Category Archives: Self-Publishing

Jason Boog – The First Word on the Book Publishing Industry

Yvonne Rose – Writing and Publishing African American Books

On April 6th 2012, Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Yvonne Rose, Associate Publisher and Senior Editor at Amber Communications Group, Inc. Ms. Rose began her stint at Amber Books in 1998 as the co-author of the Company’s flagship title, the national bestseller, Is Modeling for You? The Handbook and Guide for the Young Aspiring Black Model. Yvonne Rose was appointed to head Quality Press and has turned a few thousands of Self-Published authors manuscripts into completed books. She spoke with us a wide-range of issues relating to African-American authors specifically and publishing in general

Writing for African American culture
Publishing hurdles of African American books
Target marketing to African American community
Writing cross-culture book – mixed race books
African American any different than other cultures?
Getting the characters right for the culture
Importance of covers depicting African American content

Yvonne Rose

She recently published Ageless Beauty: The Ultimate Skincare and Makeup Book for Women and Teens of Color. (Amber Books). As the Director of Quality Press, Yvonne and her team of editors, designers and printers, oversee the editing, design/layout, registration and manufacturing of every self-published author’s books. She also consults with the authors regarding their marketing, production, promotional, distribution and publicity goals.Yvonne has ghost-written and co-written several top selling non-fiction titles, including: Natural Radiance: A Guide for Ethnic Skin Care (Global Skin Solutions Publishing) by Pamela Springer; Fighting for Your Life: The African American Criminal Justice Survival Guide (Amber Books) by John Elmore, Esq.; Led by the Spirit: A Sharecropper’s Son Tells His Story of Love, Happiness, Success and Survival (Strickland Books) by Robuster Strickland; Let Them Play…The Story of the MGAA (MGAA Books) by John David and A Journey that Matters: Your Personal Living Legacy (Lyceum Group Books) by Erline Belton. She is currently ghostwriting books for two high-profile personalities – retired Arizona Cardinal, Levvar Fisher, and WBLS New York Radio / Television host and personality Doctor Bob Lee.

Ageless Beauty: The Ultimate Skincare and Makeup Guide for Women and Teens of Color

Listen to the PodCast!

Ruby Dee – Writing and Self-publishing Cookbooks

1 Reply

On March 14th, 2012 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with singer, songwriter, restaurateur, and entrepreneur Ruby Dee Philippa. She is the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated high-octane roots and rockabilly act Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers. Previously, Ruby owned three successful restaurants in Seattle, Washington, until she finally “settled down” as a musician in Austin, Texas, where she lives today. Her book, Ruby’s Juke Joint Americana Cookbook, is a veritable feast of down-home recipes meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. She shared delicious tidbits of hard-earned wisdom on self-publishing cookbooks from conception to sales and marketing:

How far along was I when I began shopping the book around
Where did I go first- agents? Publishers? What was the trail that I followed
What sort of replies did I get?
What sort of deal did I end up making?
- what was included in the deal (printing, distribution, publicity?)
- who owns the rights to the manuscript
As a self published deal, did the publisher cover anything or was it all out of pocket?
what expenses can one expect to pay for this type of deal?
What are the mechanics of integrating a bound-in music CD with a book?
Am I happy with the outcome?

Raised in both the Northern California foothill ranches and the cotton and oil fields of the Texas panhandle, Ruby has worked on fishing boats in Alaska, lived in South America, and toured most of the United States as well as Europe. Her travels have inspired her devotion to Americana culture, which celebrates the melting pot heritage of the United States.

Ruby Dee Philippa

Ruby's Juke Joint Americana Cookbook

Listen to the PodCast!

JC Simonds – How to Start a Publishing Company

2 Replies

On December 1st, 2011 Susan Violante and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with publisher and marketing guru Jacqueline Church (“JC”) Simonds. She is the co-owner of Beagle Bay, Inc, a book packaging and distribution company. Jacqueline is also the author of the historical novel Captain Mary, Buccaneer. We went back to basics for this episode and touched on all the fundamentals you need, including:

Self-Publishing = Entrepreneurship. Can you handle the business or do you need a partner?
Publishing is a $3 TRILLION a year, global business. Are you ready to compete?
Most new publishers are woefully lacking in knowledge about the book business.
Should you go for a “Doing Business As” (dba) or incorporate?
How many ISBNs should you buy – 1? 10? 1000
Understand the new business models of Print on Demand (POD) + distribution, eBooks, and offset printing.
Marketing = Sales. How do you plan to reach your reader/buyer in the first few months, and from then on?

Jacqueline Church Simonds

Jacqueline is a book shepherd, assisting self-publishers and start-up presses in launching their businesses. Much of her knowledge about publishing can be found at the Creative Minds Press site New Self-Publisher’s FAQIn Captain Mary, Buccaneer, Simonds has crafted an enduring tale that will satisfy readers with its swashbuckling action, dark intrigue, and torrid romance. The book is the result of Simonds’ extensive research into the pirate subculture of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries. From the tales of real women pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read who were tried for piracy in Spanishtown, Jamaica in 1721, Simonds has created a character who would be as at home on Wall Street as she is on the heaving deck of an 18th century brigantine. If you enjoy curling up in your favorite chair with a great adventure story, then this book is for you!