My grandfather was a printer. He died in 1971, aged 97, long before I ever thought about writing a book. I now wished that I had asked him about his trade. Perhaps he was a typesetter. He always fussed about my spelling errors. What would he have thought of Biddles, the printers of Kings Lynn in Norfolk, where I spent a day learning about what happens behind the scenes when an author entrusts a publisher with her cherished manuscript?
An unconnected group of six people, perhaps self publishers to be, accepted an invitation from Matador to spend a day at the printers: a young woman who had written a colourfully illustrated children’s book; an events manager who was in the midst of writing about how to run events, including humorous anecdotes drawn from his 20 years experience; a young financier who had been inspired to write a book of short stories, he had brought along as his writing consultant a water engineer who took lots of photographs of the printing process. Finally a Dutchman, my husband, who had already 7 of his books produced by various publishers in The Netherlands and in USA, he was considering self publishing the Dutch translation of his latest biography. Then there was me; the day before I had received a quotation from Matador about the cost of self-publishing my first novel. A day at the printers was perfect timing.
Biddles printing company is situated in a large factory estate on the outskirts of Kings Lynn in Norfolk. Although not a modern building, its interior is light and spacious. On arrival we were greeted warmly by a member of staff who proudly told that she had self-published some children’s books. We were shown into a conference room adjacent to the spacious admin. department where the staff, wearing blue polo shirts bearing the company logo, looked up from their computer screens and smiled at us. At each place at the conference table had been laid out a company pad, pen and a small pack containing samples of paper and colour finishes. Ample refreshments were in the midst and a discrete projector showed images of the printing process on a wall. Several shelves held copies of some of the books produced by the company: hard back, paper back, boxed, novel-sized, coffee table sized, fiction, non -fiction, samples of small and large runs.
Jeremy Thompson and Jane Rowland from Troubador/ Matador and Mark Chapman, Biddle’s printing manager, shared the hosting of the day. Jeremy posed the question which all self-publishers have to address i.e. for what purpose are you publishing your book? The answer will influence the number of books which are ordered and whether to undertake your own publicity and marketing or seek professional help.
The pre-press process was explained, including the importance of an editor, copy editor and a designer for the interior. We were shown samples of book covers to demonstrate the need to have a design which is attractive, appropriate to its genre and one which can wrap around the book. People do judge books by their covers, spines and backs included. Equally important is the blurb on the back, the hook into the story, not a synopsis. A bar code, ISB number and the price are necessary if you plan to market your books through the book trade. A lot to think about!
Mark Chapman showed us a selection of books to demonstrate the difference between processes and the types of paper used. He talked about digital printing and the old fashioned lithographic process which he likened to potato printing; an updated version of what my grandfather’s printing firm probably used. The financier’s book of short stories, text only, could be printed on one of two machines, depending on numbers – digital for short run, lithographic for more than 500 copies. The events’ manager and the biographer would need a different process for their text, graphics and black and white photographs. The children’s book with its brightly coloured illustrations would be printed on another machine with the option of using gloss paper. My book has twelve black line drawn illustrations. How these reproduce will govern which process will be used.
Some of the Biddles staff joined us for an excellent buffet lunch. They chatted about their work and listened as the writers talked about their books. Mark Chapman, the manager, obviously cares about both printing and reading. He told me that he gets through 6-7 books every week and that he and his 3 year old son visit the library every week. Both preferred reading to watching TV. Members of staff are encouraged to read but are not permitted to sell any of the books which are produced extra to requirements.
Downstairs in the printing works the different machines hummed. We saw all of the processes in action which Mark had described, starting with a look at the giant rolls of paper, weighing several tonnes and measuring 1.5 metres in diameter. In the digital process the paper gets fed through a number of rollers which stretch it. An electrical charge enables the toner to adhere to the paper which whizzes through the machine so fast that the printed words become a blur when you try to follow with your eyes. Out of one machine, along a conduit where the paper simultaneously turns a corner and is flipped over without getting creased or broken so that the other side is ready to present itself for printing. Several pages are printed across the width of the paper. With both sides finished, the sheets are cut and folded into sections and several sections form a block. A rapid process, a book block is produced every few seconds and ready immediately for the next stage. In other methods of printing the process dries out the paper and the printed sheets need to be left for several hours to reabsorb the 10% of the water they have lost.
The next stage is to glue the sections of the block and attach the cover. The untrimmed books with their pristine covers travel along a warm conveyor belt. This gives the glue an opportunity to set before two sets of guillotines trim the sides and edge. It was here that we lingered, probably every one could imagine their own books glowing as they trundled their way up the belt to be trimmed before being boxed; I was wishing that sometime in the near future I could witness the process when my book is printed.
We were shown both digital and lithographical printing, those processes which work with rolls of paper and those which use large sheets. The production of soft covers, plain and embossed hard cover was explained and we watched as jackets were wrapped around books in an eye’s blink.
It is more economical to continue using the same sized paper, rather than reset machines to accommodate differences. In this way the work order may have to vary so that the equipment, known in the factory as ‘kit’, can be used efficiently. Each stage is overseen by a member of staff in the firm’s shirt. There are internal and external variables. Occasionally a machine is faulty and this affects the whole production line. Other times an author may not like the cover design and work which was planned is held up. It is a complex organisation; many jobs are being done at the same time in the print works which is active 12 hours a day, for 6 days a week. When my book is born it will be one of many which will be printed at that time.
In her talk Jane Rowland differentiated between trading and marketing our own books. She explained that for the former we need to inform the bibliographical agency of the book’s details at least 6 months in advance of publication. For fee we could purchase enhanced data in which we could include more details. Advanced information sheets give reasons why a retailer should stock a book, a synopsis is not required. It seems that both retailers and wholesalers work 6 months in advance. In fact 6 months is the time it often takes from the quotation for publication to receiving the printed copies or knowing that your books are in a warehouse waiting to be ordered.
Jane provided lots of tips on undertaking our own marketing which were listed in a very useful handout as well as being detailed in two excellent books which we were given: ‘Matador Guide to Self-Publishing’ and ‘A Seriously Useful Author’s Guide to Marketing and Publicising Books’ by Mary Cavanagh. These were together in a smart case presented by Biddles which also included an issue of the’ Self-Publishing Magazine and a booklet from Biddles entitled ‘Recipe for Success’. This was a very generous day in terms of information, literature and hospitality.
My understanding of publishing and printing has expanded. Seeing the processes, talking to the people involved, observing the pride they take in their work, have all reassured me about what the professionals can do. For my part I need to start working on some important questions so that my investment in the process produces the dividends I will enjoy.
Had my grandfather been with me at Biddles he would have said many times, ’Well I never.’ In our family we knew that was a statement of wonder and enlightenment; not unlike my own experience of the day.
Patricia Peters
Reproduced courtesy of The Self Publishing Magazine