what I do (and don’t do)
answers to frequently asked questions
Is Blue Wren Books a publisher?
In short no, Blue Wren Books is not your publisher.
As an author choosing to self-publish – whether for commercial sale or for a private personal project – the publisher is you.
Rest assured there’ll be no judgement regarding your subject matter, the quality of your writing, or your book’s commercial potential. If your book is important to you, then it’s important to me – and it deserves to be published.
Does Blue Wren Books edit my book?
Again, the answer is no. I am not an editor, proofreader or book coach. However, I do know some wonderful editors and proofreaders I can recommend to you.
Then what does Blue Wren Books do?
My role is to design the cover and interior layouts, and format (or typeset) the text. I begin with your edited manuscript and we end with beautifully designed and printed books in your hands.
I carefully consider colour; font style, size and leading; page and margin size; chapter breaks; heading styles; preliminary pages; glossaries; footnotes – not to mention tables; graphs; diagrams; and illustrations if they are needed.
I have a professional quality Epson scanner to digitise hardcopy photographs, and excellent Photoshop skills for retouching, colour correction or enhancement.
The end result is press quality PDFs ready for printing. I can then organise the printing for you with my network of trusted printers who each have a specialty in very short, medium or long run printing, paperback or hardback binding, or premium colour work. Alternatively, if you have your own printing contacts I can prepare the files to their specifications.
Getting your book ready to go to print is a complex process, requiring a thorough knowledge of artwork files, pre-press checks, and printer specifications.
Publishing terminology and the processes required can be confusing to first time authors and not every step is necessary for every type of book, so I can help guide you through purchasing an ISBN, pre-publication data service, legal deposit, setting up a print on demand account, and so on, if they are relevant to your project.
In summary, you write the words, an editor helps you refine them, and I make them look good.
Who are Blue Wren Books clients?
First time novelists who found that elusive story within.
Retirees who finally have the time to write their life story for the grandkids.
Amateur sleuths who have spent years tracking down their family ancestorial lines.
Business entrepreneurs wanting to share the secrets of their success.
Academics or leaders in their field publishing research and results.
Hobbyists with a wealth of knowledge about their passion.
Poets who want to share their musings with the world.
Artists compiling a life’s creative work for their legacy.
Passionate campaigners putting forward their considered side of a debate.
Home cooks who have collected those delicious recipes that everyone raves about.
Sporting clubs celebrating a significant milestone in their club history.
Independent publishing houses looking after a niche collection of authors.
Or really, anyone who wants to self-publish a book.
What types of books does Blue Wren Books work on?
The sky’s the limit! I work on all styles of books including novels, historic fiction, non-fiction, business books, advice books, self-help, lifestyle, family histories, personal memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, family photo books, poetry, plays, short stories, recipe books, keepsakes, community fundraisers, sporting club histories, gift books, and the list goes on …
While I do work on children’s picture books, please know that I am not an illustrator, so I take on more of an assembly role, designing the text to fit with supplied illustrations, rather than full creative design of the book.
How much does it cost?
The question on the top of everyone’s mind, hidden away in the middle of this page. Blue Wren Books is a bespoke service and quotes are customised to every individual project based on its own unique requirements. I don’t offer package pricing with pre-determined limits on concepts, word counts, photos, or quantity of books printed.
I quote on exactly what services you need for your book.
There are so many variables regarding book size, manuscript length, complexity of design and formatting, colour or black and white, paper type and cover embellishments, number of copies, and so on, that it is impossible to give you an average price per book.
Is Blue Wren Books a one-stop-shop?
Not quite … I prefer to stick to what I do best – design, typesetting and organising printing.
If you’re after something I don’t personally provide, I’ll happily put you in touch with a range of freelancers I’ve worked with successfully over the years, giving you peace of mind that the job will be done well.
What makes Blue Wren Books different?
Honest advice: I value open discussion and honesty. Rather than simply following popular opinion or trends, I pride myself on giving the right advice for you informed by my years of professional experience. Of course, this all starts by listening thoroughly to your ideas, understanding what you want to achieve, and then customising a solution to produce the outcome you want at a price you can afford. I will never push you into anything you don’t understand, nor coerce you into pre-budgeted packages that don’t fit your requirements.
High-quality design: I believe in the power of quality design, and this is at the forefront of everything I produce. I’ll leverage my years of experience to create a design that’s both beautiful and functional, and – most importantly – brings to life the unique vision you have for your book. High quality also means high attention to detail. So, you can rest assured that I’ll go above and beyond to ensure your finished product is polished to perfection.
Old-fashioned customer service: As well as ensuring a quality end result, you’ll find the process of working with Blue Wren Books easy, enjoyable, and stress free. Blue Wren Books is proudly a personal brand, so you’ll work directly with me, ensuring timely personalised service with honesty and integrity. In fact, past clients say they value the customer service I provide almost as much as the design work itself.
What next?
For more information on my book design and typesetting process please click here.
Or, if you’d like to have a chat or get a quote, please contact me here. I’d love to hear from you.