Self-Publishing Simplified

We've implemented a new catch-phrase which describes exactly what we do and put it on the front page of our website. We simplify the self-publishing process by helping authors overcome the hurdles that prevent them from publishing a book.

It's different for every author. Some are waiting to secure a contract from an old-fashioned publisher. They could be waiting a long time. Others don't want to purchase 10 ISBNs from Bowkers just to self-publish one book. We provide single ISBNs.

Others don't know how to obtain and EAN barcode (or even what it is or why it's important). We do all that for them.

The Gem of Custom Publishing is who we are. Self-Publishing Simplified is what we do. Outskirts Press. What do you think?

Networking with other Writers

The CIPA College starts tomorrow with the Newbie College, which I will not be attending but our COO will. All the pieces are in place, our displays, our brochures, our banners, our cards. I should be picking up 100 copies of Publishing Gems today. And by should be, I mean they should be there.

Learn more about CIPA and the CIPA college at http://cipabooks.com

Adventures in Publishing is receiving it's final layout after I completed the edits yesterday. We'll do the indexing today and tomorrow. I might not have this free version available before the college, which was my deadline, but I have the webpage up and I'm collecting email addresses of people who are interested so we can send them the free ebook when it's done. My new goal is by the end of March. The ebook will be followed by the publication of the paperback, first weeks in April. No fooling.

Books to Help you Publish on Demand

These entries are sounding redundant. But, then again, life is kind of redundant. We're still working on promoting Publishing Gems, getting it finalized, and finishing up Adventures in Publishing. We're still working on SEO and I'm considering additional thinks OutskirtsPress.net can do for us other than simply being a SEO portal site. I have a concept, but since the BOD decision not to mention strategic thoughts here that haven't happened yet, I have to keep it to myself.

The good news is that the pages for Publishing Gems and Adventures in Publishing are going to be done here in the next week or so, including the final covers for both. The final front cover for Adventures is done. We still need to do the back. We also have to made moderate adjustments to the site, since the content of the book refers to things that WILL be done. Might as well make the book accurate when it's published, don't ya think?

Getting Reviewed in Publisher's Weekly - NOT

Doh!

One of the reasons I was aiming for an April publication date for Publishing Gems was to give my review copy enough time to get into the hands of Publisher's Weekly editors.

We'll I just received the galley copy back in the mail. Apparently I used the wrong address. I'll have to confirm that the information we're providing in the Author's Center is accurate and then resend it, although now there isn't enough time before it's published. Nevertheless, there's an old saying that I like to quote from time to time: "If at first you don't succeed, yell profanities until someone gives you your way!"

FYI - the address I used was 245 W. 17th St, New York, NY 10011. When I investigate the new one (a quick jaunt onto their website should do it), I'll post it. I have a few blogs going, though, so no promises on which one I post it too. In fact, these multiple blogs every have ME confused.

Publishing Gems and Adventures in Publishing

Publishing Gems is going to be completely done in the next week. I think I'm going to have to write the foreword after all, which kind of sucks, but I wasn't able to secure anyone else to do in with enough time to spare to ensure availability of the published book by the middle of March, which is when I'm unveiling it during the CIPA college. That's the last day for Evvy award submissions, and I think I may submit it this year after all. I was thinking of waiting until next year, but by next year I'll probably have a number of new reference guides to submit, so might as well submit this one when I'm not competing with myself. I may submit Adventures in Publishing, too, but we'll see how I'm feeling about that.

Adventures in Publishing: An Interactive Guide to Publishing Your Book is finished, and the main editing is complete. We're going to format the interior in the next couple of days and make last minute adjustments, in necessary. I think I've decided not to mention our color Pearl package at all -- it's just so different from the other four packages we offer, kind of messes up the whole symmetry of the book. But I haven't decided for sure.

I got my professional portrait back from the photographers for the back of the books. It'll be on the back of the Publishing Gems, but not Adventures (since that book back is FULL with all the cover choice thumbnails.).

I also have it clear in my mind how the ebook version of Adventures is going to work -- now implementing it, that's a different matter. It has to translate to web and CD, since it will be a foundation of the software CD we'll start to make in the coming months.

Final Cover for Publishing Gems

A long night designing the cover of Publishing Gems. You can visit the webpage by clicking here.

A household name

I'm usually so wrapped up in reporting the day to day minutia within these blogs that I don't step back and report on the strategic steps we're taking every day to not only grow Outskirts Press but help custom publishing become a household concept. I have nearly conceptualized the strategic goals for this year along with (and this is the hard part) the tactical milestones necessary to accomplish those goals. A lot of hinges on the completion and publication of both Publishing Gem: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing Writer and Adventures in Publishing: An Interactive Guide to Publishing Your Book.

Another step hinges on the completion of a project I'll simply call PKRD. Some of the pieces are falling into place; I just have to put them in the correct order.

The interior of Publishing Gems is complete. Our designer did a wonderful job -- it's beautiful. A very fun, inviting inside that's packed with information in an aesthetic manner. Not always easy in just around 70 pages.

Another step begins and grows and adapts OutskirtsPress.net.