I provide book production coaching to anyone intending to produce an illustrated (physical) book. The range of knowledge and skills involved in bringing a book into the world usually surprises people. I have never met a self-publisher, or anyone else involved in a book production project for the first* time, who said it had been easier and taken less time that they thought it would.
*or even the fiftieth
Without the right guidance any print project can cost you more than is necessary. Moreover, it can take a huge amount of time and be difficult and stressful to complete. Non-specialists in books often find they have knowledge gaps which hamper their efforts.
Fortunately, it is also hugely rewarding to have that book in your hands. As an end-product for any kind of creative project I think it really is hard to beat.
From two decades working in publishing companies and as an independant book production freelancer collaborating with creators I have huge experience and practical advice to share. I can help you tackle your project in the best way to help it run smoothly and make it achievable for you to savour that new book feeling when you get your hands of that first copy.
As you have found your way to me I wouldn’t be surprised if you were one of these types:
Self-publisher
Photographer, illustrator or other type of creator in the graphic or visual arts
Small or micro publisher without a production specialist on hand
Self publishing service provider
Business or institution outside the publishing world
Design agency
Marketer managing a book project
Printer, repro company or other publishing-related vendor
The book could be a children’s story book, a collection of photography, art, illustraton, graphic design, biography or anything else. It’s subject matter or purpose could be anything at all. If it needs to be printed I expect to be able to coach you on the better ways to go about it.
How is the coaching delivered?
My standard offering for book production coaching is based around a phone conversation. Beforehand I consider any reference material you have so I am informed about your project before we speak. Having talked things over in more detail I provide written notes on the discussion. Afterwords I’ll put some things in writing. I will focus on suggestions, opinions, further reference sources or contact details you need to move you forward.
In short:
Prior assessment, before we speak, of material related to your project. This could be visuals, pricing, specification details, technicalities or a description of a particular problem or challenge you are facing
A phone call where we talk it over in more detail
Written notes collecting my thoughts. I will collate and share any explanations, suggestions, contacts arising from our conversation
Click through to my one online shop (below) for more information on Coaching Calls and how to get started. Feel free to contact me, without any obligation, if you have any questions about my service.
Full disclosure: some project tools I have created for my own use and for clients, such as useful spreadsheets for different tasks, come at additional cost. If they appear relevant to your project these can be made available at a competitive rate for coaching clients.
Coaching call topics
The kind of ground we would cover might be on the list below. These are areas which are important in book production. They often come up.
Finding a suitable printer or other kind of supplier for your book project
Creating a book specification, obtaining accurate print pricing and comparing different options
Calculating the overall cost of a print project. Deciding on the print run and selling price
Working out a workable timescale for your project
Understanding print and production terminology
Preparing image and design files
Proofing your images and preparing files for the printer
Considering and choosing paper and other materials
Coaching packages
Price as advertised is per session. Contact me to discuss book production coaching packages tailored to your situation. Some options could include:
Pre-pay – for a number of sessions to be used over an agreed period. This would enable me to to guide your progress through the course of a project, perhaps.
Retainer – email or phone support of an agreed amount per month
Project Management – hands-on involvement in a particular aspect of your project. Examples could include obtaining print pricing and analysis, creating a project schedule, oversight of colour proofing
I believe I add value to your project in a number of ways:
Expert knowledge of the book production process and the ways in which cost and effort can be saved throughout
Technical knowledge and the ways it can assure high quality in the preparation of your content
Curated network of trusted pre-press and print suppliers and other professionals
Demystify the process and helping you navigate it with confidence
Provide accountability as you work through the process and be an understanding, thinking and planning partner in getting through it
Testimonials
David Brimble
You would, however, be ill-advised to try this without the help of a project and production manager; someone who knows all the intricacies of book production, the right printers and paper suppliers and a hundred and one other things. It’s knowledge that takes years to acquire. And in the UK, the go-to man is David Brimble.
You would, however, be ill-advised to try this without the help of a project and production manager; someone who knows all the intricacies of book production, the right printers and paper suppliers and a hundred and one other things. It’s knowledge that takes years to acquire. And in the UK, the go-to man is David Brimble.
