Inevitably at some point, our self-publishing clients ask whether they should distribute their ebook exclusively through Kindle, or whether they should take a different approach. In most cases, we advise selling to a variety of ebook retailers.
Your substantive editor is the person who will review your manuscript to ensure the content and structure are clear. As we’ve explained in a previous post, substantive editing involves looking at big-picture things such as narrative and character development, pacing, consistency of voice, and chapter organization.
We’re delighted to report a new book deal we made through our association with Transatlantic Agency: Dr. Karen Lee’s FIT CITIES: HOW URBAN DESIGN CAN CONQUER THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC, a brilliant, eye-opening look at how we can act now to stop one of the world’s biggest health issues, based on the latest research and interviews with designers and health practitioners, as well as Lee’s own personal experiences in the field.
Many of our clients are not professional writers. They are entrepreneurs and leaders in the fields of technology, parenting, politics, business, sports, and science. They’re used to writing reports and other longish documents, but writing a non-fiction book for a general audience requires a different skill set.
When we became literary agents, an inquisitive child we know asked if we’d have to start wearing hats. It took us a while to realize why he was asking that question. In many of the cartoons he’d watched, agents have a specific role: they are secret agents — mysterious people wearing fedoras and trench coats, whose briefcases contain intelligence that can crack open big cases and change the world.
These days there’s an endless barrage of articles about why traditional publishers are horrible (they’re not.), and why self-publishing is a bad idea (it’s not).
We had the opportunity to look back on Page Two’s first year in an editorial for Publishing Perspectives. Upon reflection, we realized that the work we’ve done on even our most non-traditional projects has deep roots in industry traditions, and our most digitally-minded clients appreciate the benefits of time-tested publishing practices.
So you’re publishing your book and you’re wondering how to make it stand out from the other 600,000 new books published in North America over the last year. You’re not alone. One of the biggest issues publishers and self-publishers are grappling with these days is how to make readers aware that their books exist.
Arno Kopecky’s The Oil Man and the Sea: Navigating the Northern Gateway (Douglas & McIntyre) has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award 2014.
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October 3 marks Page Two’s first anniversary and SFU Publishing Associate Professor Monique Sherrett has honoured the event with her recent post, “Page Two Turns One.” She looks back on Page Two’s first year and also shares what’s taking shape for the year ahead
Sherrett writes, “The focused, yet nimble, nature of Page Two is apparent when looking at their strategic publishing projects over the first year.
We’re pretty quick to admit our biases at Page Two. If we had a written list, great editing would be at the very top of it. We’re always in favour of editorial work, no matter who the writer is or what length of text she’s working with.
