What is a Book Shepherd?

Many think these professionals simply help assemble a book, providing - or subcontracting - services such as editing, typesetting, cover design, printing and other tasks related to the physical production of a book. In fact, that set of services describes book packaging. While packaging is part of the process, book shepherding describes an all-inclusive set of expert services that help you develop your project from its initial concept through production to ultimate sales.

Why do I Need a Book Shepherd?

Book shepherds typically help with three different types of book publishers:

1. New publishers with their first projects;
2. Established publishers who are trying to define and build their business and improve the performance of new titles; and
3. Incidental publishers - that is, people who want to create a book that is ancillary to another business activity where their real expertise lies (professional speakers and business management experts frequently fall into this category).

Book shepherds are experienced in publishing and thus offer a broad perspective on what works – and what does not – in the book industry. More importantly, the book shepherd knows how the industry and market is changing and how those changes can work to your advantage. A great idea is not enough to make a successful book; knowing how to take it from concept to market so that it reaches its intended audience is the difference between profit and loss.

When Should I Hire a Book Shepherd?

The best time to hire a book shepherd is at the earliest stages of planning your project. Ideally, you should hire your shepherd during the concept planning stage – perhaps even before the first sentence of your book is written – to get maximum value from the shepherd’s expertise. One of the most important things the book shepherd can do for you is help you refine your concept and implementation so that it meets the needs of your audience and is viable in the marketplace. Whether you hire your shepherd before or after the book is written, the book shepherd will help you realize your goals and get your book to your audience effectively.

What Do You Do as a Book Shepherd?

When you engage us as a Book Shepherd, the first thing we do is help you define or refine your goals for the project, then help you further refine your product concept and implementation so that it meets those goals. We help you make key strategic decisions that will guide your project, covering marketing, packaging, content, sales channels and brand development. We help you determine what additional services you will need to leverage your resources and complete your project successfully.

As your project proceeds, we will have helped you:

• Develop the best plan to reach your overall goals;
• Determine the best “package” in which to place your book (hardcover, paperback, e-book, booklets, articles - or all of the above);
• Make decisions about product design so that you book has a fully professional look and feel;
• Determine how best to produce the book (offset or digital printing, which e-book platforms to use, etc.);
• Develop an action plan to reach your audience in the most effective and sustainable way possible.

We also work with clients to decide if this is a one-book project or the start of a publishing company. We provide complete assistance to start a company and get it off the ground properly.

We don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions, advice, book packages or marketing plans. Each project and each person has a different set of needs and goals. Only the client can decide how much money, time and effort to put into his or her book.

Contact Us for a free 15 minute consultation appointment to see if we can help you realize your publishing dreams!