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How to Publish a Book: a Case Study

This case study explores the journey of publishing "The Villain of Steam Project," focusing on market research, production, and launch strategies. It delves into various publishing models, author responsibilities, market research, and production processes involved in bringing a book to the market. Learn about key considerations like choosing a publishing model, researching the market, preparing for the launch, production processes, and marketing strategies. Dive into the complexities of book production, editing, formatting, and launching to gain valuable insights into the publishing industry.

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How to Publish a Book: a Case Study

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  1. How to Publish a Book: a Case Study The Villain of Steam Project Anna Martin, Project Manager, Talk to Cambridge Library Group 22/10/2015

  2. http://www.slideshare.net/TyndallScientific/images-from-villain-of-steam-48695166http://www.slideshare.net/TyndallScientific/images-from-villain-of-steam-48695166 Slideshare presentation of the images in the book

  3. Who? • Tyndall Scientific • Marlinspike publishing

  4. Tyndall Scientific

  5. Pre-talk Activity • Look at the books in the display. • Which is: Commercial publisher (professional, established systems, little author control, few returns) • Learned Society pays and publishes • Indie publisher breaks even • Author self-publishes • Author pays a third party such as Matador

  6. Aims of the Project • Increase public awareness of the history of science and technology (as part of a larger project) • Increase understanding and experience of the publishing process • Personal and career development of author • A mode of networking

  7. Targets • Produce a marketable book • Sell the book in the Trinity College Dublin bookshop, Amazon and highstreet bookshops and in Kindle and emobi formats • Raise awareness of Lardner at Trinity College Dublin • Gain media publicity • Network

  8. Evaluating the Project • Viability: minimum viable short run is at least 500 copies • Market research: Saleability of author: reputation, network and past performance, • Saleability of subject: performance of similar competition, market niche, (figures from Nielsen) • Budget and funding

  9. Infrastructure: Websites • Use of Wordpress, Studiopress templates, Fasthosts webhosting

  10. Infrastructure : Other Considerations • Bank accounts • Registering for tax • Email accounts • Social Media accounts • International considerations

  11. Authors Responsibilities • Produces a draft (Word/ Latex, InDesign or Publisher) • Does indexing work? • Manages Footnotes (Zotairo, bibiliographical management) • Gets images, pays for images and permissions

  12. Editors vs Book Designers • Editor edits the manuscript / Book designer designs the book (chicken and egg) • Two types of editor: copy editor and commissioning editor

  13. Researching the Market and Process • Attended courses in publishing and in self-publishing • Talked to people, go to Author talks • Read books on publishing and watched videos • Researched similar products: mentors and role models

  14. Deciding on a Publishing Model • Commercial publisher (professional, established systems, little author control, few returns) • Learned Society pays and publishes • Indie publisher breaks even • Author self-publishes • Author pays a third party such as Matador

  15. Deciding on a Publishing mode • Print on demand? • Considerations: credibility, availability in bookshops, online access, cost, transport • US market? • English or Irish printers

  16. Createspace

  17. Lulu (print on demand facility)

  18. Lightning Source / Ingram (Books in print connection)

  19. English Short Run Printers

  20. Chosen Process • Narrator.me.co.uk • Imprint Digital (printers, Devon) deliver free to: • Distributors Central Books

  21. Production Process • Apply for ISBNs, (includes information about the distributor, • Turn number into barcode (free programs) • Pricing, • BISAC code

  22. Completing the Manuscript • Foreword • Bumph • About the author • Proofreading (turns to pdf format) • Getting it perfect

  23. Some Copy Editing Considerations House Styles and Style Guides / Manuals Curly quotes vs. inverted commas, Hyphenation, Standardization of numbers, spellings and treatment of references. N dashes vs M dashes and hyphens Font, Justification of text Style and placement for running headers Treatment of quotes, subheadings, lines around pictures

  24. Preparing for the Launch • Launch: venue, • Catering, music, photography, timing, availability of copies, who will sell the books? Who to invite? • How will people be expected to pay (card reader? Bank account?) • Will there be a photographer? • Who will say and do what? (speeches)

  25. Production Process: ISBN • About the book information and cover upload, • Title editor, look inside.

  26. The Cover : Artwork

  27. Typesetting • These days typesetters lay out the book and advised on style and format. They produce the results as a print-ready pdf. • If you want to change anything you have to go back to them.

  28. The Printing Process • Instructing the printers (payment in advance) • Getting a proof • Getting it perfect and quality control issues • Transport to the distributors • Sending out frees and review copies

  29. Other Formats • Creating Kindle and emobi versions, • Ebook distributors, • Uploading an ebook to Amazon Direct

  30. Marketing and Publicity • Historians review book • Publicist Graham Keal to write • articles,

  31. Marketing and Publicity • Postcards ordered from Moo or printing.com

  32. Marketing and Publicity • Lifesize cutout • Photography by Will Tupman

  33. The Launch

  34. Book Signing

  35. Meeting the Public

  36. Matters Ongoing • Market to societies and railway shops • Continue to give talks and market, • Ongoing accounts with distributors and outlets, tax returns, website maintenance, • Collecting payments

  37. Assessing the Project • Was it worth it? - Finances

  38. A Note on Amazon Advantage

  39. Some Issues • Dangers of distributing directly • Advantages / disadvantages of using a distributor

  40. Goals Met- Book in Bookshops

  41. Goals Met- Book Available Online

  42. Goals Met- Public Awareness

  43. Goals Met- • Community Understanding of science and technology heritage grows (as part of larger projects) • Community tradition of publishing continues

  44. 5

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