The Ballast Blog: Your Guide to the Publishing Journey

Crafting a standout media pitch is the cornerstone of earning media coverage for your book, but what exactly does that entail? Here’s a guide to help you through this process.

If a tree falls in a forest and its wood is used to make paper for a book that no one knows is available, do the pages make a sound?

Releasing a book is a huge achievement, marking the pinnacle of months (or sometimes years) of hard work. As an author gets close to their publication date, they often ask, “Should I throw a book launch event?”

The day has come–your book is complete. After months or even years of hard work writing and editing, your publishing and marketing team is working on getting your book ready for print.

As the beginning of December rolls around, this time of year is often accompanied by a distinct realization that you’ve yet to come up with gifts for each of your loved ones, let alone have started buying them.

Our Director of Production, Kayleigh Rucinski, came to us in 2022 with a robust educational background from Belmont University and valuable professional experience in the field of publishing.

Even in this digital age, nothing establishes credibility more quickly than a book. Having a book attached to your business creates implicit trust in those hoping to hire you, and that starts as soon as your search results do.

Writing a compelling book is just the beginning of an author’s journey. As an author, your unique voice and perspective are not only the foundation of your literary work but also the key elements of a powerful personal brand.

At Ballast Books, we believe that every author’s journey is unique, and an effective marketing strategy is one that aligns with your book, your goals, and your authentic voice.

The world of publishing is ever-evolving, shaped by technological advancements, changing reader preferences, and dynamic market trends.

Which path is right for you?

(Hint: Yes. And Yes.)

Many people dream of publishing a book. But turning that dream into a reality can seem daunting. Where do you start?

If you are planning to publish a book you hope to sell, there’s one marketing tool you mustn’t ignore.

For generations, publishing books was something done by “other people.” High-level deals done by high-powered agents for high-selling authors at high-powered New York publishing houses. Impossible for the little guy to get his or her book out. At least, that was the perception.

Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint...

As the senior production editor, many authors will be familiar with Journey, having had the pleasure of working with her through the various stages of bringing their books to life.

Emma Sherk is an editor on the Ballast team who has the pleasure of working on everything from heavy-hitting memoirs to board books for young children.