Musings from N-K projects. How do you find a graphic designer? Review the portfolio, read client testimonials and blog posts.
Author Lonnie Whitaker asked me to help bring his latest children’s book, Mulligan Goes to Mars, to life. Before I joined the project, Lonnie had already commissioned illustrator Kristina Young, who also illustrated his three previous Mulligan titles. This was the fourth adventure featuring Mulligan the cat. I downloaded the completed illustrations via Dropbox and prepared to dive…
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Are you an aspiring author with more questions than answers? Before the Launch is the guidebook you didn’t know you needed. Written by publishing pros David Wogahn and Manon Wogahn, this workbook-style resource is packed with expert advice from two people who’ve helped more than 400 authors bring their books to life. A Clear, Author-Friendly Structure This…
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Related posts: Finding images online Searching for a particular photo Just A Long Walk – case study Follow the Leader
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Is it the book designer’s job to clean up the manuscript in Microsoft Word? This is the question I asked Google after receiving two book manuscripts—neither of which used style sheets correctly, or at all. In both cases, the authors did not apply Word’s built-in styles like Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3. Instead,…
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I’m coaching my friend, Jeanette, as she takes on the challenge of writing and self-publishing her first book. Her project, Walk the Pilgrims’ Path: Sacred Steps of the Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos (Pacific, Missouri), is about a fascinating and niche topic. She wants to publish her ebook and distribute it online to help support the…
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If you’re self-publishing your book, you’ll need to open accounts with online companies such as IngramSpark, KDP, or others. Additionally, you might choose to buy your own ISBNs from Bowker (MyIdentifiers.com). Properly managing these accounts and ensuring consistent information is crucial to avoid potential headaches down the line. The Problem: Error Message Recently, one of…
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From Stock Images to AI-Generated Artwork Three book cover concepts created with stock images were presented to a first-time author. However, he was not satisfied with the initial designs. After reviewing the layouts, he envisioned a more specific concept. I directed him to several stock image websites to search for suitable visuals. Unfortunately, he couldn’t…
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Typos are frustrating and can easily slip through when you’re rushing or losing focus. Sometimes, even when you’re careful, missing or incorrect information from a client or colleague can lead to costly errors. Here’s a closer look at why typos happen, how they can go unnoticed, and strategies to prevent them. Dot Com or Dot…
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