Last month I was honored to be asked to appear on a panel discussion self-publishing at the Commonwealth Club of California. Put together by Kevin O’Malley of the Commonwealth Club with Paula Hendricks, past president of BAIPA, the series was called Self-Publishing: Tutorials from the Trenches.
The three evening presentations each brought together experts in various aspects of independent publishing for the sole purpose of educating people interested enough to come out to the sessions. The Commonwealth Club is one of the most active civic centers in San Francisco, with a steady flow of presentations, speakers from the worlds of books, politics, entertainment and the arts.
The sessions on self-publishing were very well attended, and the Club made audio recordings of each session. I think these recordings are pretty valuable if you’re beginning on a journey leading to publication. In a short time you’ll get to hear from lots of people who’ve walked that road, and that’s got to be helpful.
Here are the program notes for the series and each session, with the podcasts you can stream from this page, or download for your own use.
The Programs
Self-Publishing – Tutorials from the Trenches
Commonwealth Club of California
Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves à and succeeded.
Program 1—Options, Directions and Resources
What does it take to publish a book, and how do you choose which route to follow? Discover your options, from traditional to cooperative to true self-publishing, with industry experts who’ve done it themselves.
Lisa Alpine, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Co-author, Self-Publishing Boot Camp Workbook
Peter Beren, Literary Agent; Publishing Consultant; Author, The Writer’s Legal Companion
Carla King, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Social Media Consultant; Author, Miss Adventuring Series
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales—Moderator
This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 6, 2010
Podcast: Options, Directions and Resources
(Right click the link to save the podcast, or click the play button below to listen.)
Program 2 – The Nuts and Bolts of Making Books
What goes into making a book truly a book? What are the essentials of editing and page layout – and how can they make or break you? Learn from an insider panel of experts about the critical design and production of your book and the ins and outs of available formats, from traditional to e-books and apps.
Lee Foster, Owner, Foster Travel Publishing; Author, The Photographer’s Guide to San Francisco
Joel Friedlander, Proprietor, Marin Bookworks; Blogger, TheBookDesigner.com
V. Vale, Publisher, RE/Search Publications; Founder, Search and Destroy
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales—Moderator
This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 12, 2010.
Podcast: The Nuts and Bolts of Making Books
(Right click the link to save the podcast, or click the play button below to listen.)
Program 3 – Book Sales and Marketing
Bookstores are closing; newspaper book reviews are almost gone; and online options can be overwhelming. What’s an author or publisher to do?
Scott James, Columnist, The New York Times; Author (aka Kemble Scott), SoMa, The Sower
Elizabeth Block, Author, A Gesture Through Time; Recipient, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation Fiction Fellowship
Teresa LeYung Ryan, Author, Love Made of Heart, Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales
This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 19, 2010.
Podcast: Book Sales and Marketing
(Right click the link to save the podcast, or click the play button below to listen.)
Takeaway: Getting involved with self-publishing means you will need to get up to speed on numerous aspects of the book publishing business. Learning from experienced professionals can shorten your learning curve considerably.
Photos: Max Friedlander
