When a new book arrives

It's always a thrilling moment when a new book arrives in the office from the printer. Thrilling but tense. After a huge amount of effort has been put into editing, crafting, shaping and designing, the book gets passed around the office. What happens next is an interesting exercise in testing our professionalism as a publisher.

As a book get's passed round people who have not been part of the process they react to it in the same way that anyone does when they pick up a book in a bookshop. They ask the following questions:

• Does it look good? Is the cover attractive or intriguing?
• Does the title "speak to me"? Is it addressing a need I have for understanding or help in some way?
• As I flick through the pages, does it look appealing on the page - does it look like an engaging read, or like something I would need to wade through treacle to finish?
• Do the chapter titles provoke my interest?
• Does the book "feel" like it's worth the price we are suggesting people should pay for it?
• Does it look and feel like a Good Book Company product - is the Bible front and centre, and is it helping people to understand and connect with Scripture more?
• Is it something we are excited to be adding to our list, rather than just turning the publishing handle to grind out "something new"?

And of course...

• Are there any typos (typographical errors). It's amazing how sometimes glaring errors still manage to creep through, even when we have such rigorous processes internally to make sure they don't.

When it is a product I have overseen, I usually finish this process by taking a "selfie" with the book, and sending it to the author.

Then the whole process starts again...

We picked up the rights to publish and promote Tim Chester's excellent book, Ordinary Hero, in the US, which will be launching in a few weeks' time - have a look at the UK version HERE - it's terrific!