The basics of book printing are fairly straight forward, however a little review never hurts.

Everything I will discuss is based on our offset equipment, which are sheetfed presses. The most common book jobs print full color covers and black text. While we also utilize digital equipment for short runs of books, we generally use offset presses for runs of 500 books and up.

Book sizes and page counts - Standard book sizes are 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, 6 x 9, 6-3/4 x 9-3/4, and 8-1/2 x 11.  While you can run other sizes, these are the most efficient and cost effective for the paper sizes that we use. For 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, 6 x 9, and 6-3/4 x 9-3/4 we run sections of 32 pages for black text. As a publisher, it is advantageous to layout your book so that the total page count of your book including prelim pages (roman numeral, unnumbered, a, b, c, d, pages before numbered page 1) is equally divisible by 32. So for example, 96 pages = 3 x 32, 128 = 4 x 32, 160 = 5 x 32 and so on.  In many cases it is not possible to lay out the pages this way so the next best options are smaller 1/2 section of 16 pages or 1/4 section of 8 pages. So for example 176 page book would be would be made up of 5 sections of 32 and 1 of 16.  A 200 page book 6 sections of 32 and 1 of 8 pages.  For 8-1/2 x 11 size books we run in sections of 16 pages with 1/2 sections of 8 pages, and again a 1/4 section of 4 pages.

OK, I admit it, I have a vested interest in print, but shouldn't we all?

There are certainly various elements of communication that can be served by electronic media, facebook, twitter and other information that has a very short life span. There is, in my view, some very compelling reasons for print, particularly books and newspapers whose days in the minds of some people are numbered.  I am quite surprised that more people, particularly in the publishing industry aren't championing for the survival of print.  I for one, am not throwing in the towel.

The world is going GREEN.  When I achieved my Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geography back in the early 80's, we were going GREEN then....and really not a whole lot has changed since, BUT IT IS NOW !  Back then, we talked about the melting of the polar ice cap due to dramatic climate change......and now were living it.  Hence, the GREEN shift, the race to do all things "friendly" for the environment.  Traditionally, paper manufacturing has had a hugely negative effect on the environment. The process involves deforestation, huge amounts of energy usage, bleaching chemistry, waste bi-products, and harmful emissions both on land and in the air.  The short story is that the sleeping giants of the paper industry woke up and said "hey, the world wants us to clean up our act" .......has set out to do so.....and is finding that doing things right and doing the right things......is good for business.

As a self publisher there are many ways to sell your books. No matter what, if your goal is to sell books, have a plan before you go to print.   A veteran publisher friend of mine, with over 40 years of communications and publishing experience taught me a number of valuable lessons about selling books.   I've shared them with many people that have reported positive results.