I have learned that getting a book ready for publication involves many steps and many people. First, you have to organize the book. This largely involves getting your thoughts together, developing a theme, preparing an outline, and then taking this raw material to a designer who will mold your thoughts and ideas into a presentable format. Then you need to hire a good editor to proofread and correct any grammatical errors and make sure that all of the punctuation is consistent and accurate. While this is being accomplished a publisher has to be found. Someone you feel you can work with. Once you find a publisher and sign a contract you have about 45 days until you get a digital proof. Often the images used in the book while sharp and clear on your cell phone, for example, look fuzzy in print. This leaves you with no choice but to get new, high-definition images. This can present a problem if the images you want to use are unavailable and cannot be redone in higher definition. So, you are left with using some images of lesser quality. In the meantime, your contract deadline is drawing near. If you cannot get everything to the publisher on time then you are faced with entering into a new contract that may end up with a price higher than what you originally agreed upon. After everything is final the book is produced and your work is done. Not so fast! Now, the book has to be packaged and mailed out to those who want a copy. This can be handled by a company that will charge a fee per book to package and mail. Or, you can save money and do it yourself. Well, that is where we are now. Here are a few pictures of my library as the books are being readied for mailing.
Fortunately, I have help in the person of Lenore who has been instrumental in this whole project. Many of you who have ordered books have been in contact with her. Lenore’s organizational skills are astounding. Not only does she order the packaging material but she helps ready the books for mailing. She has been a real help. We should have all the books that have been ordered in the mail this week. We have taken great care to package the books in such a way as to prevent damage. We hope that you will enjoy your copy when it arrives. Let us know.
Ben Costello
President, 1715 Fleet Society
