THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING YOUR BOOK

Editing

• Editing changes can be made quite easily to a formatted draft of the book, but it does take time, these are referred to as Author Alterations (see Costs). The manuscript should be as close to final as you can make it before design and layout begins.
• Editing deals with content, punctuation, grammar, etc.; not with fonts, spacing and other such layout functions.
• Most authors hire an editor to edit their manuscript. I can help you find a suitable editor if you need one, just let me know. This will be an additional cost to you.

Cover Design

• For your cover I would use your suggestions to come up the style you might have in mind. But don't worry if you don't have an idea, this is my job and I am happy to start fresh!
• If you have an image you would like to use on the cover design already that is fine, or I can find images from stock photos/graphic image companies on-line to enhance your books subject matter.
• I will also need back cover copy, ie: book description, testimonials, author bio, etc. I can help you get a barcode and place it into the design.
• Cover design drafts will be sent for approval as PDF files.
• Any changes will be worked into the design and new drafts sent. This process will continue until you are totally satisfied.
• Final layout will be completed when the cover spine thickness is determined (depending on number of book pages and paper thickness, this information comes from your chosen book printer).
• When you approve the final draft, the completed cover file will be emailed to your printer.

Inside Design

• When I receive your manuscript it will need a general cleanup, ie: removing double and redundent spacing, check quotation marks and other punctuation formats, remove imbedded styles, and so on.
• You might have a book design that you like, if so, fax or email me a copy and we can start from there.
  
• I will design a few sample pages and send them to you via a PDF file for review.
  
• Once you have approved the text design, the entire book will be formatted and sent to you as a complete PDF file.
  
• You will poofread the book and list any changes you would like made either on printed copies which you would mail or fax to me, or, if you have Adobe Acrobat, you can make edits to the PDF file.
  
• Proofreading is a time-consuming and expensive undertaking, most self-publishers choose to do it themselves or get an experienced friend to help. If you need a proofreader I can hire one for you.
  
• The proofing changes you request will be made and another draft sent. This process will continue until the book is done.
  
• When you approve the final draft, the completed inside book file will be sent to your printer .

Photos

• If you have photos in your book you may provide them to me as image files or original photographs to be scanned. If they are originals, then you will have to package them carefully with cardboard and mail them to me.
  
• If you choose to scan the photos yourself, PLEASE talk to me about it before you start. We need to be sure they are scanned at the correct resolution and in the right file format for me to use.
  
• Photos and captions can be placed throughout the book wherever you want. The photo number and caption can be placed directly into your manuscript at the location you would want it to appear (ie: PIC 46 The rain in Spain falls directly on the plain.)
  
• Photos can appear exactly as you provide them, or they can be adjusted (cropping, highlight/shadow adjustment, contrast/lightness, saturation, spot removal, image repair, etc.).

Printing

• If you already have a printer, I will need a contact so I can make sure all files are prepared according to their specifications.
• If you need a printer, I can help locate the most suitable printer for your book.
  
• Digital printing technology is an excellent low cost method of producing a small number of books.
• Most printers will provide a bound proof copy for your review.
  

Payment

• Final payment is made when all work has been approved and printer files are ready to send.

Archive

• Seling Design LLC keeps all the files in an archive so that you can, at a future date, update or make modifications to the book.