We recently discussed how print books are still a viable option for authors and how it’s important to offer as many versions of your book as possible. If you decide that producing a print book is right for you, you’ll be faced with many bookbinding options. How your book is bound will depend on several factors, including your preference, your chosen printer, page count, paper stock, and trim size. Each binding method has its advantages and disadvantages, and you may find that you would benefit from more than one binding style. For instance, you may want to offer a less expensive softcover opti ..read more

It may seem that print books will be pushed out of the running as the world becomes increasingly tech-driven. We disagree. You may have heard that print sales declined in 2023, but it was only by about 2.6% (take a look at the stats on Publishers Weekly). There will likely always be a market for print books due to the fact that computers already take up such a large chunk of our lives. Print books provide a way to unplug from technology and relax. Furthermore, print books command a level of prestige and presence that eBooks don’t. Publishing an eBook is seen as relatively easy (even though it ..read more

So many authors ask us about the value of publishing in multiple formats vs. just one or two. Often the debate is between eBooks and print books in general, as more and more people think print books are going by the wayside. Some people are so bent on the print vs. digital debate that they completely overlook the fastest-growing publishing format: audiobook.  Let’s take a look at why it’s a good idea to consider multiple formats.   Why Publishing Multiple Formats Is Helpful It may cost more upfront to publish a variety of formats, but in the long run, it can increase your chances of ..read more

The writing community was recently abuzz with debates on whether or not authors should include prologues. Of course, this debate eventually extended to epilogues and even other sections such as introductions and afterwords. These parts are generally believed to be skipped over by the majority of readers. Because of this, many writers opt not to add them at all, and they suggest other writers follow suit. Since prologues and epilogues receive the most flack, we’ll focus on them.   What Is a Prologue? A prologue is a section of a book (commonly fiction) that precedes the first chapter. A pr ..read more

Illustrations have the power to bring books to life in ways that words alone cannot. Illustrations can be incorporated into any work. You might see them most often in children’s books and graphic novels, but they can also be utilized in other genres. Not all books need illustrations, but all books can benefit from them when the illustrations are done properly.    Why You Should Include Illustrations Illustrations help capture and hold readers’ attention, provide a deeper level of connection than words alone, and add to a work’s atmosphere. Illustrations have a huge impact on tone. Co ..read more

Potential readers will often first judge your book by the front cover, whether you display it online or in bookstores. The more eye-catching it is, the more likely people are to want to learn more about it and possibly buy it. Of course, you probably already know this. You may even have invested money in a designer, and now you’re wondering how to quality-check their work or provide meaningful input to guide their revisions. You may be attempting to design your own cover or create a rough concept for a designer to follow. If any of these apply to you, you likely have many questions, such as “W ..read more

In February of 2019, I had the privilege of publishing a book (with the help of the team at 1106 Design) about John I. Unger called, The Last Corpsman. John was a Navy corpsman who served in the Pacific during WWII and later in the Korean War. He volunteered to go to Wake Island on October of 1941, as part of the Marine and Navy contingent stationed there. He was one of seven corpsmen who valiantly supported the Marines for 14 days before being overrun by the Japanese. John then supported the Marines in his capacity as a corpsman for 44 months in deplorable conditions as prisoners of war. Duri ..read more

It’s natural to want to jump right into publishing. However, there are many steps to complete before your book can be printed. After writing your book, it’ll be time to edit, design, and proofread the interior and create your cover (front, spine, and back). You’ll also have to secure ISBNs (one for each version of your book), set up your copyright page, and create a marketing strategy. If you want libraries to be able to find your book, it would be helpful for you to register a PCN/LCCN with the Library of Congress and possibly even obtain a PCIP.  Once all this is in place and your book ..read more

How to market a children’s book will depend on several factors, including your method of publishing, your targeted age group, your genre, and your budget. There are many methods you can use to get your book in front of your audience, but not all of them may be right for you. This article will focus on general steps you can take to market your children’s book. Remember, even if your book is written for children, the majority of your marketing efforts are going to be directed toward older relatives (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.), teachers, librarians, and other gatekeepers. There a ..read more

So, you have some delicious recipes, and you want to share them with the world. Great! Hopefully, other people will think they’re just as awesome as you do. But how do you get your work out in the world? How do you write a cookbook, much less design and publish one? Let’s discuss.   How to Write a Cookbook  All great books start . . . with someone sitting down to write them. In the case of cookbooks, you have to sit down and compile your recipes, and perhaps write an engaging introduction that helps people learn more about you and your recipes. Of course, that’s just the tip of the i ..read more