u/WatercolorTexan

I am a watercolor artist and working on my first ebook to add to my current shop which is all physical products that I create (no POD) so this will be my first digital item. It is a beginner watercolor step by step tutorial for a specific item. Any advice specific to pricing, listing, tags etc from someone with successful ebook sales would be much appreciated!

I plan to retire in about a year, I have always been a bookkeeper and have used mostly Sage although I am familiar with QB. Trying to understand what would be involved in maybe finding a few small local businesses to do monthly books for. I do not own QB, I am thinking it is mostly an online/subscribing program now? What level would I need to have say 2-4 clients on it...would I need accountant access? I am thinking so. Can anyone who is doing this help me figure out where to start in the research process to know if my idea might work? I'd also want to spend several months in training, certification etc to feel competent in QB, do they offer this?

I'd love some thoughts on my situation. I just turned 69, widowed since 52. Have always worked full time and still do, always for small companies so no retirement plans. Husband passed 15 years ago. I was able to pay off all debt and my home, I do not have any debt now. Home is worth roughly 225k. However I only have an IRA for 21k and a few other smaller savings accounts. Car is paid for but high mileage and having issues, and I do tend to drive alot. I am currently drawing SS with no penalty for income levels, I started at 66.5, took out home equity loan for much needed repairs and paid it off in 18 months with the SS. I am now saving the SS for purchase in cash of another car next year. My hope is to "retire" at the end of next year, I am at this point healthy although will need another hip replacement after I retire. I get two pensions for life from my late husband, that and the SS combine to about 3k a month after taxes and medical insurance premium deductions. My two kids live pretty close and are well off and self supporting/married. I am active and want to stay in my home, doing all pool and 1/4 acre gardens on my own at this point. I will probably wind up working part time (I am a bookkeeper) but...am I dumb to give up a good paying job in 1.5 years?? I am really tired of working full time, I want to travel a bit but...the future looms. Thoughts on any options I am missing? Forgot to mention I am a watercolor artist, have an etsy shop, do commissions etc and am trying to build that into a small income stream.

I have gotten some wonderful advice on another reddit group but am turning here in hopes of finding someone who has done what I am contemplating. I am a watercolor artist and have an idea for a children's picture book that I want to do all the art for myself. I would be painting each page spread, nothing digital except to add the text after the art is completed and scanned. Is this even possible, does anyone do this anymore in the age of digital art? I have been painting and selling my work for about 10 years, I have full confidence in being able to put the hours in to create what I imagine would be 10-14 page spreads of art, but...would this translate well into print and if so how? Each piece of art would be on a larger format than what the finished book would be, so I see that I would have to decide on the size of the book...so suppose the book was 8"x10" does that mean my art needs to be proportional so that I can scan and reduce the image to 8"x20"?? Please excuse my ignorance in this, I really want to do this as a creative project. I cannot even get to the point of thinking about self vs traditional publishing and all the other important questions, as I cannot even see where to start with the art. Painting will be the lions share of the work so I need to know the logic of what I'm creating so I don't waste all that time. Has anyone here attempted this?

I am a watercolor artist. I have what I think is a great idea for a children’s picture book, I want to do all the art and the story and (i think) self publish. I have an active etsy shop and decent socials following and would do process videos to build interest. But…I know I need to understand the publishing process or I am going to paint ALOT of art for nothing. All art will be handpainted and I will add text digitally. Is this a pipedream? Any advice on tackling this? I have a niche Texas themed watercolor concept already established and think this could really take off but idk how to learn the ropes🤷‍♀️