Book Design, Cheri Speaks

What You Need to Know About Custom Covers

You’ve heard the cliché “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This is especially true in the publishing industry. The cover is the first impression a reader gets of your book. Therefore, it needs to be appealing and professional, but it should also reflect the tone and style of your book. If you have a specific vision of your book’s cover, you are probably considering a custom cover. However, there are two different types of custom covers. Here are the basics.

Regular Custom Covers vs. Illustrated Custom Covers

Regular custom covers are created with photos from a photo image site. Illustrated custom covers are drawn by professional illustrators. If you take a trip to the bookstore or browse book covers online, you will see that covers with photos and covers will illustrations are two very different styles. Also, illustrated covers offer more unique designs. The type of custom cover you choose depends on your vision.

Choosing a Cover

When deciding whether to choose a regular custom cover or illustrated customer cover, consider these questions:

  • What do I want my finished book to look like?
  • What do other books in my genre look like?
  • What insight has my market research provided about cover art?
  • What is my budget for cover art?

I’d love to know, do you plan on using a regular custom cover or an illustrated custom cover?

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Wendy Speaks

Why You Should Consider Self Publishing

Like many things, self publishing has its pros and cons. I won’t lie; self publishing is not for everyone. However, it is a good option for many people, depending on your goals and values. If you have been considering self publishing, here are two reasons why self publishing may be right for you.

Control

One of the biggest benefits of self publishing is control. Unlike traditional publishing, authors have full control over all the details, including cost and design. With traditional publishing companies, authors typically have to give up rights and control. The traditional publishing company determines how your book is designed. The traditional publishing company determines the price of your book. While some authors have no problem giving up control and rights, many authors want to have more say in the publishing process. After hours, days, and maybe even years of writing your book, you may not be willing to surrender control to a traditional publishing company. If you want to make the decisions during every part of the publication process, self publishing may be for you.

Accessibility

It is no secret that traditional publishing deals are hard to come by. Authors who go the traditional route are often overwhelmed with rejection letters. Many spend years trying to get their book published only to discover that it is never going to happen. Often, it is not because the book has no merit. It is because the publishing company does not believe they can make money off of the book. Publishing is a business. Therefore, rejection is not always a reflection of talent.

Self publishing guarantees publication. You determine if there is a market for your book. You decide the value of your book. This option is especially viable for books with a niche market. Major publishing companies may not be able to make money off a book written for a niche market, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t. If you believe in your book, you can decide whether or not it should be published.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset: A Middle School Counselor’s Diary of a Working Day

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset: A Middle School Counselor’s Diary of a Working Day

Randall Ng

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773311

Reviewer: Carol Hoyer, PhD

Author Randall Ng is a counselor like no other in the State of Hawaii. He uses tough love on his students and makes home visits when his students are doing what they should in school. Many of the staff he works with just don’t seem to have that time to go the extra mile or really don’t want to.

His students range from highly gifted to gang members but that doesn’t stop him. Regardless if Ng is yelling at students they know he really cares about them – he doesn’t tolerate outbursts or deceiving behaviors. Often he will see the same behaviors over and over on a daily basis: back talking to teachers; threatening teachers and verbal abuse to other students.

Many of these students work two jobs, which is not uncommon today but no one is supervising these kids. One of his students, Sandi, came in to see him after the morning bell and he knew by her behavior that this was going to be a long day. Sandi thought she was pregnant and didn’t want to tell her mom. He agreed to call her mom and ask her to come in to have a conference with him. Resistant at first, Sandi’s mom agreed to come in. Her mother was not happy to be there again and one could tell it in her voice and body language. After a little persuasion, Sandi agreed to go home with her mother to talk about what they were going to do.

In addition to all his other students, Ng was in charge of the Gifted and Talented students, and they had their own set of problems. This particular group of kids griped about everything and regardless of what “Mister” said or did they still didn’t get it. One of the most outstanding things he did for these students was to take them on a field trip to see kids who were physically and mentally challenged at the Waimano Home. Given that these students didn’t think there were kids like this, they were absolutely stunned when they walked into the home. But after some time, they began to mingle with the kids and didn’t want to leave.

After thirty years with the Department of Education, “Mister” Ng retired. Does he regret any moment of being a counselor? Yes and no. It was very frustrating trying to get the supplies students needed to succeed. He felt he did the best he could for his students and their families as he indicates in “Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset: A Middle School Counselor’s Diary of a Working Day.”

Cheri Speaks

3 Ways to Use Market Research

A few weeks ago, I wrote The Importance of Social Media Research. Whether you are using social media or other methods, market research is an important part of the self-publishing process. So how should you use market research to help you create a saleable book? Here are a few suggestions.

Choose a Title

The title says a lot about a book and its author. It is often the first impression a reader gets of a book, so it is essential that you have an appealing title. You can use market research to help you choose a title for your book.

Pick a Cover

Unfortunately, people don’t listen to the old cliché “don’t judge a book by its cover.” An appealing cover will make your book more successful, but not all readers are drawn to the same style of covers. Market research will help you determine what your readers are interested in.

Decide on a Genre

You would think that deciding which genre your book belongs in would be an easy decision, but often the lines between genres are blurry. Market research will help you determine where your book fits among other books and how to choose a genre that will make your book visible to your readers.

I’d love to know, how are you using market research?

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

5 Reasons to Self Publish in December

As 2011 winds down, you may be wondering if December is the right time to self-publish your book. Here are five reasons why it is a great month to start the self-publishing process.

Great Promotion

Many self-publishing companies are getting in the holiday spirit by offering great deals on publishing packages and marketing options.

A Christmas Gift to Yourself

Publishing a book is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The sense of accomplishment and pride is better than any box of chocolates or new sweater.

Plenty of Time to Market

By starting the self-publishing process in December, you will have your printed book early in 2012. This gives you the rest of the year to market your book.

A Jump Start on Your To-Do List

If you are reading this, “publishing a book” is probably on your 2012 to-do list. Start the year off right by checking it off the list before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

Be a Part of a Great Trend

According to Outskirts Press, total book sales in the self-publishing industry will exceed 32 billion dollars. You can still be a part of that amazing statistic.

Happy Holidays!

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.