Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tony Burton on February 23, 2010 at 12:34pm

Donna,

Forgive me, but as someone who has written many "how-to" manuals and whose wife is an avid gardener with probably forty or so gardening books on the shelf over her desk, how is the author intending to create a helpful and informative beginner's step-by-step book on gardening without any illustrations? Such kinesthetic activities as gardening invariably need illustrations: raised bed versus tilth versus... how to set up a simple watering system... what sort of tools to use for particular tasks... how to use mulch properly... and so on.

Sure, your author friend could write a treatise that is strictly text, but believe me, that would be dry and boring as dust to most people who want to learn about gardening at the beginners' level.

I'm really puzzled.

Tony Burton
Wolfmont LLC
http://www.wolfmont.com
http://www.honeylocustpress.com

Permalink Reply by Donna Drialo on February 23, 2010 at 12:52pm

Sorry, my mistake. I didn't mean that the book would have no illustrations, I was trying to indicate that the book has 300 pages of text PLUS illustrations.

Permalink Reply by 1106 Design on February 23, 2010 at 1:00pm

Hi Donna,

First it's necessary to clarify the term "publishing." Depending on how your author wants to proceed, there are three options: (1) A traditional publishing company, which buys the rights to the manuscript, assumes all the responsibility and costs of editing, design, and printing, and arranges for distribution. The publisher keeps most of the profits and pays the author a royalty for every book sold; (2) Self-publishing, in which the author retains the rights to the manuscript, performs all the tasks of the traditional publisher, and keeps all of the profits; and (3) So-called "self-publishing companies" who charge the author for services AND pay the author a small royalty for every book sold.

If your author's goal is not to be traditionally published, and he/she wants to truly self-publish, then steering clear of the "self-publishing companies" is really important. There are many folks here at SPAN who can help with the necessary information and quality services to help him/her prepare the book for printing, and distribution. Keep asking questions!

Michele DeFilippo, owner
1106 Design
Your book. Designed. With hand holding.
http://www.1106design.com