Traditional Publishing
As an “author” you are very interested in the publishing world. Transforming your well-written manuscript into a published book is a marvelous and often mystifying process. Seeing your name on the cover of your own book, and opening its pages and seeing the words you wrote in print is an unparalleled experience.
Knowing how to get your manuscript noticed, and seriously considered by a publisher is key to your success as a writer. The first thing you must understand is that the publishing industry is inundated with manuscripts that will never see the light of day—should never see the light of day. So you need to follow a strict code of best practices to get your polished manuscript serious consideration by literary agents and publishers.
I can show you how to contact the correct literary agents, who can represent your manuscript to publishers.
Self-Publish
Perhaps you don’t intend to go the traditional publisher route. Indeed, the publishing and distribution business has changed drastically over the past decade, and there are several alternative publishing options available today.
Many of my clients have organizations that present training in seminar settings, so their books are better distributed through their own websites and at the seminars.
Truthfully, if you have your own distribution, you will get 100% of the royalty from each sale; whereas a publication deal will get you approximately 5% of each sale.
I and my team created this cover design for this client, developing the concept to truly convey the message of the book. He provided the photographs of the three people, and we did the rest.
On most full book projects, I provide the service of getting your book ready for publication on Amazon. This includes formatting it for a standard book size, and providing cover artwork, then uploading the files for publication. I can also help develop a promotional website and set up marketing and sales.
A few book covers I have designed
Many of my clients prefer to have their books printed and bound by their own publisher, for various reasons. A few possibilities are:
- they have their own distribution network in place (MLM, retail outlets, sales network)
- their books are meant to be handed out individually to prospective clients
- their books are meant to be supplied with product orders
- their books are meant for limited distribution (family, friends, library)
- the book is a gift to an honored loved one or key corporate person
- the book is intended for digital distribution
- the book will be sold directly through a website (web design service>>)
- higher profit margins for the author
Self-publishing can also help an aspiring writer “boot-strap” his way into the publishing industry. There are a number of now famous authors who self-published their books, to first prove their marketability to the publishing industry.
eBooks and Internet Sales
Digital eBooks have become very common, and nearly all of them are purchased over the Internet. I can help you prepare your completed manuscript for sale on any number of online book sellers:
- Amazon Kindle Store
- Google eBooks
- Barnes & Noble Nook Store
- Apple iBooks, Kobo Books
- Sony Reader Store
- eHarlequin eBook Store
- Taylor & Francis eBookstore
- Cambridge eBookstore
- BooksOnBoard
- Random House eBooks
- Powell’s Books eBooks
Specialty Publishers
There are several regional and local publishers that are actively looking for new authors with meritorious manuscripts. You don’t necessarily need an agent to get a publishing contract with one of these companies.