Take a look at some of your favorite books. What you’re looking at didn’t just happen; a lot of people were involved making sure the final product was the best it could be. One of the people involved in this process was the book designer.
My job, as your designer, is to take your raw data and turn it into a book you can be proud of. Ultimately I prepare digital files of your job the printer will use to print your book. Before we get to that point there’s a lot of work you need to do to make the job run smoothly and economically.
There are a lot of companies online offering their services to publish your book. They tell you they'll do all the production work, make your book available on websites, print a certain amount of copies for a price. This isn't what I do.
I'm not going to make you any promises about producing a best seller. I'm here to help you create a beautiful book to share with family and friends. I won't create a website for you. I won't get your book stocked in book stores. I'm here to turn that jumble of genealogy data into an heirloom
I am NOT a vanity publisher.
WHAT I'LL NEED FROM YOU
After contacting me with the intent of possibly having your book designed I will require certain items from you in order to provide you with an estimate.
After contacting me with the intent of possibly having your book designed I will require certain items from you in order to provide you with an estimate.
You will need to go to either Blurb or the CreateSpace websites to decide what type of book you want and how many pages. You will need to choose the trim size and whether you want a softcover (paperback) or hardcover with a dust jacket or imagewrap.
I will need to see the complete manuscript and all art. It is okay for you to scan all of it and create a low resolution .pdf in order for me to do an estimate.
Once I have received your full manuscript, including all art/tables/charts I can begin to estimate the job.
MOVING FORWARD
If after seeing the estimate, and I have a signed contract from you indicating you wish to move forward with the job, I will require all text in the book as a Word document (.doc) or .rtf file. Please check your manuscript for errors. If it’s in your manuscript it will go in the book. I can’t stress enough how important it is at every stage for you to do thorough proofreading.
It is cheaper for you to check all of your copy for spelling errors, incorrect data, etc. than to pay a copyeditor. I am not responsible for typos if they were in your original manuscript. So check and double check everything. And if you need a copyeditor let me know.All images in the book must be called out in the text so that I know where they will eventually need to be placed. Note that placement of images cannot always appear exactly where you ask, but will fall as close as possible following the callout.
If your book is image intensive you will need to provide me an art/image log. I will provide you with a .pdf which you can fill-out and send back to me. The list will include the name of the electronic file (your scanned image) along with what manuscript page it appears on. You will also indicate your preferred sizes for the art.
I prefer to have all of your images sent to me on a CD or DVD which can be read on a Mac. Do not send large files via email. Email is simply too unreliable to risk having your data lost in transit. We can also set up a cloud account where we can exchange files if that is easier for you.
All images must be scanned at 300 dpi. Under no circumstance can we use a scan at 72 dpi. They must be at 300 dpi.
We will discuss your wants and needs for your book. You must determine which image(s) you wish to have on your cover/jacket. I will then create two rough designs showing you what it will look like and two cover or jacket designs. You will need to make a decision about the design of your book and get back to me within two weeks. If at this time you decide to not go forward with the book you will be charged a kill fee of 40% of the estimate. You will not be provided with a final file for the printer.
Following your choice of design I will move forward doing a complete layout of your book including the cover or jacket design. I will then send you a .pdf of the book for you to proof.
Within two weeks you must send the .pdf back to me showing your corrections and changes.
Once I have made these requested changes the book is finalized. Should you decided to make changes after I have begun the final formatting you will be charged what’s called Author Alterations, AA.
Author Alterations and why they can rack up fees
Think of putting the book together like a jigsaw puzzle. Everything has its place. When I formatt the book I do it so everything fits properly and in the right place. Should the author come along and suddenly make changes it’s like putting the wrong puzzle piece in the wrong place. One extra line may cause a chapter to reflow which in turn may require art to be moved. I am back at square one and you are now on the clock. Again, I can’t strees enough that you proofread and then do it again and again.
Sooner or later you have to let your baby go. Author’s like to noodle with their books forever. That’s fine, but do it before you get it to me. It will save you money.
Think of putting the book together like a jigsaw puzzle. Everything has its place. When I formatt the book I do it so everything fits properly and in the right place. Should the author come along and suddenly make changes it’s like putting the wrong puzzle piece in the wrong place. One extra line may cause a chapter to reflow which in turn may require art to be moved. I am back at square one and you are now on the clock. Again, I can’t strees enough that you proofread and then do it again and again.
Sooner or later you have to let your baby go. Author’s like to noodle with their books forever. That’s fine, but do it before you get it to me. It will save you money.
FINALLY...
You will be provided with a press quality CD of your final book. It will then be up to you to upload it to Blurb or CreateSpace for printing. If you wish to have me do the uploading there will be an additional charge. You will need to have a Blurb or CreateSpace account so that you directly pay all printing and shipping charges.
Understand that once you have uploaded your files to Blurb you must get at least one copy printed in order for them to keep your files on their server. CreateSpace is not the same. You can order a proof book to see, which is considerably less than the full price for a final book. CreateSpace does not require you to purchase anything, not even the proof book.
Remember, this is print-on-demand meaning you do not need to clear out space in your garage to store books. You get them printed as you want them. It might seem more expensive, but consider the cost of a storage unit for all those volumes you don’t give away or sell.
All of my design and formatting is done to fit the requirements given by Blurb and CreateSpace. If your book is image heavy and you want the images printed the best possible in a POD book I recommend Blurb. You can create a variety of trim sizes, both hardback and softcover. They have a premium paper which is superior for photographs. CreateSpace does not offer a premium paper.
Both Blurb and CreateSpace do good work and have responsive customer service. Most POD companies, marketed to the casual user, offer books of 20 pages with high costs for each additional page. Blurb offers a range of prices for certain page counts. Please check their site for more information: http://www.blurb.com/create/book/pricing
CreateSpace can be found here: http://www.createspace.com/
If you have a different printer you'd like to use than Blurb or CreateSpace let me know. All I need to know are their specifications.
Though you will own the final content of your book I will maintain the copyright to the design formatting. If you find this bothersome we can talk.
You will be provided with a press quality CD of your final book. It will then be up to you to upload it to Blurb or CreateSpace for printing. If you wish to have me do the uploading there will be an additional charge. You will need to have a Blurb or CreateSpace account so that you directly pay all printing and shipping charges.
Understand that once you have uploaded your files to Blurb you must get at least one copy printed in order for them to keep your files on their server. CreateSpace is not the same. You can order a proof book to see, which is considerably less than the full price for a final book. CreateSpace does not require you to purchase anything, not even the proof book.
Remember, this is print-on-demand meaning you do not need to clear out space in your garage to store books. You get them printed as you want them. It might seem more expensive, but consider the cost of a storage unit for all those volumes you don’t give away or sell.
All of my design and formatting is done to fit the requirements given by Blurb and CreateSpace. If your book is image heavy and you want the images printed the best possible in a POD book I recommend Blurb. You can create a variety of trim sizes, both hardback and softcover. They have a premium paper which is superior for photographs. CreateSpace does not offer a premium paper.
Both Blurb and CreateSpace do good work and have responsive customer service. Most POD companies, marketed to the casual user, offer books of 20 pages with high costs for each additional page. Blurb offers a range of prices for certain page counts. Please check their site for more information: http://www.blurb.com/create/book/pricing
CreateSpace can be found here: http://www.createspace.com/
If you have a different printer you'd like to use than Blurb or CreateSpace let me know. All I need to know are their specifications.
Though you will own the final content of your book I will maintain the copyright to the design formatting. If you find this bothersome we can talk.
