To Do, To Do, To Do!

It's early morning and I'm working on some paperwork for our publishing program in the next year. We sent a book layout for proofreading yesterday and we have a couple more queries from new authors that I need to respond to before the day is out.

Also on our To Do list for the next few weeks and months:
- send the approved layout to the printer, check and approve the proof, etc.
- choose one of two companies we've settled on to help us get some of our titles converted to e-books
- make sure our non-fiction book layouts are up to date with the latest information before conversion to e-books
- choose which photos to incorporate and which to leave out of the e-book layouts, and make those changes
- make more inquiries of American publishers and distributors and at least one other jurisdiction to see if they will take a couple of our titles under their banner
- send some photos of recent book launches and signing events to the authors and others involved in those events
- fine-tune our strategy for upcoming trade shows and signings
- check in with our authors on their availability for promotion and signings in the next while
- Tweet about some upcoming events and see what else is going on in that 'universe'
- work through the 'learning curve' of a new accounting software program
- send contracts to a couple of new authors and illustrators
- talk with an illustrator about our hopes for a new book
- sneak in a little vacation and spend some time enjoying the summer in the company of loved ones

Whew!

Everyone Has a Story

Everybody has a story. Some are just more interesting than others.

I recently spoke with an elderly woman who ordered a book from us but also wanted advice on how to finish her own memoirs. “My son keeps asking about what it was like growing up on the farm, so I thought I’d write it down for him.”

These were my answers to some of her questions:

 -        Yes, Microsoft Word is a good program to use to write your memoirs.

 -        Saving your document/manuscript on your computer and backing it up on a memory stick every time you make changes is a very wise move. To make sure that I always work on the latest version, I add today’s date to the end of my document's name when I save it. You might end up with a lot of versions but at least you’ll quickly see which one is the most recent.

-        Yes, we advise anyone who is interested in publishing a book to utilize the services of a professional editor and layout designer. A do-it-yourself project rarely ends up being or looking professional. If you want people to buy your story, a professional look is essential.

-        It is expensive to print only a handful of copies, so think through your options. Decide early on what you want to accomplish by writing your book. Let that goal guide you throughout the process.

Everyone has a story. Even if you never publish your book, take the time to write down your stories. You will be pleased that you did and the next generation will be grateful to you.

So there you go – some of my thoughts on how to publish your story.

We love documenting memories and history. Thanks for asking.

Here are some great books of memoirs that we have published and are available on our web site:

          

Cancer survivor - book signings in Ontario

Seven-time cancer survivor Dionne Warner was interviewed on CTV's Canada AM today about her story and the Never Leave Your Wingman book. It was wonderful.

One woman's incredible story
of conquering cancer seven times

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/clip697136#clip696760

I am so pleased that I approached Dionne and Graham in 2009 to ask them to allow me to write their story in a book. I am extra pleased (is there such a thing?) that Dionne has travelled back to Toronto, the city where she was born, to further share her story of hope and the wonderful support she found in her wingman, her husband Graham.

This is her schedule of book signings for the next few days. Please stop by and say hello. You will not be sorry that you met this remarkable, strong survivor.

Tuesday, June 12, 6 pm to 9 pm - Indigo Erin Mills Town Centre, 5015 Glen Erin Dr, Mississauga, ON

Wednesday, June 13, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm - Indigospirit Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON

Thursday, June 14, 5 pm to 8 pm - Chapters Stone Road Mall, Guelph, ON

Friday, June 15, 5 pm to 8 pm - Indigo Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON

New hope, New books & More

Seven-time cancer survivor Dionne Warner
speaking to a provincial palliative care conference

We've had a wonderful but busy few days in our little publishing company. On Thursday, we went to Moose Jaw with seven-time cancer survivor Dionne Warner, to watch her inspire a palliative care conference audience with her story of hope and laughter - including sharing tales of the antics of her wingman, her fun-loving husband Graham. Then we sold some books, of course.

Dionne Warner received another well-deserved standing ovation!

Friday saw us signing a contract with a Saskatchewan author to help tell her story about the beginnings of a specialized local institution, while also working on the layout of another book - an interesting memoir about someone's career (can't tell you details yet - it would spoil the surprise!).

On Saturday, we continued layout work and packed for Sunday's trip to Saskatoon, to launch Egg Money, A Tribute to Saskatchewan Pioneer Women. That was a fun time! We've been working with the Saskatoon German Days Committee for more than a year on this book project that celebrates all pioneer women through the stories of 24 women who settled in Saskatchewan in the 1800s and early 1900s. We worked with the 24 families, who wrote the biographies, and we were happy to hear the compliments and gratefulness from many of them as they opened up the book at the launch to see the stories of their loved ones preserved for all to enjoy.

Reading the back cover of Egg Money

Some of the people behind the Egg Money book:

Seated left to right: Saskatoon German Days Book Committee members Barbara Stehwien, Brigitte Boldt-Leppin, Rosa Gebhardt & Barbara Hoggard-Lulay
Standing left to right: Sculptors Shirley & Don Begg, Saskatchewan German Council President Ilona Beck, Editor/Publisher Deana Driver, Publisher Al Driver

And we're delighted to have spent today packaging Never Leave Your Wingman books to send to bookstores literally from coast to coast. Oh - didn't we tell you? Cancer survivor Dionne Warner will be interviewed on CTV's Canada AM in Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 11 at 8 a.m. EST!

She'll share some of how she successfully fought cancer seven times - but most of all, she'll share her story of staying positive, keeping a sense of humour and fighting back to show cancer who's boss! We are so excited to share this remarkable woman's story - and that of her strong, supportive wingman Graham - with many, many more readers across this great country of ours. The world needs a little more hope when dealing with this plague called cancer and we believe Dionne Warner - named by the American Cancer Society to be an International Heroes of Hope Ambassador this year - is one of the best people to help lead the way.

Life is great!