5 Important Tips for Children’s Book Authors
By Crystal Bowman
Guest contributor
If you are considering publishing a book with Winepress, you are on the right track!
Winepress is a professional, high-quality co-publishing company that offers several affordable options to help writers pursue their dreams of seeing their words become books. Winepress also helps with sales and marketing to help authors get their books into the right market. Winepress treats every writer with respect and offers a positive publishing experience.
Before you begin, here are some important tips:
1. If you are writing for children, be sure to have your story completely edited before adding the illustrations. One minor change in the text can result in needing new illustrations.
2. If you choose to write your story in rhythm and rhyme, you must be a pro! Use exact rhyming words and consistent rhythm. Awkward rhythm and forced rhymes make a text feel unprofessional and amateurish. Have your work edited by someone who is skilled in rhythm and rhyme.
3. Evaluate your work to determine the right market. You may have a wonderful personal story to share, but it may be better suited for a magazine article or collection of short stories such as Chicken Soup for the Soul. Though your personal story may have meaning to you and your loved ones, it may not have national appeal as a book.
4. If you decide to publish your book, work with your editor and trust him or her. Your editor is not the enemy! Your editor is an experienced professional who wants your work to be the best it can be. If you do not agree with an editorial change, you can discuss the problem until you reach a resolution.
5. In order to publish a book with professional results, you must be a team player and allow others to help you make the best decisions. Collaboration is the name of the game, and the end result will be a book that you will be proud to present to the world.
Crystal Bowman is a best-selling author of over 60 books. She is also a freelance editor and conference speaker. Crystal worked with Winepress to publish Cracks in the Sidewalk, her popular book of children’s poetry.
Tweet This!Choosing the Best Shipping Method for Books
By Larry Filato
There are a variety of shipping methods for your books; depending on the time factor and destination they can vary greatly in cost.
USPS
You have the traditional method which many people use: the good ol’ Post Office (USPS). The services range from bulk rate or media mail to next day.
They offer a variety of products that are available for free, like priority flat rate envelopes or boxes with choice of different sizes depending on what you are shipping.
Media Mail
If you’re not in a hurry and you are shipping (books), media mail is the least expensive method. Normal delivery time would be six to ten business days in the continental US. I do recommend adding the delivery confirmation or insurance if what you’re shipping has value.
How to Pack Books
If you are packing books, keep them away from the corners; use newspaper or packing paper to keep them in the center of the box. The post office can be quite rough with this method of shipping.
Priority Mail
Next in line is priority mail. If you need air delivery, flat rate is a bargain compared to other methods or shippers and delivery time is normally two to three days. Be aware that there are weight restrictions to the flat rate parcels. You can also use your own packaging and the rate will vary on weight and destination.
For more info visit www.usps.com.
Privately-Owned Mail Delivery Services
We have a privately-owned mail delivery service in our town and it is a good alternative to the post office. There you can get UPS or FedEx services and they have a variety of packaging materials.
UPS and FedEx
There are advantages in using UPS or FedEx. One of them is that they have standard $100 insurance on all their packages and if you need more for a small fee it is well worth it. Another nice feature is that you can track your package on www.ups.com or www.fedex.com.
Shipping Tip
Always give yourself plenty of time when shipping packages. The normal delivery time coast-to-coast is five business days. If you’re in a pinch, UPS and FedEx have 3-day select (UPS) or express saver (FedEx) or sooner depending on your need but it can get quite pricey when you go 2nd day or next day. For an additional charge they can do AM delivery, but I suggest planning well n advance; it’s easier on your pocket book.
Larry Filato is the WinePress Group warehouse manager and has been serving our authors and customers for four years.
Ten Things to Consider Before You Publish an E-Book
It’s a great idea for authors to consider publishing an electronic version of their book. E-books are a growing market and gaining a lot of attention – especially with the recent launch of Apple’s new iPad. But don’t dismiss traditional paper books too quickly.
Here are ten reasons why e-books have a long way to go before they can be a real, mass-market alternative to physical books.
1. Variety. Books come in all shapes, sizes, bindings, and types. E-book readers are still relatively small and their displays are restricted to one size and shape.
2. Accessibility. In order to read an e-book, a person needs a computer, an e-book reader, or some other device capable of displaying the file. A physical book requires nothing more than the ability to read.
3. Cost. Books are inexpensive. E-books are usually cheaper. But e-book readers are much more expensive. Especially if you want a larger screen size or color. Eventually, the prices will come down – but that’s going to take a while.
4. Kids. The children’s book market is huge. E-books could offer more interactive possibilities in future, but right now there’s almost no color (see #5) and not many parents are going to give an e-book reader to their 3-year-old.
5. Color. There’s more to the book market than plain text. Many books are full-color, or at least have full-color sections. For some books – like design-related manuals, or educational textbooks, or children’s books – color is a must. Most e-book readers still can’t handle anything more than shades of gray, and the ones that can (like the iPad) use an electronic screen that is much harder on the eyes than paper.
6. Openness. Physical books are inherently “open source.” Nobody owns a copyright or patent on taking some pages and binding them together. The issue of quality aside, anyone can make a book – and anyone can read a book made by anyone else. There are already several conflicting and “closed” e-book formats, designed to tie readers in to one particular company or store.
7. Durability. Books are durable and can go almost anywhere. They can be ripped, folded, bashed, bumped, taped, squeezed, scribbled on, highlighted, underlined, thrown across the room, cried on, stuffed in a bag, and still retain their core function. E-book readers are much more fragile – and, of course, expensive.
