Graphic Design & Layout with Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements (PE) is a program that is powerful enough to edit photographs for book publications. I began to wonder if it could be used to create graphics from scratch. The thought was prompted by many of my books containing not only photographs but also maps, charts, flow diagrams, etc.

A little bit of experimenting produced the graphic to the right. It is part of a Power Point presentation on how to get your manuscript published by a publishing house (a new course to be offered by COCC). The illustration depicts the process of going from an idea, to having a publishing house accept the manuscript, to the publishing process, with royalties being paid to the author.

The illustration is a series of clip art images that I found in MS Word and MS Power Point programs. I copied them, saving them as JPG files. Next, I opened a document in PE using the New command and sized the new page. Then, I began to place the graphics on the new page, using a new layer for each one.

The arrows are one of the options within PE. I used a new layer for each one. The most difficult part was making sure the arrows were about the same size.

I used the Text function of PE for the dollar signs, placing them on their own layer.

Lastly, I moved the items around until I was satisfied with the overall balance and saved the illustration as a JPG file.

Admittedly, it took awhile to get it right but it sure beat the heck out of buying yet another program.

Selling Books to Libraries
Thinking of selling your book to libraries? There are many of them, both in number and category: public, school, military, etc. However, there are several considerations that could slow the sales effort.

For example, libraries frequently prefer to order from only one or two companies, such as Baker & Taylor or Quality Books. Thus, their operating costs are reduced because they only need write one or two checks, rather than a multitude as would be the case when purchasing from many companies.

Another aspect of library sales is making sure your book fits within the library's scope. For example, is your book appropriate for a military library? Similarly, your book needs to fit within the school's grade levels and/or a particular curriculum area.

Lastly, libraries are keen on your book having an ISBN. However, they are not as stringent about Cataloging in Publication data or Library of Congress control numbers.

As always with self-publishing, know what you want to do with your book and to whom you want to sell it.

Press Releases: Same Old Writing Rules Apply
Before you write your press release, be sure to define who your audience is. Who are you targeting your message to? Make sure you call out to those people by defining them in your headline, sub-headings, and/or first paragraph. This...

How to Get More Blog AND Press Release Writing Ideas
We hear this often: I know I probably 'should' start a blog, but what will I write about? And it is true: if you don't have anything to say, don't start a blog. If you do start one, then be...

Advertising Your Book
Getting the word out about your book is the first step in increasing sales. Check out the following Internet-based resources.

The first is Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) at http://www.rtir.com/ This service is essentially a database of authors who are available for live and telephone interviews. A thrice-monthly magazine that is sent to about 4,000 on-air contacts, it broadens the geographic dimension of your advertising efforts. Fee.

Another similar resource focusing on television is found at http://www.freepublicity.com/getontoptv/?10019/. Free, as the name implies.

Lastly, be sure to check out http://www.prweb.com/ This service will forward your press release to business and corporation communications entities across the nation. Place your release within the appropriate category. Free and fee.

Newsletter Nuggets- Tips for Writing Great Ezines
Get Newsletter Nuggets and discover how you can simplify your ezine tasks. Subscribe to Newsletter Nuggets today. Every 2 weeks you get a synopsis of an article to use in your own newsletters, plus tips and tools for managing your...

New Self Published Book by R.I. Coffield

Rebecca (Becky) Coffield, longtime resident of Bend and an alum of the Publish and Sell Your Book class, now has a self published book on the market.

Titled Life Was a Cabaret, it chronicles her 25,000 mile sailing adventure around the Pacific Ocean with her husband aboard their sailboat, Cabaret. One can almost smell the sea air as she describes the fun, fright, and self awareness that she experienced.

The book is perfect bound, has a 6" x 9" format with a professionally designed cover. Of course there is a copyright, ISBN, LCCN, etc. Her experience with a book manufacturer offers insight into the problems and prospects of out-sourcing some of the work on a self published book.

Fortunately, she is more than willing to share what she discovered with you and I. Get all of your questions answered at her book signing at the Book Barn on June 30, 2006. Watch for the announcement in the Bend Bulletin.

Also, be sure to visit her author website (and purchase a book or two) at:
http://www.rlcoffield.com/