Authors OnLine -

Needless to say how thrilled we are to be so busy and our work is now proven to be streets ahead in the market place. However, in our attempts to streamline our company, we may not have explained the sequence as fully as we would have liked. I thought a few moments to explain would save so many little hiccups and put everyone’s mind at rest.



The initial enquiry comes via the submissions department. Your queries are discussed at length and happily a bond begins to emerge, a real understanding of company and client. This is a vital step for all authors and this bond must never be lost.

Once an author has elected to come along with us to publish their work, it is then passed onto our production department. Again a vital step in the chain of events, this is where the work is carefully formatted, issued with ISBN numbers and generally prepared for printing. This of course involves the preparation of a file in the format of ultimate presentation, which is sent to the author for them to check thoroughly and make sure there are no errors or indeed added amendments to be sorted out. Although the submissions department do point this out, it is often overlooked as eagerness and excitement takes over. However, it cannot be stressed too strongly that once an author has agreed they are happy and indeed approve this file, it then goes off to be printed.

A sample book is then sent to the author for approval. This is another vital point, if an error has occurred and it is our fault or that of the printer, then we make the alteration. However, if this is something missed by the author, yes, it can go through again, but as stated in all of our literature, a cost is incurred. So please be extra vigilant when asked to check something.

We now move through to our after sales and book order department. Here ideas that were originally discussed with submissions’ department are re-discussed and put into practice. All helpful tips to assist you in promoting your work are addressed with the same enthusiasm and this also expedites book orders for everyone.

All departments are obviously interlinked as the need to work closely is invaluable to our customer care. The rapport that was originally established in the early days of submission enquiries will continue throughout the company, but in our efforts to streamline, we have inadvertently given the impression that our authors must not come back to submissions with further queries. This is not and never will be the case.

Everyone in each department has been placed there for a specific reason. They are good at their job and they do care. Even though our company has grown, I believe the basis for this is a direct result of personal attention, interest and care from us all.

Many exciting projects are opening up for our authors and this is heart warming indeed. We know we have a first class product and a team to match.

I do hope this explains the various stages and helps to make everything a little clearer for everyone.

Wendy Lake
Submissions Editor.