 "I don't know what to do." That's what Barbie wrote when she contacted me about her book. She'd been working on her memoir for years. The writing was done and she wanted to move forward, to publish the book, but she had so many questions. Should she find someone to edit the book? Where could she get a cover design? And what about the inside? She had no idea where to begin. She's not alone. Writing a book is a huge accomplishment, getting it into book form and publishing it is another. Together we reviewed her manuscript, edited and organized what she'd written, talked about titles, cover designs ... and how and where to get it published. As we worked through the project, Barbie often thanked me for my guidance and told me she was learning so much about the process. I was learning, too. Learning about how hard it can be for writers to share their work, to hand it over and trust things will work out. Last month after Barbie's book was published, she sent me a note: "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been a dream to work with. I am so happy with my book. I could NEVER have done with out you." Do you have a book tucked in a drawer ... waiting to be published?
Do you have an idea for a book but aren't sure where to start? I can help. Especially with things like ...
 If you recognized the headline from this post as the title of a Rolling Stones song, you're right. You can't always get what you want. I’m in the final stages of finishing my book and discovered a problem. A new problem. I’ve already worked out other issues: a new book title and new book cover. I’m pleased with the new title and cover, but it's the layout that’s causing me fits. So what’s the problem? It’s a workbook and I wanted to design the book in landscape format with a spiral binding it so it would open flat and offer plenty of elbow room for practice writing. But I also want to publish the book through two self-publishing houses: IngramSpark and Amazon’s KDP. IngramSpark offers the landscape option, KDP does not. Neither offer spiral binding. From the beginning I knew I would publish and sell the book from my own websites, but I want it to go further than that. Publishing through IngramSpark and KDP will broaden the book's reach and get it into more hands. After all, that's the reason I'm writing the book. So I made the decision to reformat it. Get what you need So yes, it’s true. You can’t always get what you want. But, as the song goes, “if you try sometimes, you get what you need.” Turns out, I like the cover better and though it’s been time consuming, the portrait layout is working well. And getting what I want? When the book becomes a best seller, I'll think about a special edition ... horizontal format with a spiral binding. Wouldn't that be something. p.s. Here's the new cover.   nonfiction book development and design Call or write today to get the help you need for your book.  Book design: working small to go big
Thumbnails - sometimes smaller is better Early in my graphic design career I was taught to use thumbnail sketches to work through ideas. They're small (as the name indicates), and a rapid way of generating prototypes and work through ideas. This is the thumbnail of my latest (and final!) cover design. This week and the coming weeks mark the final stretch for getting my book done. It’s gratifying to be so close. Beta Readers The next step is to have a few people read through it. I got feedback on an early draft of the book, but this time it’s for the whole book. I’ve done a lot of research on self-publishing and this is a big part of getting it right. Beta readers: readers who read your book while it's still a work in progress ... before it’s published. I’ll ask for feedback and reviews. The reviews can be used to help preview and promote the book. |
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