I bet you wondered what happened to me when no blog post showed up n Monday. Well, I was a bit busy learning how to design a book in Adobe InDesign. I was going to try and hire a designer, but I had the program and I used to do a ton of design work “back in the day” when I had Pagemaker. I was trained to do design work in college and was required to do design for many of my jobs. So, I figured it was time to tackle this program and see if I couldn’t lay out two small book projects.
Now, I probably didn’t save money–not if I calculated my hourly rate versus what I would have paid a designer for a 60-page book. However, I learned a new skill and turned an e-book into a p-book. Plus, the e-book was originally 10-days worth of blog posts. So, that work got recycled as well. (Neat!)
I even created a cover, but I still need it to wrap to the back. For this reason, I’m bailing and handing things over to a designer. She can check my cover, tweak it, and create the spine and back cover, producing the art I need to upload to the printer.
Given that this book is small in size–it will either by 4″ x 6″ or 4.125″ x 6.875″ (I produced both), I’m not sure where I’m printing it. I was aiming for CreateSpace–cheap and quick, I thought, but the size could be a problem. I can’t get anyone on the phone; that IS a problem. Lightning Source will take too long, since I never completed the process of setting up my account, and I didn’t even check if they do these sizes. I can’t find an affordable tip book company. (Anyone know one?). My booklet printer doesn’t do these sizes. I’m considering a company called 48hrbooks.com, because I need the book by June 24 at the latest, and they do the larger of the two sizes. That’s less than three weeks from now.
I have one more project I want to produce quickly, and I am considering redoing a few of my booklets as well in that time frame. I’m not sure I can do it, though. Now I don’t have to wait for a designer–although I might still need one to get all this work done. Anyone know a fast, inexpensive–available–book designer?
Anyway, the lesson to you: Be willing to learn new skills. You might be glad you did.
Nina, good for you. I bet the book looks fine. The smallest trim sizes at Lightning Source are 5 x 8″ (203 x 127mm) and
5.06 x 7.81″ (198 x 129mm), so they won’t work for your book. Also check 360digital.com, another supplier of digital printing, and compare them to 48hourbooks. I’ve used the latter numerous times, and their books are lovely and there are real people to talk to. But they don’t supply print on demand distribution, just the books. Hope that helps.
Thanks, Joel! The interior is pretty nice, and the covers were OK. A friend who is a graphic designer is checking them out for me. And thanks for the tip on 360digitalbooks.com. They are cheaper, but I’m going to have to print with no proof. Hope I don’t regret that…I don’t have time for a proof with them.