 2016, 3:34 a.m.

    I'm so excited to read it Anita!! Congratulations, it looks so beautiful :) Hopefully I see you soon <3

  • Alejandro Escalante
    on Nov. 7, 2016, 2:23 a.m.

    You rock!... Musician, Writer/Illustrator/Animator, beautiful, great sense of humor and personality, can't wait to get this piece of you :) Besos Hermosa! Te deseo mucho exito!

  • Jo Levin
    on Nov. 7, 2016, 9:35 p.m.

    got us 3 copies. one to read, one to gift and one to keep in mint condish if you ever make JK Rowling status :D

  • Anonymous
    on Nov. 12, 2016, 9:18 p.m.

    So excited to read your book! Big well done

  • Rose Flanagan
    on Nov. 14, 2016, 2:11 a.m.

    I'm so excited to get my hands on this artistic, poetic wonder! Can't wait to feast my eyes on the beautiful genius of A.D. Lester's imaginative and engrossing creations.

  • Christopher Pitiris
    on Nov. 27, 2016, 2:32 p.m.

    Just ordered my copy of The Forbidden Tree! I cannot wait for my little nephew in Australia to receive it and hopefully treasure it for years to come! xx

  • Jarrah Cohen
    on Nov. 29, 2016, 12:04 a.m.

    You're the best, book looks amazing, love you to bits!!!

  • Liz Dovey
    on Nov. 29, 2016, 3 a.m.

    Good luck with your writing and drawing Anita!

  • Madeleine Ryan
    on Nov. 29, 2016, 9:22 a.m.

    Been There, Done That, Bought The Book >>> Thank you for making it possible to support & acquire your work so readily, A. Blessings upon all that you set your heart, mind & hands to. x

  • Peter Riley
    on Dec. 1, 2016, 7:29 a.m.

    Your book is amazing and very different. I hope you get more sales but whatever: BE HAPPY!
    Lots of love Carol and Peter xx

  • Rivkah Frolich
    on Dec. 1, 2016, 8:52 a.m.

    Levi and I are both excited to read (and see) the book. So proud of you! <3