Category Archives: The Solution

Welcome to the Army — Now Available!

Congratulations to Dennis Schulze on the release of his book Welcome to the Army!  Columbus Publishing Lab was excited to assist Dennis with the production of this military memoir about his time serving as a military attorney in Vietnam.

The Schulze family believed that Dennis had a story to tell, so they gifted him the Columbus Publishing Lab Complete Package.  We edited, designed, and distributed Dennis’ book so that he could bring his story to a worldwide audience.

Our graphic designer made the author’s personal accomplishment into a beautiful book cover.  Dennis submitted a picture of an award he received.  Our graphic designer took that picture, cleaned it up, and turned it into a meaningful cover that Dennis can be proud to call his.

This book used extensive military jargon, which our editor expertly edited and conformed to style guidelines.

“My publisher has been so patient and professional in guiding a
novice author to the completion of his goal. I couldn’t have done it
without you!”  — Dennis Schulze

Check out Welcome to the Army by Dennis Schulze!

Dream of a Lifetime: Ten Years in the Upper Amazon — Proving Press

Norman Walters brought a wealth of life experiences to Columbus Publishing Lab in Dream of a Lifetime: Ten Years in the Upper Amazon.  Musician, songwriter, artist, and the owner of a tourist destination along the Amazon river in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, Norman Walters had adventures to share, and he trusted Columbus Publishing Lab to produce his memoir.

The Columbus Publishing Lab team edited the manuscript, designed the interior and the cover, proofread it, and distributed Dream of a Lifetime: Ten Years in the Upper Amazon to all major retailers in paperback and e-book editions.  The end result?  Norman’s escapades can now be read by a worldwide audience in an attractive, professionally published book.

“Interspersed with tales of his gloriously misspent youth, one of the hardest-working hippies of his generation recounts the genesis of his remarkable achievement–the creation of an eco-sensitive tourist lodge in Peru’s Amazon jungle.”  — Amazon reviewer

Find Dream of a Lifetime: Ten Years in the Upper Amazon at these retailers or ask for the book at your local bookstore.

Hockey Daze — Proving Press

Rolf Remlinger is a funny guy who loves hockey. For the past 25+ years he’s been illustrating the humor he finds on the ice, delighting sports fans with hockey comics in the style of Gary Larson. His work has been featured in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hockey Ink, Hockey Stop and Michigan Hockey.

When Rolf came to Columbus Publishing Lab he had a stack of paper comics succumbing to the ravages of time. To accompany these he also had a host of extras: press passes, article clips and insider hockey knowledge.  Rather than let his work be lost to fading ink and yellowing paper, we were ready to preserve his collection forever by publishing Hockey Daze.

After an initial consultation, Rolf decided the Solution Package best fit his needs. Our first step was to copy edit the text that accompanied Rolf’s comics, correcting errors of spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as standardizing it to a style guide.

Learn more about our self-publishing packages here.

After the text had been professionally edited, the bulk of our work went into arranging the materials Rolf had provided in a fun, readable way. Our interior book designer matched each comic with a caption containing behind-the-scenes information about its creation, and added fun details like extra pen-and-ink illustrations, copies of press passes and articles Rolf had accumulated over the years.

After the interior files had been created, a proofreader combed through the book files, catching any last errors in the text or layout. We also created an e-book version of the book, designed specifically to be readable across all major e-book platforms.

Rolf provided his own cover design, and our team added the final elements like the barcode and book description, while ensuring the cover was formatted correctly for print.

As soon as Rolf was completely happy with the final files, we distributed Hockey Daze  in paperback and e-book formats to all major retailers. Rolf collects a check, and we handle all the hard work. The convenience of our distribution services gets Hockey Daze in the hands of hockey fans without the need for Rolf to miss a single game.

Find Hockey Daze for sale here. 

Our distribution services also include setup with our printer. Rolf can purchase books in any quantity from us at a significant discount off the list price, which allows him to offer special signed copies to friends and family, and through his existing website.

Throughout the entire publishing process, Rolf had a dedicated point of contact for questions and updates. He never had to wonder if his emails were being read, and a friendly Ohioan was available to take his calls every time.

If you’re interested in making your book project a reality, we invite you to contact us by clicking here. We’re happy to sit down with you for a free consultation, or answer your questions via email/phone.

We produce great books of all kinds. Will yours be next?

Kathleen Sutton — Let Me Lead

Let Me Lead tells the story of a gentle woman dealing with loss, a brutal temptress ebook_coverdetermined to destroy everyone she comes in contact with, and the young dance instructor who has their full attention.

We enjoyed working with author Kathleen Sutton to turn her thrilling manuscript into a published novel.

Nab a copy of Let Me Lead here.

The first step in the publishing process was copy editing. A professional editor combed through the raw manuscript, correcting spelling and grammar mistakes and standardizing the text to a style guide.

As soon as the copy edit was complete, our designer worked closely with Kathleen to create an interior design aesthetic that fit the target audience of the book, while still being readable and professional.

While our proofreader checked the book’s interior for any remaining errors, we worked with Kathleen on her cover. We enhanced a photograph she provided to create a cover image that is eye-catching and reflective of the dramatic nature of the book.

After Kathleen was completely happy with both the cover and the interior of Let Me Lead, we created an e-book version. Columbus Publishing Lab handles the print and e-book distribution for Kathleen. We handle the hard work of getting the book up for sale, and Kathleen collects a royalty check.

Let Me Lead is already garnering great reviews! Professional editing and production services DO make a difference.

“As I read Sutton’s book, Let Me Lead, I was intrigued by the development of the complex characters and how they continued to intersect with each other in ways unforeseen…  I could not put the book down. I look forward to Sutton’s future novels.”

–Amazon reviewer

We love helping authors succeed. If you’re interested in taking your book project to the next level, we invite you to contact us today by clicking here. 

When It Rains It Pours — The Solution Package

When It Rains It Pours tells the story of a troubled Cleveland family. Their bonds are tested perf6.000x9.000.inddover and over again by heartbreak and hardship, but their will to keep the family together perseveres.

Ron Wilson Jr. drew from his own experiences as he was writing When It Rains It Pours. With so much heart put into the writing of this book, he wanted to find a company that would invest the same time and care into the publishing process.

After meeting with Columbus Publishing Lab, Ron decided The Solution package included everything needed to produce a professional book. Our copy editor got right to work, thoroughly editing Ron’s manuscript to eliminate errors of spelling, grammar and punctuation, all while standardizing it to a style guide.

As soon as the copy edit was complete, our interior designer formatted the text to look professional and be readable. From there, a proofreader combed through the interior once again, searching for any last mistakes in the text or in the design.

Our cover designer worked closely with Ron to create a standard cover design that fit the serious tone of his book. After selecting a photo, we professionally laid and manipulated type to compliment the stormy aesthetic.

After Ron was 100% happy with the final book files, we distributed When It Rains It Pours  in paperback and e-book formats to all major retailers. Ron collects a check, and we handle all the hard work.

Find When It Rains It Pours here.

We were also able to help Ron spruce up some existing marketing materials he had prepared for his book, leaving him with a professional platform to attract new readers. Learn more about our marketing services here.

Throughout the entire publishing process, Ron had a dedicated point of contact at Columbus Publishing Lab. There was always a friendly Ohioan to take his phone calls or answer his emails.

Columbus Publishing Lab produces great books. If you’re interested in publishing your book, we invite you to contact us by clicking here. We’re happy to chat about your project over a cup of coffee, or via phone or email.

Favorite Stories — The Solution Package + Developmental Editing

Jim Flanagan and Frank McGarvey are storytellers. For over 20 years, this duo has been ebook_coverhelping youngsters see the value of reading and writing by spinning yarns in classrooms across Ohio. Favorite Stories is the latest compilation of their short stories, recently published under our Proving Press imprint.

Having already self-published with a big company in the past, Jim and Frank knew they wanted a more personalized experience when publishing Favorite Stories. Columbus Publishing Lab was able to offer the one-on-one interaction they wanted, and we sat down for a chat about their project.

After our initial consultation, Jim and Frank decided The Solution package best fit their needs. They also decided to add developmental editing to their package, and we got right to work.

Learn more about our complete self-publishing packages here.

After reading the manuscript, an experienced developmental editor provided Jim and Frank with a detailed report containing recommendations to improve areas of concern. As a result, Jim and Frank were able to act on the suggestions of our editor to improve Favorite Stories before it was released. Learn more about developmental editing here.

From there, a professional copy editor went through the manuscript from beginning to end, correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes, while standardizing the text to a style guide.

As soon as the copy edit was complete, we moved into the interior design phase of the production process. We created a special aesthetic to cater to the young adult audience, while still maintaining a professional, readable interior.

After the interior files had been created, a proofreader combed through the book files, catching any last errors in the text or layout. We also created an e-book version of the book, designed specifically to be readable across all major e-book platforms.

Jim and Frank worked with their own illustrator to provide artwork for the book, as well as a cover image. We were happy to work with their illustrator to ensure all interior artwork and cover elements were formatted properly for print.

As soon as Jim and Frank were completely happy with the final files, we distributed Favorite Stories  in paperback and e-book formats to all major retailers. Jim and Frank collect a check, and we handle all the hard work. The convenience of our distribution services leaves this storytelling duo with plenty of time to visit more classrooms and tell more stories!

Find Favorite Stories on Amazon.com here.

Throughout the entire publishing process, Jim and Frank had a dedicated point of contact for questions and updates. They never had to wonder if their emails were being read, and a friendly Ohioan was available to take their calls every time.

If you’re interested in making your book project a reality, we invite you to contact us by clicking here. We’re happy to sit down with you for a free consultation, or answer your questions via email/phone.

We produce great books. Will yours be next?

Tanetta Ross — The Solution

Poet Tanetta Ross recently published her debut book of poetry, We Sow It, We Reap It, ebook_cover_lgunder our Proving Press imprint. Tanetta uses her poetry to express some of the most powerful  human emotions — loss, grief and the rebirth of new love. Tanetta knew she wanted her book to reflect all of the care she poured into her poetry, and we were happy to turn her ideas into reality.

Find We Sow It, We Reap It on Amazon.com here. 

Tanetta decided The Solution package best fit her needs, and we got to work right away. Our team of editors and designers worked closely with Tanetta during every step of the process to ensure the finished product would be exactly what she’d envisioned.

A professional copy editor combed through the text, correcting errors of grammar and punctuation, while keeping style elements that were genre-specific in place. As soon as the editing process was complete, our interior designer professionally formatted each page to be both readable, and aesthetically pleasing. After the interior design, the book was given a complete proofread to catch any remaining errors.

Learn more about our complete publishing packages here.

Tanetta brought cover artwork with her coming into the project, and we were happy to work with her illustrator to ensure all cover elements were formatted properly for print.

As soon as Tanetta was completely happy with the finished product, we distributed We Sow It, We Reap It in paperback, hardback and e-book formats to all major retailers. Tanetta doesn’t have to worry about making trips to the post office to ship books, or dealing with hard-to-reach customer service reps. We do the hard work, and she collects the check!

Throughout the entire book production process, Tanetta had a go-to representative to answer her questions, provide insight and keep her up-to-date on the project’s progress.

If you’re interested in getting your story into the hands of waiting readers, we invite you to contact us at info@columbuspublishinglab.com. We work hard every day to help authors at all levels fulfill their dreams of producing professional books.

Author Spotlight: R.K. Blessing

Maybe we’re a little biased, but we think Columbus Publishing Lab authors are pretty clare r coverawesome. We recently had a chat with R.K. Blessing, author of Clare R., to talk about his self-publishing experience.

Find Clare R. on Amazon.com here.

Like every author who has finished a manuscript, Blessing had to make a decision. Self-publish, or seek out a traditional publisher? For Blessing, self-publishing made the most sense.

Blessing said he first learned about Columbus Publishing Lab after attending a self-publishing seminar. “It was very informative and really got me thinking about the route of self-publishing. It seemed much more viable, and made the idea of publishing seem that much more possible. In other words, I could make a dream become a reality,” Blessing said.

After doing researching on self-publishing companies, Blessing decided to stop into our office and see if Columbus Publishing Lab would be a good fit for his project. “Being able to meet with a group of people in-person and discuss the hard copy of my work was a no-brainer,” Blessing said.

Blessing knew his novel wasn’t ready to go to print right away, and he was dedicated to improving it before handing it over to his readers. After choosing Columbus Publishing Lab,  he commissioned a developmental edit to ensure he received detailed, professional feedback on his manuscript. Blessing said he was nervous to place his first novel into the hands of an editor. “That book contained a lot of emotion, good and bad… I wanted to write something personal, something folks could relate to. To do this you have to become vulnerable and open up [to your readers], as well as open yourself up to criticism and critique. This is what makes your work better,” Blessing said.

Blessing had an idea for the cover, but was willing to let the cover designer take the reins. Being so close to the story, Blessing said it was nerve-wracking to entrust someone else with his idea. “The cover I thought of initially seemed romantic and dramatic to me, but I knew it was dry. It needed more. When I saw what the designer came up with I laughed. I knew it was perfect. It had the flare to draw people in, and…it also maintained qualities I was hoping to use. I couldn’t have been more pleased,” Blessing said.

