Author Resource: Ferguson’s Careers in Focus: Publishing by Ferguson Publishing Company

Checked out of Hardin County Public Library, South Branch, Elizabethtown, KY

This book gives examples all employment opportunities available in publishing. This book was not really what I was looking for but it did provide valuable insight for me as a self-publishing author. Until I get picked up by an agent and/or publisher I am getting myself and my books out there.  What I learned are there are many different areas I need to research to fully realize my potential as a self-publishing author.

In this book you will realize all the different aspects that are involved in becoming a selling author.

Book Editors evaluate your manuscript, accept or reject it, rewrite and correct spelling and grammar, research and fact check, arrange proofs with artists and designers, and the total look of your book. You may find one of these on your own but they are mostly found using a literary agent.

Desktop Publishing Specialists create brochures, newsletters, business cards, and posters. This is all used during the marketing and publicity stage of getting your work out there.

Graphic Designers create ideas, convey information, draw attention and design ads, displays, packaging, signs, computer graphics and games, book covers and interiors, and company logos. This is also valuable during the marketing and publicizing of your book.

Literary Agents connect authors with publishers and TV producers, negotiate contracts, pursue publicity, and advise the writer. These are the people that open literary doors for you.

Photographers take pictures for author’s pages and pictures for covers. This is beneficial in marketing yourself and your book.

Prepress Workers visually conceive and prepare your book for print. This is the last stop before books are available for purchase.

Webmasters design, implement, and maintain World Wide Web sites. This will open avenues to get yourself and your books out to the public.

As a self-publishing author, I am marketing my book while I search for an agent and/or publisher and book editor. Having published my book myself, I was the conceptual authority on my cover, inside pages, and the writing of the novel. I used a picture for my author’s page that I had taken myself. I have since started using a professional photo taken by Sally S. Popu in Danville, VA during a twin shoot with my sister. I will be using that same twin sister as my Desktop Publishing Specialist and Graphic Designer being that she has a Graphics Arts degree. I used Lightening Press in Totowa, NJ for my prepress needs in getting my novel into a printed book. In the near future I will be teaching myself to make my own webpage and you will be able to visit me there…