8. Replacement. In the event a book is damaged beyond all use, or lost, or stolen, it’s easy enough to simply buy another copy. E-book readers? Sure, if you want to spend another several hundred dollars.
9. Sharing. When someone reads a good book, one of his or her most common responses is to want someone else to read it. Books are easy to lend, borrow, and give away. Most people will not be lending out their e-book readers – and trying to “lend” someone an e-book is either complicated or impossible.
10. Independence. An author, or small publishing company, can easily sell books from a website, a speaking engagement, or in bookstores. E-book distribution is currently limited to the internet, with big companies trying to monopolize the market.
WinePress Publishing has been partnering with authors since 1991. We are always at the cutting-edge of technology, but we have the expertise and experience to avoid getting swept up in the latest hype. Authors continue to trust WinePress because we provide honest and balanced advice. Publishing, whether traditional or electronic, can be a minefield of details, false steps, and disappointments. WinePress enables authors to reach their personal goals by giving them a firm foundation and a steady guiding hand.
We’re very excited about the potential of e-books and, very soon, we will be launching a great e-book option to complement our other packages. But, for now, an e-book is only a small piece of the whole publishing picture – and WinePress is uniquely capable of fitting every piece together with common sense and sophistication.
Consider carefully whether an electronic version is a good fit for your book. If you think it is, be sure to work with a publisher like WinePress who can provide a professional service. Whether electronic or paper, quality always stands out.
Malcolm Fraser is the Executive Officer at WinePress Group, and serves as the assistant to the Executive Publisher. He helps to oversee and coordinate all of WinePress’ different departments, handles customer service issues, contract development, and also contributes to programming and designing websites and author blogs.
WinePress Publishing Responds to CBA President Bill Anderson’s Resignation
When Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) president Bill Anderson resigned on October 30, 2009, it shocked the publishing industry.
Anderson joined CBA in 1978 as the association’s first full-time convention manager. He became president in 1985 and has served as an inspirational leader for nearly a quarter of a century.
George Thomsen (CBA board of directors chair-elect) clarified that Anderson’s resignation does not mean CBA is without leadership. In a message from the board, he writes:
Organizations generally transcend leaders, not the other way around. Even in the Bible we see Moses pass the baton to Joshua, Elijah lay his mantle on Elisha, and David replace Saul as king. The Bible shows us that no man is bigger than his mission or his organization…
…Though our leadership is changing, our leadership team is unchanged in its resolve and commitment to continue on and carry out its calling.
CBA’s vision is: “To serve Jesus Christ by equipping those called to share the Good News and make disciples through Christian retail excellence.”
And CBA’s global end reads: “CBA exists to meet the needs of its members, enable them to optimize the benefits of a healthy ecosystem, and help them succeed in meeting the needs of their consumers—in order to help fulfill the Great Commission.”
At CBA, we believe our mission is the Lord’s mission for us. Therefore, we must keep our eyes on Him and on our mission.
Thomsen continues:
I was struck by Bill Anderson’s poignant words in the press release announcing his resignation: “Christian retail has been given a high and holy calling, and we must be faithful to God and His Word.” As such, we all play a vital role in this industry, which, in itself, plays a vital role in Kingdom work. If we are engaged in our Father’s business, we can be sure He will supply us what with what we need.
Here at WinePress, we have benefited in countless ways from Anderson’s leadership, and we extend heartfelt thanks to him for his many years of dedicated service.
While the face of Christian publishing is changing dramatically, we feel confident CBA is working hard to help the industry evolve into something fresh and new, with an even more powerful ministry.
We wish Bill Anderson the very best, and are excited to partner with CBA as the organization continues its mission to faithfully serve the Lord by distributing Christ-centered products.
Sources:
- Christian Retailing – CBA President Bill Anderson Resigns
- Christian Retailing – Leaders react to Bill Anderson’s Resignation
Must-Have Skills for 21st Century Authors
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. -Kahlil Gibran
By Marcus Isom
E-mail and the Internet is no longer just an alternate tool used mainly by businesses. It is a standard form of communication throughout many households. Business formerly done by phone, pen, and paper is quickly being replaced by the keyboard and mouse.
Some individuals resist using electronic communications. Here are some common misconceptions I’ve noticed:
It’s toooooo difficult to learn how to use a computer and the Internet.
This is no longer the case. Computers and e-mail have come a long way since the days of black screens with green text, and they’re now about as complicated as learning how to drive – perhaps even easier. Check with community colleges, youth and senior centers in your community; many offer basic computer courses.
Two words : Security Risk
Just be careful. Like driving on a crowded highway or through a school zone, there are “rules of the road” to be learned and followed with e-mail and web-surfing. For example, don’t give out your credit card information or social security number through e-mail. It is safe, however, to give out your credit card number to online stores with secure servers.
Computers are too expensive!
A decent basic computer system that can provide for most people’s electronic needs can often cost from $200-500.
Electronic communication is where everything is headed nowadays, and it’s starting to become difficult to receive paper invoices and consultation. In fact, postal mail is becoming a novelty. Newer forms of social networking, such as Twitter and Facebook, are now the norm.
The sooner one can learn how to make good use of e-mail and other tools we have now, the less of a struggle it will be in the near future, when social networking technology becomes the standard.
Marcus Isom is the warehouse office assistant of Larry Filato, and is part of the WinePress Fulfillment Team. His job primarily consists of taking and processing book orders, maintaining warehousing records, and ensuring that bookstores, distributors, authors, and customers receive their books in a timely manner. Marcus also helps to move inventory, processes book returns, and keeps things tidy.
