Raising $ for Illustrator

I am currently working on my fourth book about California oddball criminals. Some of you may have noticed that my last book, California’s Fruits, Flakes and Nuts did not have any photos. Having photos in history books is very important. Readers love to see what the person or place looked like. Those photos do not come for free. I have to buy the rights to them. A city, county, university or state library usually prices the rights to use their photos anywhere from $25 to $150. Companies like Corbis, Getty, and Associated Press charge ten times or more to use their rights.

Wanting to have something different about this next book of weird California lore, and because the subject matter is more current than my previous books, I contacted some friends who are well connected with artists, which led me to Olaf Jens, an incredible illustrator.

Olaf and I have come to an agreement about payment and rights and I am honored to be working with him on this project. Not only is there going to be original art in this book, it is also going to cost me much less. Having to pay a local California artist to illustrate the book sounds a whole lot better than giving money to Bill Gates (who owns Corbis) or the Getty family.

So if you enjoyed my books, and like to support local California writers and artists, please donate whatever you can.

Thanks
David Kulczyk
Sacramento, CA