Just wanted to let you know the response to the book has been brilliant with fantastic comments and feedback coming in. Many mentioning how impressed they are with the print quality and reproduction of the images.
Also I would also like to pass on how pleased I was with the finished book.
Thank you so much for your input and work in this project and I hope it is one job you can feel proud to be a a part of.
Neil McIntyre, Wildlife and Landscape Photographer, main photographer of 'Red Squirrel, A future in the forest'
I'd like to say a massive thank you to David Brimble. David ... has worked on this project over the last year, taking care of everything from creating schedules, analysing the costs, to sourcing the printer to helping me decide on the specification of the book. He has extensive experience working in publishing so if anyone out there is looking to take on their own book project, look no further
Matthew Maran, Landscape and Wildlife Photographer, self-publisher
David ran production on several book projects I've worked on over the years and he's always been great to deal with, accurate and more importantly, to me anyway, sympathetic to the images he is printing. I have no worries sending images off to him for printing knowing they will be well looked after.
David was the production controller responsible for many of the books that I edited and managed through the production process at Hodder. He was unfailingly calm, reassuring and helpful. He was also rigorous in his attention to detail, supremely well-organised and reliably effective at problem solving. In fact he pretty much taught me everything I needed to know about book production, when I arrived as a very inexperienced editor indeed. David has a wealth of experience and is a real pleasure to work with.
I can’t recommend him highly enough, he is outstanding at what he does. Impeccable attention to detail, absolutely brilliant at coming up with solutions to print and production problems, fantastic with photography projects, he has a real eye for page layout and design. Just a bit of a gem, really.
He proved himself a highly skilled manager of the most technically demanding, time and quality sensitive and commercially valuable projects.
He showed undoubted flair for improving working practices with resultant improvements to workflow and to quality, furthermore delivering reductions to cost. He proved himself also to be an excellent trainer of, and mentor to, other colleagues.
Aside from his achievements in his role David also showed himself to be an enthusiastic and creative contributor to Random House’s Environmental and CSR activities. I asked him to take over as Chair of the Group Environment Committee. During his tenure he instigated and delivered numerous beneficial initiatives, voluntarily taking on considerable effort alongside his already very demanding core responsibilities.
All these capabilities ensured he made a lasting impact on the company. An innovative and committed individual, David is a huge asset to any project or organisation.
Stephen Esson Group Publishing Operations Director at Penguin Random House UK
David Brimble
I had great pleasure in working with David whilst he was at Random House working on BBC books. He is passionate about images and colour which meant that he was always open to new working methods to try and better the results from prepress to print. It is always rare to find someone who goes that extra mile with any supplier but David has consistently proven that he can. I know that wherever he ends up he will be an asset.
Eric Bailey Ladd Owner, XY Digital Limited
David Brimble
David and I worked together at BBC Worldwide and Ebury (on BBC Books). I trusted David implicitly to deliver an outstanding production job on our highest profile books (eg Planet Earth, Rick Stein's Spain, Frozen Planet). Trouble-shooting, providing creative solutions to problems and never compromising on quality were some of his hallmarks. I have no hesitation in recommending David to any employer looking for a trustworthy and diligent individual who will always provide work of an extremely high quality.
Shirley Patton Head of Publishing at ITV
David Brimble
I have worked with David for three years on a range of photograph-led books, including cookery and natural history titles. David has always shown a detailed knowledge of the production, print and colour management process as well as bringing new ideas, commitment and attention to detail. He even endures our very tight schedules with stoicism, for which I thank him.
Muna Reyal Publisher, Cookery and Lifestyle, Headline Books
David Brimble
When David and I worked together I was in Special Sales where we worked to very tight partner deadlines and within extremely restrictive budgets. David always negotiated the best prices (hence he quickly became our 'go to guy' for production), but he was also pleasant and collaborative in his approach and very patient with our constant (often very last minute) demands. David has a great commercial mentality, understands our business and what we try to achieve for our partners and he works fast and delivers effective solutions within budget and within our (often very short) timeframes. I heartily recommend working with him.
Cathy Boxall Global Client Solutions Director at NBC Universal
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