The author goes through a creative process, moving from an idea’s conception to a fleshed-out manuscript. The story becomes tangible as the scenes and characters develop. It involves ongoing writing, revising, and reconsidering,

That phase could be of almost any duration. For Catawampus that cycle took seven years! I like to think that it kept getting better during each revision, each sign that its time had not yet arrived. But then the signs shifted and it was time for it to happen.

The publishing process began. The publisher takes over from when the

Packaging the manuscript into a book involves:

• Designing the cover
• Setting the price
• Figuring out how and where it will be sold
• Typesetting the pages
• And hundreds of other details

The printer and distributor then make sure that there will be a book for people to get their hands on. That it will be available in stores or over the Internet.

Lots of people must help to raise it

Lot of people have to work together for that baby/book to be born. And that’s just the start of its life.

When a mother brings a baby home from the hospital she knows her responsibilities are just beginning. Same thing with a book. Once it’s printed, people need to learn about it. That involves marketing and sales and shipping.

Readers play a part as well. If they don’t read the book, it goes nowhere. And if they like it, it helps them to tell their friends about it. The more books that get sold, the more likely the author and publisher are to continue to write and print them.

So here it is, making its first appearance.