Up, Up and Away! Worth Rising For!

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There was  a sight to behold in Steamboat Springs, CO this morning. This weekend is the 29th Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo!

Folks came from everywhere to watch this beautiful event at 6 am in the morning.  Some balloonists came from as far away as Florida, Iowa and California to participate. There were 32 balloons in all. Can’t wait till tomorrow to see more of the action!

Also, happening on site was one of the Dallas Cowboys’  cheerleaders participating in a photo shoot for their annual calendar.

There is so much to do in Steamboat Springs, CO in summertime. I am not sure what to do this afternoon. Perhaps a visit to the Arts in the Parks event. This evening I think we will take a picnic dinner and see what the American Laughingstock Theatre has to offer.  I don’t know though, there are quite a number of other events that sound pretty darn enticing.

 I would like to try that hot air ballooning stuff someday. I wouldn’t be afraid! And while I am at it, maybe we will take some of our client’s independent book and DVD orders and deliver them personally. After all, we do ship with all major carriers. Perhaps shipping via hot air balloon would be more economical. Maybe our postmaster would like to come along for a ride.

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Comin’ Down the Track

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Traditionally published writers are jumping the track and heading down the road toward independent publishing. It is not that their manuscripts aren’t good and can not be accepted by traditional publishing houses. Quite the contrary!  They have established themselves as creditable writers and already have  a following. They just want to try the independent publishing route this time around.

My advice to this group of writers is not to jump the track completely. Continue having an outside source assist you with marketing, order fulfillment  and distribution of your publication. There are lots freelance professionals that can help you with those aspects of the process.

The “to do” list is long enough for writers. Don’t think you can engineer the entire publishing process on your own. Surely, you do not want a train wreck!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Printing and Binding Matters

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For the independent publisher or self-publishing author, there is alot to be learned. The path to success includes not only writing a great publication but making good choices along the way regarding the entire publishing process.

One decision to be faced will be a choice between digital or offset printing. Typically,  offset printing is most economical if you wish to have more than 1000 copies of your book printed. Other advantages include a greater range of paper choices, the image quality (pictures) is better and the page sizes are not as limited.

Digital printing is great for a short run of books (under 1,000), the turn around time tends to be much shorter and the complete process can be accomplished via the internet.

There are considerations for choices in book binding as well.  But,  most importantly, remember that if you have any intentions of seeing your book on the shelves of book stores and libraries, a perfect bound book is key.  Perfect bound books are prefered because they will stand up on shelves by themselves. The spines have the title and author’s name printed on it and is easily readable. Not the case with saddle stitched books, plastic  and wire comb bindings or plastic coil binding.

There is alot to be considered in the world of book printing and binding. Any quality book printing company can lead you down the path to making good choices,  however!

A Writer or Not?

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Many people ask me if I am a writer. I usually respond “no, but I own a business that supports writers.” Second question -“are you an artist?” Same response  “no, but I own a business that supports artists.”

The other day I stopped to think. I suppose I have become a writer in a sense. Blogging is a form of writing. And that is no easy task – to educate, inform and entertain. Just like any other writer, I have to come up with thoughts and ideas and then convey them through the written word. I also write for business – daily correspondence, prospecting letters, quotes with order fulfillment fees and services and I am the scribe for the CFS website www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Yes, I guess I can join the ranks and say I am a writer.

But, an artist? Most assuredly not!        Well – – I can knit!!!

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Writers, USA – Unite!

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I don’t mean to sound like a broken record on this blog subject. But, I think it is worth repeating!

Writers, let’s unite on Saturday mornings and all be on the same web page! Tune in to www.wnzf.com  “Cover to Cover” with Frank Gromling.   Broadcast times across America –

  • Eastern Standard Time       11:30 am
  • Central Standard Time       10:30 am
  • Mountain Standard Time    9:30 am
  • Pacific Standard Time          8:30 am

Every Saturday morning, that is right! Every Saturday morning! Frank promises to make each show well worth listening to!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Move Forward In Confidence

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Do your research and be informed. Many order fulfillment and distribution companies charge a hefty monthly minimum fee if your monthly sales volume does not meet their requirements.  Keep this in mind when  you are choosing an order fulfillment company.

Stop! Ask! And move forward when guided by knowledge.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

Climbing Mountains

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Many days, there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day to get it done. Everyone experiences that feeling! No one more so than independent publishers.  Writing is a business, publishing is a business and then there is the business side of both, too. Keeping track of your sales and inventory reports, maintaining a database of your customers purchasing your company’s publications, handling pro-forma invoices for trade and wholesale accounts, shipping orders. It all takes away from your task at hand of publishing. If you are a growing publishing company, you know exactly what I mean. 

Affordable order fulfillment companies for independent publishers are available to help with the business and shipping side of your publishing company. What would it mean if you could really focus just on the tasks of  publishing?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

The Arts – Enriching Lives!

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Over the weekend, I attended two cultural events – both musical in nature. One was a concert in “plein air” – out of doors on a beautiful Colorado evening in Steamboat Springs. It had been a long time since I had been to a concert of that kind – a stand up and dance kind of an affair! I enjoyed it because it was family friendly! Grandparents to toddlers could join in the fun, and they did!

The next evening, the setting was entirely different. I am a volunteer usher at Strings in the Mountains this summer. The new Strings Music Pavilion is gorgeous and even while inside, you can still see the great out-of-doors. The Strings Music Festival is host to Grammy award winning artists all summer long. Last night, I laughed till I cried at  “Four Bitchin’ Babes! ” Don’t let the name of the group offend you. There was nothing offensive about it – just pure fun and reflection on my own gender – women! The group gave a fun-lovin’  musical review of women’s quirks, frustrations and lives.

Even the men in the audience seemed to enjoy every moment.

I think more fun is in store for me this summer at Strings in the Mountains.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Rough and Ready

We ship our client’s independently published films and books all across the country, and all over the world, from sea to shining sea. This morning, an order will go out to an artist in New South Wales, Australia. Give me the name of a town, and I can probably tell you what state it it is in. I have seen them all.

A few years ago, we received an internet order and the shipping address was Rough and Ready.  Rough and Ready, California that is. I almost thought it was “junk mail”, an order from someone submitting a bogus address just because they had nothing better to do. So, I looked it up – sure enough, it was a real address and a real town! As it turns out, Rough and Ready, California is a mining town between Grass Valley and Penn Valley. If my memory serves me right, named by a bunch of Wisconsin goldminers that had gone out to California to seek their fortune.

Maybe someone ought to produce a film, a  western perhaps, on Rough and Ready, California.  Share it with those interested in seeing just what this Rough and Ready California is really all about!

Until I get to Rough and Ready myself, I will just have to look at the view out my window in Steamboat Springs, CO. It is a pretty nice place to be!

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Cover to Cover – New Radio Show

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Every Saturday Morning

Radio Show for Authors and Publishers

Tune in to www.wnzf.com

Listen on Line      11:30 am  Eastern Standard Time

                                   10:30 am  Central Time

                                     9:30 am  Mountain Time

                                     8:30 am Pacific Time

1/2 hour radio show filled with information on marketing your book, traditional vs. independent publishing, getting started in publishing, author’s role in book marketing, establishing your niche market and much more. Essential information to all publishers and authors. Listen in and learn!