Another interview.  Unlike this interview about ghostwriting, we focused more on my background and past projects. Taken together the two hopefully answer questions you might have about working with a ghostwriter.

As a ghostwriter I don’t have to worry about book printing costs or deciding whether a publishing contract or self-publishing makes better sense.  But since I worked in book manufacturing for almost twenty years – for R.R. Donnelley, biggest book printers in the world, and then for Von Hoffmann Graphics, which was bought by Vertis and later by R.R. Donnelley and proves it really is a small world – I do understand the book manufacturing process and the costs. 

If you’re considering self-publishing, you should too. 

If you decide to self-publish - which also means self-print - you'll have to understand the basic components of a printed book. Even though I'm now a ghostwriter, I worked in book manufacturing for almost twenty years and still do productivity improvement consulting for larger book manufacturers. 

Here's all you need to know about how books are made.  We'll start with the basics:  Hardcover and softcover books.  (Don't worry, I won't go all Wikipedia on you.)

For anyone considering self-publishing, a major consideration is the cost of printing.  To give you a sense of the process, check out the following text from an actual quote from a major book manufacturer.  (I did strip out identifying elements, but the basics remain intact.)  If nothing else you'll be surprised how inexpensive printing your own books can be... under the right circumstances.

Questions about hiring a ghostwriter?  Here's the transcript of an interview I did for an Australian magazine that may provide some answers.

Here's the story behind Book Recommendations from... If this doesn't answer your questions feel free to write.

I'm boring.  Few people care what I'm up to.  But since I love great writing, people often do ask me to recommend books so I started posting some I like.

James Tabor is the author, most recently, of Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth. His last book before that was Forever On The Mountain.  A former Contributing Editor to Outside magazine, he was also the host of the PBS series, "The Great Outdoors."  He has climbed in Alaska, dived around the world, and explored wild caves in the U.S. and Canada. He was the Executive Producer of the 2007 History Channel special Journey to the Center of the World. (By the way; Jim likes likes to hear from other authors, in particular younger writers, who might have questions about writing and publishing - so feel free to contact him.)

Exploring caves is like rock climbing, diving, and mountain climbing all rolled into one - in conditions of complete darkness, poisonous gasses and limited oxygen, and a wide variety of ways to get stuck.   Plus cavers often spend months underground; it's physically and psychologically harrowing.  Blind Descent is not just an outstanding introduction to the science and culture of caving wrapped up in an adventure tale - no wonder it was chosen as an Amazon Best of the Month and Jim chosen to be interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

Here's what Jim sent:

Melissa Milgrom is the author of Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy, part participatory journalism, part history of taxidermy, and part look inside the world of contemporary taxidermists.  The sum adds up to much more than the parts - it's unusual, fascinating, sometimes icky but always engrossing.

Melissa has also written for has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, Travel and Leisure, and Metropolis.

When I was young I thought taxidermy might be fun until I realized gutting, skinning, creating molds was involved. (Like a lot of things, the finished product looked wonderful but the process of getting there was a whole 'nother thing.)  Still Life helped me learn what I missed out on but better yet introduced me to a number of individuals dedicated to their craft. And along the way I learned about a subculture I didn't realize existed.

Here's what Melissa sent me:

Marcia Bartusiak is the author of The Day We Found the Universe, the story of how scientists discovered the universe is ever-expanding and filled with galaxies.  

The Day We Found the Universe is her fifth book; she's also an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Program in Science Writing (who knew a program like that existed?) at MIT and a columnist for Natural History magazine.

I'm hardly a science buff but I found it a fascinating read, not least because she focuses on the personalities - and the competition, cooperation, and missteps - behind the science.  If the words "science book" make you recoil, think again.  I mentioned to Marcia that I'm hardly a Bill Nye the Science Guy type... which is the audience she was writing for.

Here's what she sent me (interestingly, much lighter on science than I expected):

When I was young Jim Bouton's ground-breaking Ball Four was considered to be "dirty" by people like my parents, so I hid it. If you liked Ball Four then Dirk Hayhurst's The Bullpen Gospels is a must read - it's better.  But the Bullpen Gospels isn't an expose or a TMZ-style look at baseball; it's "just" a fun and poignant story of a guy trying to live the dream.  As he said, "...to this day the only person rendered bare in my writing is... myself."

Dirk started his writing career writing a blog about minor league life, later wrote a column for his local newspaper, and then landed a book contract for The Bullpen Gospels.  (So for all of you who write asking how to get your writing career off the ground... it all starts with having something to say.)  He's currently in the Blue Jays organization.

Not only is Dirk a gifted storyteller but he writes really well.  So let's see:  His book hit the NY Times bestseller list and has been praised by Bob Costas and Keith Olbermann... and he has a 90 mph fastball.

On second thought, he's kinda easy to hate.

Here's what Dirk sent me: