Do you have a book lurking at the back of your mind, busting at the seams of your creativity, but no idea where to start, how much it might cost, and where becoming an author might take you?
Then let's talk about some of your options!
Why write a book?
Usually people write a non-fiction book because they are experts in a particular field and wish to:
· expand on the range of people who will have access to their material,
· increase their speaker profiles,
· raise their consulting fees
· help people with their knowledge
· Sometimes just to get the information in their heads down on paper
What happens when I become an author?
People assume you know enough about your subject to be classified as an 'authority' on the matter. You can increase your profile as an expert - even worldwide - but particularly with your target market, and as a result, your consulting and speaker fees may go up. You'll get more bookings at workshops, interviews with the media, and attract the kind of clients you most want to do business with. But - there's ways and means to make this happen. Just having a book with your name on it, does not mean the phone ring more; you still have to know how to use your status as an author(ity) to make this all come about.
Why not just create an e-book, DVD or CD and sell that?
It's a funny thing, but e-books are still not considered to be as high ranking as 'real books' yet, because there are certain stereotypes, and reservations about the quality of an e-book vs. a 'real' book. Also, while a DVD may be a very complex and expensive product to produce, it still doesn't convey 'author' by the creating of it.
Writing a book is the fastest and best way possible to do become established as an expert in your field. Our job is to make sure you find the process easy, straightforward and can maximise on the opportunities this creates as quickly as possible.
How do I get started?
Writing is the easy part - really! It may not seem that way when you first start, but with our simple guidelines, on developing your material, getting started and then finishing your manuscript (plus we have a flexible ghost writing service if you need extra help) is going to have you looking at a finished book in no time at all.
How long does it take to create a book?
We can help you get your manuscript completed within only 8 weeks using our system of coaching, mentoring and help with understanding the process so you don't 'overwrite' your book.
Once your manuscript is finished in first draft form, then we'll edit, and let our creative genius's take over the fine tuning of it all, so that you can just wait for the polished manuscript to come back to you for sign off. Then your book goes through the pre-press, design and 'construction' phase. Depending on changes and sign off times, you book can be ready to print within 6-8 months from starting.
What does it USUALLY cost?
To produce a book*, including the writing, editing, pre-press, construction, peer reviews, printing and launch phase you should budget on between $15-$25,000. That's depending on how many printed copies you want and how much marketing you wish to have done. So, let's start with the basics of $15,000, for taking your book up to print ready stage.
Of course some books are a little less expensive than this, and some are more so.
Each book is different and we treat each one as a separate case. But these figures give you some clear budgeting ideals for now.
From a marketing perspective this is not a lot of money to invest in your expertise and profile, but it can be a daunting figure at the starting gate.
So we've created a way to make this easy, affordable and achievable and will share this with you shortly.
*based on approx 120 pages, A5 size, b/w inside, full colour cover and book requires average 3 full edits.
Introducing the:
Maruki Books 8 Month Book Publishing Programme
We often talk with people who need to know what their options are and about the best way to create a book at the start, and often the knowledge we pass on is much the same. And so we've developed a programme that is very individual but similar for each of our authors that is designed with your specific needs in mind.
We'll not only create your book with you, but talk you through the process so that you fully understand all the steps and you can use our templates and systems for the writing, right through to marketing of your book.
For two months, Maria Carlton will meet with you (by phone or skype) twice each month and coach, encourage and help you through the writing phase of your book. Then, once your manuscript is in its first draft format and off your hands, the coaching phase will switch to once a month and she'll teach you about all the areas that go into creating a book and share all the tips and secrets she's learned about how to publish a book that really will bring you the results you are looking for.
Maria will also discuss in detail, many of those things that you may not even have thought about yet, but are critical to the success of your book.
Including:
· ISBN numbers, and Neilson Book Data
· Distribution - selling your book
· International options for publishing your book
· Getting your book listed on Amazon and Google Books
· Peer reviews - how to get the best ones
· How big should your book be?
· How many should you print?
· Offset or digital print, POD and E-Books
· Design and typesetting
· The speaking Circuit
· Promotion and PR for your book
· Creating and sending a good press release
Our Coaching And Development Programme
Designed to ensure your book is created, written, designed, reviewed, and ready to print, to your specific requirements - with guidance and advice from us about all the things that you need to do to make your book successful.
Featuring 5 Individual, interactive, customised, one-one coaching sessions to help you through the writing phase and a further 6 monthly sessions dedicated to helping you learn all about the publishing process so that by the time you are ready to do book number 2, the whole thing will be so much easier for you to do successfully.
Each coaching session is one hour long by phone or Skype.
Your book files will be prepared and ready to print, and your printing prices as low as possible from our range of local or international printers to consider. From there we can take care of the logistics of printing, in whatever quantities you require.
We'll also offer our comprehensive distribution and marketing options, including taking your book to the biggest international publishing fair in Germany, The Frankfurt Book Fair is held in October every year and is the successful meeting ground for publishers to buy foreign rights options on books. We have a number of growing relationships with publishers and literary agents from all over the world - some of whom do take options on our books represented in Frankfurt.
Your Investment:
NZ 5 monthly payments of $1950 + GST
AUS 5 monthly payments of $1660 no GST
Maria is also available for quick emails and phone calls if you are in need of help with the writing and publishing process between these coaching sessions
Skype is preferred for coaching sessions, but at times if not suitable or available, then Maruki Books pay for all scheduled calls including International ones.
