Mennonite Press is a high-quality, affordable solution for getting your book professionally self-published. We offer a unique partnership with authors wherein we assist you with publishing your book. See our complete service list below and judge for yourself!
Consultation
We are here to help you every step of the way. Becoming a self-publisher is a gratifying venture that allows you to wear the hat of print-buyer, marketing planner and, very often, warehousing and distribution manager as well. The exciting part is maintaining control of editing, design, and production decisions; the rewarding part is not sharing the profits; the fulfilling part is presenting your content firsthand to audiences that can directly benefit by your research and experiences. Very often the daunting part is making business decisions that will package your writings in an affordable and successful way to reach that audience. You will work one-on-one with a designated consultant to ensure that all your questions are answered.
Copy Editing
Thorough editing and proofreading is a key component toward the success of your book. It is important to keep your readers engaged by not diverting their attention with grammatical errors and plot inconsistencies. A copy editor will thoroughly edit for spelling, word usage, grammar, sentence structure, redundancy, and consistency. Your assigned editor will adhere by the standards of the Chicago Manual of Style and offer you a file with “marked edits” for your approval. Every author needs it, yet self-editing a book is nearly impossible. Even bestselling authors would never dream of attempting it. Hiring an experienced book editor is often the best investment you can make for your book, and your writing career.
E-Book Conversion
Many authors reach a wider audience by offering an E-Book version of their book. Our technicians can successfully convert your print-Ready files to digital format for E-Book. eBook formatting is a standard design process that turns your text and images into an attractive layout for readers to enjoy. It’s similar to printed book interior design and formatting, but focuses solely on your book in the digital space. Standard formatting for eBooks (ePub and .mobi) feature a dynamic, re-flowable layout for text and images to make sure your eBook looks great when viewed on every size and shape eReader, mobile device and tablet. Today’s readers hold their eBooks to the same standards as printed books, making it more important than ever to showcase a professionalism with your eBook that translates across any popular mobile device or eReader, like the Kindle, Nook, or iPad.
Cover Design
Cover design is key to the success of your book. A great cover design is your best sales tool. It is critical that it be eye-catching and also portray the essence of what your book is about. Our artists will welcome your input and want to know your tastes and the purpose of your book. The graphics will be designed to both grab the reader’s attention and convey the subject of the book. Your book cover is custom designed to professionally present your book’s themes and who you are as an author. A striking cover is especially critical in the realm of E-Books where there are only seconds to grab a purchaser’s attention. Learn More
Page Layout
A well-formatted and designed book is critical to your success as an author. Even though you worked hard on your manuscript, it may not get the attention it deserves without professional formatting. Organizing your manuscript into chapters with decorative headings, assigning font style and size, margins, paragraphs, fitting photos or illustrations, and page endings all work together to complete a professionally designed book. Our goal is to provide a seamless reading experience and build your reputation as an author.
Illustration
Children’s books, especially, are dependent on the color and action portrayed in the illustrations. We will match you with an artist that will create the style that best matches your story and your intended audience. You can help select the style based on examples of their work in previous Mennonite Press books.
Author Website
Your website can be a very effective selling tool and help your book reach a wider audience. We will create a customized website for your book(s). This site will be hosted by Mennonite Press Inc. and will include your cover design, synopsis of your book, promotional copy, and how to order, including PayPal for easy and safe transactions.
Book Registration
Mennonite Press can, as your agent, obtain a Library of Congress Control Number, and will add it to the copyright page of your book. This is a nice service as a copy of your book is kept on permanent inter-library loan at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. The Copyright application is completely optional. It is actually a legal copyright to print in the book “Copyright 2020 by_____“. Only if you anticipate infringements or even care if there are would we advise to go ahead and register it. By your financial arrangement with Mennonite Press a lawyer can verify that you had a copyright in place at the time your book was printed. We can assist you in ordering ISBN numbers which is the number found embedded in the barcode on your back cover. We will also add this to the copyright page and order the barcode with price addendum for the back cover. An ISBN is not required to sell your book however they are recommended because many bookstores require them. A separate ISBN is assigned for each type of binding and for an E-Book.
Digital Printing
Mennonite Press offers digital printing for competitive prices on books in small quantities. Full-color books were not an option for self-publishers cost-wise prior to the advent of digital printing. We frequently produce a digital book in small quantities and after the author has developed a market do a reprint on the larger presses. Conversely, an author may print a thousand books and come back 5 years later and need only 50 or 100.
Offset Printing
Books with larger print runs will be printed in our offset department. As a rule, books with black text only will be cheaper per book than digital printing in quantities of 2,500 or more. Books with full color throughout will require a run of 5,000 or more to justify offset printing. If you wish your book to be hardbound smythsewn, it must have folded signatures and be done on the larger presses.
Finishing
By far the most popular binding for our books is Perfect Binding, which is often called soft cover. We also offer PUR Perfect Binding for books that have coated paper and require Polyurethane adhesive. Saddle Stitched binding is used for booklets and thinner books. Plastic Coil and Wir-O binding is often used for recipe books and workbooks. Top of the line is hard binding, and the choices are Smyth-sewn, side sewn, and PUR Glued case. We will advise you on the best choice to help your book succeed in the marketplace.
Marketing
Many of our authors select a brochure or postcard or bookmark portraying their cover and promotional information, including how to order. You may also opt to be listed on the Mennonite Press Bookstore. It is then found on our website and on the search engine for published materials, ISSUU. Our Bookstore displays very professionally your cover & sample “turning” pages plus a synopsis written by you and your order information. What authors do to make good use of the Bookstore is to put out an email campaign announcing their new release and add the URL address for their book. You may also add it to your FaceBook and website. Check what other authors are doing in our “Buy a Book” section.
Warehousing & Delivery
When your book is completed, there is no additional charge to drop-ship to up to 10 different locations. We do not charge packaging or handling, only the actual cost of USPS or FedEx Ground delivery. We also offer a long-term plan to store your books by the case or by the pallet in our warehouse and send out orders as they come in from you for your customers and replenish your supply one carton at a time.