Anyone who has actually had a book published, please read.

[S. Barker]

First off let me start by saying I know nothing about writing or publishing
so bear with me.

A friend of mine has a book shes written and wants to get it published.
It's what i'd call a dramatized biography of her biological mothers life.
In making small talk with her, i told her my wife wanted to do some
illustrations for it and also do the cover. She informed me that #1. "only
childrens books have illustrations. And #2. The authors never have any
input as to what the covers look like.

Do either of these statements jive with what is reality? Obviously I know
the answer to #1. But i have no idea about #2.

Do tell.

thanks

steve barker

[Stella Abzug]

In article <EIidnYwIWrq0Unra...@giganews.com>,
"S. Barker" <ichase...@coldmail.com> wrote:

If your friend is attempting to get a trade publisher to publish her
book, she is correct that an author, especially a first-time author, has
little, if any, say regarding the production of the book or any design
related factors.

Book covers generally are based on photographs, but sometimes may have
an illustrated cover. These are best done by professional book cover
designers -- there are marketing factors to consider beyond the
aesthetic aspects. (I'd turn your wife down, too... at least without a
lot of supervision from an experienced cover designer.)

That said, if your friend is being published with a "self publishing
company" (actually a subsidy publisher) where your friend will be
putting up the funds to pay for the production (or delivering a typeset
and finished book to the "publisher") -- then she would have a lot of
leeway in the design related aspects of the book -- but, using a subsidy
publisher is like shooting yourself in the foot just as you start to run
a marathon. If a book has any real market potential, a subsidy publisher
is best avoided.

If a trade publisher (after a year or two of effort trying to find one--
that is submission to at least 50 agents/publishers) can't be found,
then your friend might be interested in true self publishing, perhaps
with the assistance of a book coach to help her through the process.

[S. Barker]

Thanks for the reply.

steve

"Stella Abzug" <ab...@soda.pop.com> wrote in message
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