Ooligan Press is a student-run trade press that operates in conjunction with the book publishing master’s program at Portland State University. Those of us inclined to bite off a bit more work operate as project managers (those who manage the publication of a book project) and department managers (those who run the various departments within the press). As copy chief it is my responsibility to oversee and edit all the copy that goes through the press.
What does it take to get a book published? The person who ends up dealing with all the loose bits and bops is the Publisher’s Assistant, also known as the Operations Manager—my role.
With our most recent audiobook title Faultland by Suzy Vitelllo, Oolies are now in charge of the entire production process. This is an exciting opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with a vital part of the audiobook production process. Although it may sound daunting, editing audio is an incredibly satisfying process and a marketable skill that students can add to their growing repertoire of qualifications.
The digital side of the publishing industry (and of any industry) includes a lot of acronyms, especially when referring to coding. You have probably heard or read about XML, HTML, CSS, and XHTML. But do you know what they mean? Have you ever wondered how they are used?
In a world with a broad range of writing, is it possible to specialize in a subject matter you love?
Like many Oolies before me, when I first started the graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University, I thought I would be most interested in editorial. In fact, besides being an editor, I didn’t really know anything about the other jobs that existed in the publishing industry. I had a lot to learn!
The process of getting your book published with Ooligan Press can feel both exciting and nerve wracking in equal measures. To demystify some of the process and help our authors understand what the process will look like, let’s talk about what happens after you’ve received the great news that Ooligan Press has acquired your project. How do you become your own book’s best advocate?
Each data point represents an avenue for booksellers, librarians, and readers to search for our books. The CoreSource tipsheet isn’t something that’s written and then forgotten about; it’s a living document. It follows the book for the rest of its shelf life, so that it can continue building avenues for new readers.
Most books that are published these days have some number of quotes of praise from various sources, usually other authors or major newspapers… The question becomes, how do publishers choose who to contact for a blurb or review of a book?
In a previous blog post, I introduced myself as the DEI Publisher’s Assistant for Ooligan Press and gave a brief overview of my position; here, I’m back to walk you through my involvement with each book as it makes its way through the publishing process.