Gal Friday Industries/Friday Books

05/13/2024

I often have authors express to me that they DO NOT WANT TO SELL THEIR BOOKS ON AMAZON. Here’s the deal: If you opt for another print-on-demand channel that promises to distribute your book to every single possible avenue so that you (and they) make the most money, those channels will 1) put your book on Amazon; 2) make your book available to the *very same* catalogs and distributors that Amazon reaches out to (Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, libraries, schools, etc.)

There are different tiers of royalty plans and distribution options for every channel, but if you want to stay off of Amazon, you’re probably going to have to print your book yourself and sell it out of your garage.

And then, a used book seller can put it on Amazon.

It can be a very tangled web.

I still believe that it’s the writing that is the most important, and that you should write your poems, your novel, your memoir, your cookbook.

I hope someday to take my own advice on this point.

07/29/2023

"I found someone who can do it cheaper." Or, in my office, I hear "my book won't need editing," and "we've already proofread it." We know you've put a lot of work into your project. We try to be compassionate when we illustrate why a book needs a thorough edit, but it does crush some authors. Please understand that we want you to succeed, and the publisher that doesn't insist on some services has no regard for your project.

06/23/2023

Facebragging! Acknowledgment in upcoming book: Last, but not least, we’d like to thank our team of publishing professionals. First and foremost, Lori Weidert of Gal Friday Industries, who led the team. She’s one of those leaders who is so good she knows the importance of singing the praises of the members of her team. She drafted Tiffany Taylor to edit and Rachel Royer for graphic design. They have been our “dream team.”

::blush::

::post::

04/08/2023

Yes, they is.

11/26/2022

(I can help produce your book in both print and electronic formats, btw!)

04/01/2022

Don’t make me choose—I love and use both formats. (I can also produce books in both formats.)

03/22/2022

I attended two public readings of Mark Robert's "The Lonely Banjo," that I typeset and helped him publish. Although it's a bit of a children's book, this was a favorite for the middle-aged women in the audience. No spoiler alert here, but there's a very exciting conclusion. Check out The Lonely Banjo page, and/or hit me up if you'd like to purchase a copy of the book to find out for yourself!

Five bananas were purchased, but only four were eaten, and now Rebecca Sue Banana is beginning to show her age. She does her best to appear young, and forgive me, "appealing," but no amount of make-up can hide the fact that Rebecca Sue is an older banana...
The tale of Rebecca Sue Banana is a delightful story about appreciating our elders. You can read more about Rebecca Sue Banana in The Lonely Banjo, written and illustrated by Mark Roberts (writer of Two and a Half Men, creator of Mike & Molly). Available for purchase at thelonelybanjo.com

03/01/2022

This year, I have so far worked on: 6 textbooks: (Nursing, Health, Nutrition, Software, and Ventilator Waveforms); 2 leadership books, (one religious, one on emotional intelligence); 1 gorgeous children's book; 2 archaeological reports; and 1 large program booklet. I have also created 1 memorial flyer for a funeral; edited 3 scholarship application essays; have overseen the creation, packaging, and pricing of prints, coasters, and stickers, and created various flyers and notices for local businesses.

As a child, I was that chubby little kid with the cat-eyed glasses who was made fun of as she read a book while simultaneously walking home from school.

Now my work allows me to dabble in education, science, history, technology, whimsy, grief, hope, and community, and I am pretty happy for little bookworm me.

Squeeeee!!!

02/24/2022

11/30/2021

Santa is watching you.

11/25/2021

I really do learn something new every day.

11/16/2021

www.lonelybanjo.com is officially launched! For sale at Bohemia in Urbana, or on our website. Stay tuned for more fun!

11/08/2021

Expanding my horizons! Mark Roberts' The Lonely Banjo is on sale now at Bohemia in Urbana, and I got to play window-dresser with these two gorgeous creative gals, Milea Beck Hayes and Kelsi Miller. We had so much fun buying props and bringing characters to life around a cozy Christmas fireplace! I'll post more pictures later, because now I want you to mosey by and see it for yourself.

11/04/2021

We sent final print files of The Lonely Banjo by Mark Roberts, to print about 6 weeks ago. You’d think, in this day, that the process would be instantaneous, but it’s not. Proof copies printed and bound, and sent to the author (Mark) and production (me) for review. This is followed up with discussion and polishing, and then arrangement of shipping, storage, and *HELLO!* payment! In the interim, we’re partnering up and branching out, and there are boxes and bubble wrap and stickers and windows….my goodness, we are having fun! Bohemia Milea Beck Hayes

10/31/2021

I’m not sayin’ nothin’ ‘bout nobody, but…BTDT…

10/22/2021

I have recently been typesetting a series of translations in Portuguese and Albanian, with more languages to come. The printer (in Brazil) and author were kind enough to send these awesome photos of the first book in final production. I started working in a print companies like this in 1982, and what I learned before I moved on to book layout still proves invaluable to me now. (And boy, I still love the smell of ink and solvent!)

09/16/2021

There are more adventures and amusement in publishing than one might think. My TimeHop from 2009 reminded me of this post:
Working on corrections for crazy author [...]. "Insert p" is indicated by him as such: "Insert p*e."

08/03/2021

I can make your wine taste better.

"... researchers in Switzerland found that a wine labelled with a difficult-to-read script was liked more by drinkers than the same wine carrying a simpler typeface."

Great thought and effort go into creating restaurant menus – and there are some very powerful psychological tricks employed to make you choose.

07/29/2021

I rearranged the office last week, to accommodate both remote and walk-in clients. I’m still tweaking, and know I should hang some curtains, but man, I love the light. Here, I make books ‘n things. Come see me!

07/22/2021

I do more than publishing—If it's in any way text-related, I got your back! Last week's project involved extracting the data from over 25,000 cells in an Excel sheet, then assembling and formatting them into a comprehensive manuscript for an academic journal. If you have a tedious, text-based chore, I can automate most processes and cut the production time by days. Also, I'm *that* weirdo that loves this kind of tedious work.

04/08/2021

I know this a parenting article, but I can assure you that this sort of ridiculous demand is made by difficult authors of all generations. Sometimes we send them packing, but sometimes we are under contract, and must acquiesce. Boy, we get those demands in writing, because they'll invariably come screaming when their Amazon reviews get zero stars.

Parenthood is hard AF. Filter Free Parents provides parental tips and commentary for all kinds moms and dads as they journey through parenting.

03/22/2021

Anatomy-of-a-Book Humor.

02/09/2021

Sigh. Bring it to me, I’ll put it together.