Self-publish with the Espresso Book Machine

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2015 (3613 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Although the word Espresso is in the name of the book-making machine at McNally Robinson Booksellers, you aren’t going to get a one- or two-ounce shot of pressure-brewed coffee with a book from this machine.

However, you will get wonderful copies of whatever you have written.

As you enter the store from the parking lot, the EBM, as it is called, is directly to your right. McNally Robinson purchased the machine in 2011 and, to date, over 20,000 books have been printed on it.

It’s an odd-looking contraption that whirs and makes other busy noises as a book goes through the printing process.

If you decide you want to self-publish your work you might want to purchase the store’s Do It Yourself Formatting Guide for the Espresso Book Machine.

What’s next?

Here are the steps I went through for my memoir/family history:

First I made an appointment to meet with one of the EBM representatives, Sarah Wood. I asked the 101 questions floating around in my head. She gave me all the answers.

At this meeting the following decisions were made.

• I chose a set-up package. Each gives different supports to the author depending on the type of manuscript you want to print, your degree of technical savvy, and the length of your work.

• I selected additional services, such as cover design, photo scanning and placement, author revisions, and PDF alterations. I also chose interior page design.

• I submitted my two files on a USB flash drive (memory stick). Other options are to submit them on a CD or via email.

The next part of the process was to carefully read the material after it was formatted using the InDesign program, including the placement of photographs. Sarah emailed the files to me. Be prepared to do a lot of concentrated work at this stage.

Necessary corrections to the formatting and writing revisions were noted and submitted to Sarah and corrected. This step was repeated a second time because of errors in my writing that I had missed.

At the moment I’m waiting to receive a proof copy of the book.

Finally the requested  number of copies will be printed at a cost of $7 per book plus 3 cents per page.
You can opt for a book launch and a consignment of books for on-site or online purchase. Since my book is for private distribution to family members, I didn’t need these services.

The support from Sarah through the various stages has been exceptional.

If you want to self-publish anything such as a book, journal, workbook, art project, or screenplay, then the EBM machine is a good choice.

Jeannette Timmerman is a community correspondent for Richmond West.