FAQ s    

What do you do?
How do you do it?
What kinds of help do you offer?
How do I get it?
What does it cost?
Do we have to meet in person?
What ways can we communicate?
Are you ever in my area?
Can you tell me what my book would cost to print?
How long does the process take, start to finish (With a regular publisher, or if I self-publish)?
Do you charge for emails?
Do you have another question?
e mail us and we'll answer it!

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What do you do?

Help writers get themselves published. We offer advice, support, and guidance to help you from conception, to publishing adternatives, to set-up and design, to production and selling their book project. We don't want to do it all for you, we want to help you do it yourself, thus saving you money and time.

How do you do it?

We work with authors showing them what to do, how to do it, and moving you through the process from start to finish. Authors have the most control, and gain the most profit possible from their writing.

What kinds of help do you offer?

FOUR KINDS :

1.  FREE information here on the web site.
(see my 12 booklets, chart and self-publiher's compared pages)

eBooks (PDFs) to download, currentlly for FREE, may charge a small fee later.

Personalized one-on-one service:

2.  CONSULTING: to help you through the parts of the process that might be most intimidating for you; charged at an hourly rate. While we help with every step from beginning to end, the most needed help seems to be in the most crucial marketing area, as many authors quit before they get to that part, or don't understand how to go about it. And it is important to be planning how you'll sell while you are working through your book project. Some parts of marketing and selling become more difficult after the book is printed.

3.  GRAPHICS AND DESIGN: for your own unique cover and set up for the inside of your book. We place your book on our web site if you'd like (see our book sample page), create a web site for you,if you'd like. And we help design (and reproduce) marketing tools such as brochures, postcards, etc. depending on your specific needs.

4.  PRINT PRODUCTION: FREE quotes and advice, plus preparing your book to your printer's specifications for a disappointment-free final product. Plus reproduction of marketing tools if you need.

REMEMBER - any part of this process we can help you with, most we can do for you, and you still have the freedom to handle all the parts you wish yourself. It doesn't have to be a complete "package deal" where you must commit to allowing us to handle all aspects of your book project (although we can - and do - if you'd like that too!).

How do I get it?

1. FREE informatiaon on the web site here.

2. 3. and 4. Pay as you go. We can give you an idea what the per-hour costs would be for our sevices, work within the budget you set out for us, and keep you informed as to your expenses as we work.

You can call us, email us, or write us. We respond to all forms of communication. (607-437-0000 - a verizonwireless service), Touchstone Communications, PO Box 396, Oneonta, NY  13820.

What does it cost?

See our rates page for cost information. We'd be glad to give you a quote for your specific needs before we begin, and work within your budget.

Do we have to meet in person?

Not at all. We have worked with clients through letters, email, telephone and in person. Most of our authors have used a combination of communication processes.

What ways can we communicate?

Spence Ketchum met us in Florida, and we worked through the mail when he went home to Michigan, and we were in upstate New York.
Dorothy Kubik, Lenny Mintz, and Robert Horn live in our area, so we meet with them, and also work over the phone.
Ms. Dorang and others have met us where we gave presentations, and we schedule visits, plus work with email and on the phone.

We have sent proofs out in the mail, and s PDFs through email.

Are you ever in my area?

Check our Presentations page, and/or email us. If we are not currently presenting near you, perhaps we could organize a presentation in your area. But if not, we can still work with you!

Can you tell me what my book would cost to print?

This is such a big concern that we try hard to give you a rough idea as we work with you. Unfortunately, we cannot give a firm price until we've (or you've) set up the book in its final size, with your choice of font and margins. With book size, page number, quantities you're considering, and finished setup we can give you a fairiy firm idea as to costs. There is no obligation to print with us before we get you prices. All our quotes for reproduction are FREE.

How long does the process take, start to finish (With a regular publisher, or if I self-publish)?

If your work has been PUBLISHER-ACCEPTED:
Ask your publsher. It can be quite different for each. Roughly think in terms of 6 to 9 months from start to finish. (But don't hold us to it. We have no control over them!)

CUSTOM PUBLISHING: When your writing is done, you need adequate time for editing (depending on book size - perhaps 2 - 4 weeks. (Allow time for several proofs and several edits), 2 weeks for setup of book text and cover design work, 2 weeks for proof copies (from printer) to arrive back to you, another 2 weeks for you to double-check and have others look your proof over for you. If there are no changes needed now - and you give the printer the go-ahead, allow 4 weeks for production. This is a very rough idea, some things might be expedited at your request. But think in terms of 3-6 months with everything.

Do you charge for emails?

No, we absolutely do not charge for emails back and forth. If we spend time on your project, we must charge for that, but emailing you about it is FREE.

Do you have another question? email us and we'll answer it!