Frequently Asked Questions

Q: You’re an editor, right?

I am an editor and a designer. While I can proofread to make sure spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct, I can also design and lay out your book to look polished so it is ready to send to the printer. Not all editors are designers, and not all designers are editors; I just happen to be both, having taken university classes on both subjects.

Q: You print books, right?

Although I do not print your project, I will send the electronic file of your project to a printer. I have worked with several printers, so I can recommend one, or I can send it to a printer you have already chosen. This gives you greater flexibility when selecting a printer.

Q: What do you know that I couldn’t just figure out how to do myself?

Believe it or not, there are many details that go into document design that most people do not know about. There are several elements of typography and design that contribute to making a book attractive and easy to read. Several of the articles and portfolio samples on this site give examples of the considerations that go into designing a book

Q: What if I don’t live in Arizona, where you live?

That’s perfectly fine! I’ve designed books and documents for people across the country. It’s very easy to work together over a distance by communicating through email, phone, and/or webcam.

Q: What do I need to get started?

For books, I’ll need the text of your document and any photos, charts, or other special images you want to include. The text can be in almost any format (Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, OpenOffice Writer, etc.). I usually do not need any kind of hard copies mailed to me.

There are two ways to include pictures. Either paste them into your text file approximately where you’d like them, or just include them in a separate folder with explanations of where you want each one (i.e., chapter number). If you’d like captions with your photos, be sure to include what you want the caption to say, and which photo it goes with.

For other types of projects, such as slideshows, spreadsheets, etc., contact me and describe your project. Then I can give you a better idea of where to start and what files I would need.