TheTygerfire said:
Anyone that's had some experience and would like to give advice is great. Also when I scout an artist what should I look for? (I'd just use my dad if he remembered how >_>)
Edit: And no I won't tell you the idea for the book, fucking thieves...
Edit 2: ANYONE that's dealt with a publisher and would like to clue me in on the workings please do so.
OK, on the first edit, don't be a douche, I am going to tell you right now: as awesome as your idea is I guarantee it has been done and that kind of attitude is one of the number one signs that yours is a book that will never be.
As for hunting down an artist, are you paying them? The first step to finding a good artist is making sure you are offering fair compensation, you are not going to get anyone worthwhile otherwise. The first thing you want to look for is an artist that has graphic novel work to their credit, pinup work and really awesome photo realistic paintings are great, but serial artwork is a completely different beast. The second thing is someone you can touch and see in real life, an online artist will not be with you through thirty pages. By way of example, I have worked with close to two hundred on line artists on recreational projects, only one of them has ever completed a full length book project with me (if you're a gambling man though 0.5% aren't the worst odds)
As for the publisher. You are self publishing. Period, if you are thinking of maintaining 100% creative control, hiring (and controlling) the artist, and writing the script, then you are not looking at getting picked up by a major publisher. Indie publishers (say Oni Press) will not accept blind submissions for legal reasons, because most of it is crap, and because they don't have the time. They decide on products to pursue based entirely on reputation and recommendation. Get your web comic up, get your novel on a couple shelves, attend a few comic-conventions (as a presenter) and make sure publishers know you're in the market to be picked up.