‘Bev and her team have been outstanding in supporting me to publish my book Lead the Future. She made the process of editing, typesetting and publishing seamless.’

 

Jessica Schubert, Executive Coach, Intact Teams

Book Production Services

& Book Marketing Support

for non-fiction authors who are self-publishing

Project Management ♦ Editing ♦ Design

 Print & Ebook Production ♦ Online Distribution

Marketing Support

 

 

(If you have arrived here via www.bevryanpublish.com, welcome. This is now our main site.)
 
Smart Women Publish is an Australian self-publishing service
for business & professional women who are also becoming independent non-fiction authors.
We manage your editing, book cover design and page layout; 
and set up print and e-book options with international distribution channels. 
Book marketing support is now available. 
 
 
 
We set up everything in YOUR name,
so you own all of your publishing assets,
and 100% of your sales are paid directly to YOU.
 
You never lose control of your book,
and you are not locked into any ongoing arrangements.
 
Book marketing support before, during and/or after you publish is now available – 
you have several packages to choose from.    

 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO ‘BOOK PRODUCTION SERVICES’ (below)  

for details of the services we deliver.

How it works

Book marketing

Begin with a marketing checklist, then decide what support you need to promote & sell your book.

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Edit your manuscript

We prime and polish your words in a two-step editing process, with your input and final approval.

Design your book

First comes your customised book cover. Your classy page layout that reflects your cover style comes next.

Publish your book

Once quality checked, we arrange print copies and set up global distribution channels for print-on-demand & e-books. 

We craft a book you are proud to share with the world.

Your book is a very public statement of your professionalism and purpose.

It MUST contain carefully planned, well-structured and expertly edited content.

The design of your cover and layout MUST say ‘classy’, no matter which style you choose.

                        We work with authors of the following types of books:

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Business & Leadership

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Memoir / Self-help mix

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Career & Personal development

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How-to & Education

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Motivation & Inspiration

Bev Ryan is your one point of contact as your book production manager,

and brings these attributes to your project:

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A natural manager with 18+ years in publishing, who is organised, efficient, warm and responsive, and accountable

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Ensures quality outcomes for clients by engaging an experienced, professionally qualified team of freelance editors & designers who love working with non-fiction books

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Delighted to explore quality, creative design options with authors who are open to ideas rather than dictating their preconceived notions that may lessen the quality of the book

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Calm and objective, keeping a level head, and meeting obligations and realistic deadlines

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Able to see others’ points of view and identify the best way forward, acceptable to all parties

Bev will ensure your self-publishing project is uncomplicated, calm,

professional, and customised to you and your book.

 

Would you like to see a breakdown of the steps involved in the book production process?

Click the button below to download ‘AUTHOR PACKAGE’, a 13-page pdf

which includes the 9 steps in the path to being published.

About working with Bev

FINALIST – 2021 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (Business: Personal Finance/Investing Category): ‘When I handed over my manuscript to Bev, I didn’t know how much work was involved behind the scenes, although I thought I understood the publishing process from my research. After I started working with Bev, I realised how beneficial it was to work with a professional and an experienced person like her to help me effectively navigate through the process.’

–HELEN NAN, Certified Financial Planner and author of ‘Your Best Life‘

FINALIST – 2021 AUSTRALIAN CAREER BOOK AWARDS: ‘Honestly, I could never have come up with this final product by myself. If you have ever considered writing your book, I would thoroughly recommend getting in touch with Bev to help you with taking your idea from your head to a printed book, with global distribution.’
WARREN JAMES, Career Performance Coach and author of ‘Further Faster’

WINNER – GLOBAL BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD 2017 (Business category): ‘Bev Ryan was a godsend when I published my first book, ‘Rules of Social Engagement’. Bev listened carefully to what I wanted, then guided me effortlessly through the process; delivering both on budget and on schedule, a fabulous final product. I would highly recommend Bev Ryan, and won’t hesitate to use her services for my next book!’
PHILIPPA SPORK, Business Strategist

BOOK PRODUCTION SERVICES

OPEN the following sections to find out more about each component of our book production & international online distribution services, plus print-on-demand set-up. 