As an author who has successfully published his first book, Blessing said he would highly recommend the self-publishing experience to other authors. “Writing is not easy by any means. It takes a lot of work and reworking. The thought of going to a big publisher and having them shut you down is very discouraging. Working with Columbus Publishing Lab allows you room to grow during the writing process,” Blessing said.

Learn more about Columbus Publishing Lab packages and services here. 

Blessing said his favorite part of self-publishing so far has been seeing his writing improve along the way. He also enjoyed watching the different parts of his book come together. “Everything got smoother and smoother, and then CPL sent me an email telling me my book was on its way. Hooray!”

“In the end I had a finished product to be proud of, and one that is available for people to read. Self-publishing allows writers to get past that initial hurdle, and from there, the sky’s the limit.”

Blessing currently has a novel and a children’s book about fly fishing in the works. He plans to self-publish both with Columbus Publishing Lab.

We love working with talented, passionate authors like R.K. Blessing. If you’re interested in self-publishing, we invite you to contact us here. A real, live person is on the other end.

Trevor Zahara — The Solution Package

Confessions of an OSU Usher by Trevor Zahara tells the untold stories of the Ohio State OSU usherBuckeye Ushers. Trevor spent a lot of time compiling anecdotes, photos and reflections from his fellow Ushers, and when he decided he wanted to share them in a book, he knew he wanted the finished product to be top-notch. After completing a successful Kickstarter campaign, Trevor invested his funds into The Solution Package

Find Confessions of an OSU Usher here. 

Since the book’s release in late August, Confessions of an OSU Usher has been featured on/in Good Morning Columbus, The Lantern, The Bucyrus Telegraph and other local news media. It has steadily been ranked in the Top 100 (currently Top 50!) on Amazon.com in the sports humor category.  

Learn more about our publishing packages here.

Confessions of an OSU Usher was professionally edited, and our team of designers got to work creating a professional-looking book cover with Trevor’s provided photograph. We formatted the interior text of the book for both print and e-book markets, and incorporated the full-color photos Trevor provided. When the book was ready, we uploaded it to all major print and e-book retailers. Since we’re handling the book distribution,  Trevor can fully focus on marketing his book. O-H-I-O!

Throughout the entire publishing process, Trevor had a dedicated point of contact at Columbus Publishing Lab. When he had questions, or wanted an update, there was always someone available to take his call/email.

If you’re interested in producing a professional book, we invite you to contact us for more information. 

 

Joseph Downing — The Solution Package + Developmental Editing

The Abundant Bohemian by Joseph Downing is a guide to living an unconventional life, cover with borderwhile managing to be happy and make a living in the process. Joe wanted to produce a quality book, and he knew the traditional publishing route wasn’t the only way to accomplish that goal. Columbus Publishing Lab isn’t the biggest, or flashiest self-publisher on the block, but we know how to produce great books. 

…in our all-or-nothing, win-at-all-costs culture, we desperately want the stamp of validation on our work. We’re not writers until a New York publishing house publishes our novel. We’re not painters until we have a show at a prestigious gallery. We’re not musicians without a record contract.
It’s time to let all that go.

-Excerpt from The Abundant Bohemian

The first step to producing a professional book is developmental editing. In a developmental edit, an experienced editor examines elements of the book like narrative arc and plot structure, and provides a detailed report with recommendations to improve areas of concern. The Abundant Bohemian was subjected to a rigorous developmental edit before the rest of the publishing process took place. As a result, Joe was able to act on the suggestions of our editor to improve his book before it was released.

From there, a copy editor read through The Abundant Bohemian line by line, correcting any grammar and spelling mistakes, and standardizing elements of the book to a style guide. The interior of the book was then professionally formatted for both print and e-book markets, and a final proofread was completed before the book went to the printer.

Our team of designers and illustrators created a custom cover design to fit the aesthetic of Joe’s book, and to provide a professional front for his work.

The Abundant Bohemian is available through all major online print and e-book retailers through our distribution servicesWe handle the printing, shipping and fulfillment, providing a hassle-free experience for Joe. 

Because of the exceptional quality of the book, it is distributed under our premier imprint- Boyle & Dalton. We guarantee The Abundant Bohemian is of the same quality as a book produced by the finest independent and traditional publishers. 

Find The Abundant Bohemian here. 

Throughout the publishing process, Joe always had a dedicated point of contact. When he had a question, or wanted an update, there was always someone ready to take his call. We’re committed to making the publishing process simple, professional and enjoyable for our authors.

If you’re thinking about self-publishing, contact us here. We’d love to help you produce an exceptional book.