NOTE: Due to the nature of this programme, including coaching exclusively with Maria Carlton, there are limited numbers of places available at any time. A waiting list may be necessary when we have more than 4 authors at any one time going through this programme.
If you are ready to become an author in 2009, your place on this programme ensures that your book is not only produced, published, marketed and distributed, but that you are also increasing your own knowledge dramatically about how to self publish next time.
Why should you work with Maruki Books?
Because we have set up specifically to meet the challenges and provide answers to the most common question posed by non-fiction business and inspirational authors "how do I get my books produced and out there?" Maria Carlton understands first-hand the rewards, challenges, and frustrations of both sides of this specialist industry.
Maria has been mentored by some of the world's top industry specialists (speakers and writers and publishers), and networks extensively to ensure her knowledge is current, her contacts are excellent and her services are what people really want. Her own specialist topic as a speaker/author is brand communication and marketing.
Testimonials
What other authors say about working with Maruki Books
"Maria and the team at Maruki Books have taken my idea and turned it into reality. As a new author with no idea on how to get published, Maria has taken me by the hand and coached me through the process. She has encouraged me on translating my ideals to paper, fought me on what was important and let me loose on what wasn’t. My book has now been promoted locally and internationally and is on its way to becoming a bestseller. Without Maria’s guidance this would still be a good idea on my list of things to do next year. Maria’s business will now take me as an author and promote me as a speaker, thus helping me to grow my speaking business. It is my view that her worldwide connections are invaluable not only to the growth of her business, but the businesses she influences because of the way she leverages those connections and introduces people so they can enjoy mutual gains"
Phil Strong, Author of
Becoming Money Wise
"Maruki Books may be a new company, but speaking from my personal experience, they have delivered an outstandingly professional service and assisted with the editing, production and promotion of my first book, making the whole experience completely painless – or to be more precise, a great pleasure. I cannot speak highly enough of them and can only say that they will be my first and only choice for my future publications – the team is top class and deservedly creating a hugely successful business."
John Shackleton CSP – Author of
Life is for Living
"Maruki has continued on where Phantom left off, and is building well as a NZ and global brand. The business is professional and effective, supporting clients in an efficient and cost-effective way. It particularly gives new authors easy access to the publishing market, and therefore contributes to a large number of other businesses.
Ian Williams – Author of
Kairology- a time for personal growth
"Maria has thought outside the box and created a great business built on a model of helping people take their product to the market place. Maria has huge vision for her business and that is one of the main reasons that I am proudly associated with her business and a supportive friend and colleague to her on her business quest."
Keith Abraham, CSP – Best selling author, & Nevin Award winner, NSAA Qsld
From the moment we agreed to work together Maria has organised, coordinated and arranged all the necessary steps to ensure I get a finished product that is of the highest quality. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and contacts have been invaluable.
David Beard, Author of
If I’d Only Known I’d Live This Long, NSAA, West Australia
"Maria has created a business which will take the book publishing world by storm. Not for her business the slow and laborious process of publishing where an author may have to wait anything up to two years to see their book in print. She takes a manuscript by the scruff of the neck; edits and improves it and then gets it on the book shelves in a fraction of the time traditional publishing houses take. She is also combining both her loves – writing and speaking and by coaching, guiding and mentoring she is fast-tracking young professional speakers into the wonderful world of writing their first book. She is changing lives."
Ann Andrews, CSP, best-selling author and international speaker
Your 3 steps to getting started:
First you:
- Request an agreement for all the details about this programme
- Work with us to schedule dates for all parts of the programme to happen
- Pay your first month's instalment
Then we:
- Send you a folder for starting or developing your manuscript and keeping notes about the programme
- Schedule our first 5 coaching calls - the first two are within 7 days of each other so that we can get some momentum going on your manuscript and answer all the extra questions I'm sure you'll have
- Review your material so that we can customise your calls
Time to Take Action
If you would like to be included in this exclusive 8 month programme designed to take you through the process of becoming an author, where we work together on creating your book, and share all the secrets of how to publish a book, then please email us and request a formal agreement - which contains even more details about our programme.
Please include your phone number and email address (even if you think we already have these) and we'll be able to get the ball rolling on this for you ASAP!
If there is a book inside you – take action and become an author NOW – it’s never been easier to make this dream come true.
About Maruki Books
Established by Maria Carlton, a professional speaker and author from New Zealand, who started helping other professional speakers and knowledge merchants to write and then publish their books; Maruki Books sprouted from this in 2006 - 2007.
Maria was named one of the worlds' top 50 mentors in 2003 by Mission Marketing Mentors, a California based publishing company, who as part of this honour, invited Maria to participate in a 12 month intensive training programme covering authorship, publishing and positioning of one's self as an expert.
Maria has co-authored 2 international bestselling books:
- Create the Business Breakthrough You Want, by Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy, Robert G Allen, Bob Proctor, Maria Carlton et al
- The Power of Promotional Products, by Maria Carlton and David Blaise
Maruki Books has created/published and in some instances ghost written 12 books since December 2006. One of our authors, Pirie Brown, was named NSANZ's (Auckland) Author of the Year in 2007.
Maria was herself named NSANZ's (Auckland) Author of the Year in 2004, has been speaking professionally (from Las Vegas to Invercargill) since 2004, and has personally written 6 books of her own since 2003. She served as Chapter President of NSANZ, and on the National Board of NSANZ, retiring from that role in 2007.