We also offer variations to that full package – so let’s talk about your book!

 

PREPARATION FOR AUTHOR LIFE & BOOK MARKETING

To begin, we go through a book marketing/business checklist with you, so you can prepare for the business side of our book while we work on the production. There will be things on that list you already have in place; there will be things we can assist you with; and others that require outside expertise. The list includes things such as messaging, book website, email marketing system, author profile, book marketing blurb & images, author photos, speaker sheet, media sheet … and more.

PLUS, for orders over $2000, we will gift you a copy of ‘Your First 1000 Copies – the step-by-step guide to marketing your book‘ by Tim Grahl, a respected book marketing coach and consultant. For over a decade he has worked with top authors and creatives including Daniel H. Pink, Barbara Corcoran, Hugh MacLeod, Hugh Howey, Chip and Dan Heath, and many more. He has run the campaigns to launch dozens of bestselling books and built and sold two companies.

EDITING

On commencement, the editor reviews the complete manuscript and provides a sample edit of 3 to 5 pages, plus general feedback on any major structural issues and/or further requirements.

If the author is happy with the editor’s approach, the editor performs a comprehensive edit, with four stages:

  1.   Editor makes first sweep of changes through the manuscript, with comments, questions, suggestions, notes and tracked changes.
  2.   Author reviews the editor’s suggestions and improves the manuscript where required, then returns it to the editor.
  3.   Editor makes second and final sweep through the whole manuscript, to complete their edit.
  4.   Author reviews the final manuscript and agrees it is ready for layout to commence, or makes further changes, which are checked again.

 

A comprehensive edit includes THESE three components:

  • Substantive editing (sometimes called structural or content editing) ensures that the structure, content, language, style and presentation of the document are suitable for its intended purpose and readership.
  • Copyediting aims to achieve accuracy, clarity and consistency of language in a document.
  • Proofreading: The document is checked and prepared for publishing. This includes ensuring all elements are included and in the proper order; all amendments have been inserted; the set style has been followed; and all spelling or punctuation errors have been corrected.

 

BOOK COVER DESIGN

The author completes our Book Cover Design Brief to begin this stage, and the designer then provides a selection of front cover concepts, based on the brief, as a starting point.

Based on author’s feedback, front cover designs are reviewed and re-worked until the preferred option is decided. This quote includes two design rounds of concepts, then revisions of one or two preferred concepts until the final design is reached. (Excessive rounds of major changes may incur extra costs because of the added designer time involved.)

We purchase ISBNs and barcode in author’s name. (This cost is NOT included in this bundle – see ‘CHARGES’ below.)

Full cover designs for print & e-book are then finalised. Assistance with back cover blurb provided if required.

Full cover design is checked and approved by the author.

PAGE LAYOUT

Interior design options are presented, based on the front cover style, then revised to determine preferred internal style.

Once the editing is finalised, the interior layout is completed, checked and updated inhouse, then provided to author for checking.

Author changes are instigated and checked inhouse again.

ADVANCED READER COPIES (ARCs) - OPTIONAL

We can help you to send Advanced Reader Copies out at this stage. They will be protected by disclaimers and clear notices that this is not the final version of your book. You can request reviews, let media contacts and podcasters etc know that you are available to speak about the book, and spread the word about your coming book further than you could possibly do on your own. This adds 3 weeks to the publishing schedule. You can also adjust your book files at this stage if someone spots a problem and tells you in their review.

PRE-PRESS PROOFREADING

Cover and page layout are proofread again after page layout has been completed. This includes layout components, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Corrections are made to the final files.

With author approval, print-ready book cover and page files are prepared for the printer in required format.

PRINT-ON-DEMAND BOOK & E-BOOK PUBLISHING

IngramSpark enables self-publishing authors to easily access global print book and e-book distribution.

IngramSpark is the largest wholesaler of print books in the world. They have about 40,000 retail partners, consisting of online retailers including Amazon, physical booksellers, library suppliers, other wholesalers, and institutions.

They also distribute e-books to Amazon, Apple, and the 20 other online retailers, including Booktopia.

