Again this week Gayle Farmer from Omega Publications is my guest blogger. Here she talks about some of the different types of books Omega has published. Omega has a very diverse background of offerings.
I hope you've enjoy reading the Q&A format we've presented this in.
M: Tell me about the poetry book you’re working on.
G: Tapestry. I’m very excited about the prospect, really. You don’t see too many books of poetry, so it’s kind of unique. I’ve collected a wonderful group of poets whose work runs the gamut from funny to romantic. It’s uplifting, heartwarming, all the poets are very talented, and we’ve decided to put everything together and create a kind of heirloom piece. Books are wonderful keepsakes and they make the ideal gift for family members.
M: I bet it’s different from working with one author on one story.
G: Well, of course, everyone has an opinion on some level, but with this particular group, as well as the short story writers from Mosaic, they’re professionals who left their egos at the door. What they want is the best possible book they can get and they know we’re determined to give it to them.
Now, when you have a debut book from a debut author, it’s very different.
M: Mama’s and their babies!
G: And then some. The fic editing usually goes pretty quick and they have no ideas about setup for the interior pages, like the non-fics often do, with their photos and graphs and such. It’s usually fine until we get to the cover. Then they can start to unravel.
Whenever possible, I like to speak with my authors, so we usually have at least one phone conversation. I want their idea for a cover. I’m very chatty, so if I have to, I’ll start asking questions and throwing ideas at them, making them give me an answer until finally we begin to hear what they want, what they see. Because it’s much better that we all ‘see’ it early on than to have put hours into a cover only to hear them start to voice concerns then.
Do you love black and white? Does a lot of color suit your theme, do you see a particular image? Finally they get comfortable enough with me that they relax. Next thing you know, they’re telling me exactly what they see. Still a perilous journey ahead, but at least everyone’s heading in the same direction, lol.
Then, just when you think it’s ready to go, done to perfection, they want to add something, or worse, take something out. Every time the pages change, as you know, the spine width changes and there goes the cover! Jeff refers to himself as a ‘natural bald’ and he means it. It can be frustrating but it’s very fulfilling.
M: I know just what you mean! How about non-fiction? Is there a difference there?
G: Oh yes. Well, depending on the subject it can be a lot of fun. We’re in the process of publishing a book by Elizabeth Joyce, a well-known and highly regarded psychic who has worked with various police entities in solving crimes. This particular book, Ascension, deals with New Age philosophy regarding the year 2012. Seems that in December of that year, all the planets are going to line up and usher in some very big changes in this world. Her books had all kinds of graphs and charts and it was a wonderful experience for Jeff, as was the cookbook.
That was interesting, but depending on the subject, it can get pretty dramatic. We published a non-fiction book by Sasha Petrova called A Leaf on the Wind, the true story of a woman who’d been raped and abused by her father from the age of four into her teens. Now, that was hard.
M: I can imagine, especially if it was at all graphic.
G: Well, it was, y’know? Not at all salacious, just clinical, factual, which made it worse, somehow. When it’s fiction, then it’s just that. You just go with the words. When you’re reading things that make you want to scream or cringe and you know it’s someone’s life story, oh dear, it can be very intense.
And by the way, if any of the readers have a specific question, I’ll do the best I can to answer it. It’s always fun getting together, Margaret. Thanks so much.
I want to thank Gayle for taking the time to join me again on my blog. I think she’s given some great insight into the world of self-publishing.
If you have any questions for Gayle you can post them here in the comments field.
If you want to know more about Omega Publications, there is a link on the right that will take you to their website.
Until next time
ttfn
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