As we have entered the Fall 2025 term, I have had to readdress what the Quick Start Guide project is and its relevance to the publishing industry we hope to soon enter. Most importantly, there has been a major alteration to the scope of the project.
“We seek to publish regionally significant works of literary, historical, and social value to the Pacific Northwest. . . . we encourage works originating from, or focusing on, the experiences […]
At Ooligan Press, we have two main stages in the publishing process that involve creating interior layouts for print books (not EPUBs): the galley and the final book interior. For our title Cekpa (launched in November of 2025), I had the opportunity to design both versions of the interior, and they were different processes. I wanted to take a moment to demystify what goes into each.
Now that the initial work of developmental edits, cover design, and putting together the book’s marketing plan has been completed, the book is moving on to the next steps in the process: contact lists, blurb requests, and review requests. While this may sound tedious, these tasks make up much of the backbone of a book’s publicity.
Of the hundreds of thousands of books published in the US in 2024, only forty-eight of them were works in translation. Regardless of genre, only 3 percent of books published […]
A book’s title and cover design are often the first impression it makes—and in a crowded market, first impressions matter. These elements are not just decorative; they’re strategic, emotional, and in many ways, the most important tools we have to get a reader to pick up a book.
Therefore, finding a way to weave each individual team member’s unique skills and abilities towards that common goal is where the real result begins to shine. A collaborative team culture must be fostered, and encouraging team members to share ideas, speak honestly, and provide helpful criticism is invaluable. An openness between all members on a team and that shared common goal—even though there may be different assignments and different skills or abilities—will create a team that works together through their own great talents.
As a reader, I never gave much thought to how book descriptions were written. If pushed, I might have guessed that they were written by the author, or maybe the […]
The Chicago Manual of Style has a lot of information in it. But once you get a hang of how things are organized and how to best search within the guide, you can quickly begin finding all the information you need to help bolster your editing skills.
As the author, you are the best advocate for your book. So in the early stages after acquisition, you can focus on getting your book out there on your end. Which really means putting yourself out there.