You've spent months, maybe years, writing your book and now what? Shove it in a drawer and forget about it?
Splattered Ink Press has another idea -- publish it yourself and control how the finished product looks, the marketing, and maybe make a profit.
Tricia McDonald, owner of Splattered Ink Press and the writing school
A Writing Passage, both based in Grand Haven, has self-published two books and has a third one out next week. She says Splattered Ink Press is a natural outcome of her five years as a writing coach.
"As I worked with writers, they asked if [self-publishing] was a service I would offer," McDonald says. "The more I thought about it, the more I realized I could help them get their books printed and on the shelves of some local book stores."
McDonald coaches writers throughout the writing process. She offers manuscript editing, book design and text formatting to prepare the book for printing, secures ISBNs and bar codes, and works with half a dozen Michigan printers who can print and bind hardcover or softcover editions. She teaches them how to approach book stores to get their book on the shelves and arrange book signings. McDonald also offers e-book conversions for download on Kindles, iPads and other e-readers.
Splattered Ink contracts with Grand Rapids illustrator Sean Wallace and with graphic designer and photographer Jacob Kubon, McDonald's son, who create visuals for book covers, inside pages and children's books.
"Traditional publishers are more likely going with celebrity names or established authors," McDonald says. "Print-on-demand authors have to buy their own books from the printer, and they end up making very little money per book. We offer a real personable experience; we're not just an online experience where the author doesn't get to talk to anyone."
To-date, Splattered Ink has produced McDonald's
Life With Sally - Still Spinnin' Tails and her upcoming book on novel writing,
Quit Whining Start Writing. She says she's working with six clients to get their books published, including a novel of historical fiction, two children's books, a memoir and
Dog 281, by Michigan writer
Janet Vormittag, editor of
Cats and Dogs Magazine.
McDonald will speak on writing and self-publishing at the
West Michigan Women's Expo on March 9, 10 and 11.
Source: Tricia McDonald, Splattered Ink Press and A Writing Passage
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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