They are a print company too. You can log in and order your own stock of books at print cost as you need them. Order as few or as many at a time as you require

You can also take orders for your book online or in person, and use IngramSpark to fulfill and despatch those orders at the click of a button.

We set up your author account with Ingram Spark in your name – you retain 100% ownership of account, files, and all ensuing book sales revenue.

PRINT BOOKS

We upload your print files to IngramSpark and order one or more proof copies, to be checked again before printing a large order. If there are still some corrections needed, we update the files and upload them to IngramSpark again, to replace the former ones. 

Your book is then enabled for distribution through their channels. 

You can also order bulk copies of your print book at this point. (NOTE: This print cost is NOT included in our fee. We manage this for you, and give you flexibility with the number of books you purchase.)

 

E-BOOKS

We then convert your book layout files to e-book format, ready for upload to IngramSpark.

Your e-book is set up for global distribution to Amazon, Apple, Book Depository, Booktopia, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and other outlets.

BOOK MARKETING SUPPORT

After a marketing consultation, you can choose from this full suite of book marketing support options:

  1. Goal setting to provide clear focus and ensure you understand your objectives in detail
  2. Marketing planning to integrate your business and book marketing efforts to create maximum impact for both
  3. Visioning exercises to understand where, why and how your book fits with your larger calling
  4. Custom book marketing plans to sell more books, maximise your impact, and accomplish specific goals
  5. Book, Business, and Personal Branding support to ensure continuity and consistency across all channels
  6. Ideal reader profiling so that you intimately understand your reader and how to reach and sell to them
  7. Social and community building supports to build compelling social profiles and build the growing communities required to amplify your success
  8. Ongoing marketing consultations to ensure you’re on it and setting yourself up for success every step of the way
  9. Individual promotion/marketing campaign creation to achieve specific results – from pre-order campaigns, to your big launch, to new markets campaigns that get results
  10. DIY tools to equip you with the insight required to create marketing success. These include tip sheets, worksheets, templates, guides, etc. for when you’d rather do it for yourself.
OTHER CHARGES

So that you, the author, retain ownership and access to your own accounts and files, the following charges are applied directly to your card when we manage this process for you:

—  ISBN and Barcode (Cheapest option is AUD$133 for a bundle of 10 ISBNs + 1 barcode. New account set-up fee is AUD$55.)

—  IngramSpark set-up costs for print (USD$49) and e-book (USD$25); advertising in their global catalogue (USD$85); and all printing costs (see their online calculator here).

 

ON CONCLUSION

Once your book has been lodged with IngramSpark, and final payment is received, all book files become the property of the author.

We also provide support to our authors by sharing their work in social media and in our newsletters, and by making referrals, introductions and recommendations when we can.

OTHER SERVICES

Ongoing editing services are available to our authors for their blog posts, website updates, marketing material, articles, etc. ($60/hr)

We can also assist you with an author website and other material in preparation for book marketing.

RECOMMENDATIONS

While writing your book, or during editing, arrange a professional photoshoot so you have a selection of high quality images to use on the back of your book or in it; on your author website; in your speaking and media kits; and for various other opportunities as they arise.

Become a member of the Australian Society of Authors to access members’ benefits, including the opportunity to apply for a book distribution arrangement with John Reed Books.

 

I work in partnership with you as I bring your book to life.

The quality of your content and design matters most. 

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When you work with me, you will have just one point of contact, and I will collaborate closely with you to expertly manage the production of your book.

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You will be safely guided through the ins and outs of self-publishing, knowing that I provide quality control, and expertly manage the editing (if required), design and production team working on your book.

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Your book will be produced by an expert team. I have a close relationship with several preferred freelance editors and graphic designers with many years of experience in the publishing industry, who I select to work on clients’ books, ensuring you do not have a long wait in a production queue.

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All informed final decisions will be yours. You can relax and focus on what you do best, knowing that we will bring your manuscript to life and make your best book happen.

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You retain full ownership of all IP, book files, and all profit from sales.

I am very proud to be one of the publishing professionals in Australia invited from 2019 to 2021 to join the judging panel for the annual Australian Business Book Awards.

I do know what makes a quality book and I am delighted to work with authors who set a high benchmark for their own work.