The second way
is Partnership Publishing. This is where the author shares part of
the cost with the publisher. That way the publisher does not take
all the risk and you as the author get more for your work. It is a
kind of halfway house. You get more say in the design and layout of
your book. The publisher takes care of editing and layout. They
also take care of stocking, warehousing and distribution. Many have
a sliding scale of services that you can pick and choose from. I
took the complete package that included marketing of my book. For
me it was the ideal publishing solution.
I sent the publishing company my manuscript for evaluation and it was approved. Some who say they are partnership publishing companies take anything (see subsidy publishing) Real partnership publishing companies pick and choose because they have a stake in the success of your book. I decided to use a partnership company that was particular in what they published. They would hopefully have a better reputation in the ‘publishing world’ than a company that will print what you send it no questions asked such as some subsidy publishers. Three weeks later the publishers contract was sent to me. Once it was all signed off the process started. There was a wait before an editor became available so they started with the cover artwork. I sent them my rough idea and I could not wait to see what they come up with. When I received the first draft I liked the idea in principle but I was not happy with the detail. To cut a long story short I ended up commissioning an artist to produce the main cover character. The publisher was happy to replace the character they had put on the cover with the one I had obtained. The full story showing the cover evolution is on my website.
A couple of months later I received the book proof back from the publisher with several pages of comments from the editor. I had to read it all through carefully and check the changes. There were also recommendations. I had to make the decision to go with the recommendations or leave it as it was.
The recommendations involved the rewrite of a couple of chapters. One was an encounter between two of the characters. I had written it first from the standpoint of one then the same situation from the point of view of the other. The editor thought it would be better if it were combined. I went through the book carefully and rewrote the sections as suggested by the editor. There were a few changes I did not agree with. I marked up the copy, enclosed the changes and sent the proof back.
Several weeks later I received the final proof. The book was laid out, as it would be in printed form with the copyright, page numbering and chapter formatting. It looked really good. It was now getting exciting. I would soon have a book I had written myself published! There were a couple of minor corrections on the final proof where the editors changes had not been done correctly so I marked them up and sent everything back to the publishers
The publishers produced the ‘Blurb’ for the back cover and sent it to me for approval. I liked mine best but I was not sure. It was what someone reads if they were browsing in a bookshop (or on line for that matter) so it was important.
I put a copy of both on my Facebook page and asked my friends which they thought was best mine, the publishers or a combination of both. They went for the publisher’s version with a couple of minor changes.
The print run went ahead the first week in April so my book now actually exists!
I have to say I am very pleased with the result and it was worth all the time and effort it took. There is one thing I have learnt through this ongoing process. Writing the book is the easy part! The real work starts once you have written the last word.
I sent the publishing company my manuscript for evaluation and it was approved. Some who say they are partnership publishing companies take anything (see subsidy publishing) Real partnership publishing companies pick and choose because they have a stake in the success of your book. I decided to use a partnership company that was particular in what they published. They would hopefully have a better reputation in the ‘publishing world’ than a company that will print what you send it no questions asked such as some subsidy publishers. Three weeks later the publishers contract was sent to me. Once it was all signed off the process started. There was a wait before an editor became available so they started with the cover artwork. I sent them my rough idea and I could not wait to see what they come up with. When I received the first draft I liked the idea in principle but I was not happy with the detail. To cut a long story short I ended up commissioning an artist to produce the main cover character. The publisher was happy to replace the character they had put on the cover with the one I had obtained. The full story showing the cover evolution is on my website.
A couple of months later I received the book proof back from the publisher with several pages of comments from the editor. I had to read it all through carefully and check the changes. There were also recommendations. I had to make the decision to go with the recommendations or leave it as it was.
The recommendations involved the rewrite of a couple of chapters. One was an encounter between two of the characters. I had written it first from the standpoint of one then the same situation from the point of view of the other. The editor thought it would be better if it were combined. I went through the book carefully and rewrote the sections as suggested by the editor. There were a few changes I did not agree with. I marked up the copy, enclosed the changes and sent the proof back.
Several weeks later I received the final proof. The book was laid out, as it would be in printed form with the copyright, page numbering and chapter formatting. It looked really good. It was now getting exciting. I would soon have a book I had written myself published! There were a couple of minor corrections on the final proof where the editors changes had not been done correctly so I marked them up and sent everything back to the publishers
The publishers produced the ‘Blurb’ for the back cover and sent it to me for approval. I liked mine best but I was not sure. It was what someone reads if they were browsing in a bookshop (or on line for that matter) so it was important.
I put a copy of both on my Facebook page and asked my friends which they thought was best mine, the publishers or a combination of both. They went for the publisher’s version with a couple of minor changes.
The print run went ahead the first week in April so my book now actually exists!
I have to say I am very pleased with the result and it was worth all the time and effort it took. There is one thing I have learnt through this ongoing process. Writing the book is the easy part! The real work starts once you have written the last word.
