About Joel

Joel Friedlander, proprietor:

I’ve written extensively about my background in printing, graphic design, typography and book publishing in my Publishing Timeline. Dating back to the early 1970s I’ve worked on letterpress, offset and digital printing.

book design, book designer, self-publishing

Making up letterpress forms, the Renaissance Press, 1978

If you would like to have me work on your project, check out my Hire Me! page for information on what I do and how I charge for it. I’m always developing new ways to get your books into print, and I have some exciting products and services for self-publishers coming in the next few months.

Biking the Flume Trail, Lake Tahoe, California

I began Marin Bookworks to provide high-quality, refined typographic design to book publishers at reasonable prices. I find the work I enjoy most is entering into a collaborative partnership with other professionals to bring a book project to completion in such a way that everyone takes pride in the outcome. When the book is in the author’s hand, that feeling of satisfaction is what I work for.

With EM Ginger at BAIPA, January 2010 (photo PHendricks)

I’m very excited about the changes going on in the publishing industry and the democratizing effect of new technologies on an ancient business. The world of print book publishing is in what may be apocalyptic change, and the world of ebook publishing is in its infancy.

commonwealth club of california self-publishing lee foster

On the Panel with Lee Foster at The Commonwealth Club, April 2010 (photo MFriedlander)

When I’m not working on books I enjoy cooking for my family, baking, and mountain biking in glorious Marin County. We have an active community of writers, artists, publishers and other creatives who make the area very congenial for the kind of work I do.

al weber, photography books, joel friedlander, self-publishing

Planning a book with master photographer Al Weber in Carmel, 2009 (photo TMillea)

As we move toward the new age of book publishing, the challenges on writers, publishers, designers and engineers are awesome. We’re creating a new world as we move into the future of publishing. The social media revolution is, at the same time, bringing us into closer contact with like-minded people.