Ashante Thomas's Blog

Freelancer ▪ Acquisitions Editor

#ashantethomas

October 24, 2023

Tapping Your Network

You’ve signed with your dream publisher and submitted your manuscript to production. As release day draws closer, you wonder what you can do as author to help sales and publicity. The following are a few tips that involve leveraging your network to drive sales as soon as your book is available for preorder. > Ask… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #books, #publishing
August 24, 2023

Refreshing Your Website before Hitting “Send”

Many publishers check prospective authors’ platforms ahead of offering them a publishing agreement. Their goal is to sign authors with a strong platform to mitigate the risk of signing someone who cannot help drive sales of their book. So, the following are two elements that authors should address before sending a publisher their book proposal.… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #bookproposal, #publishing
July 29, 2023

Shifting the Focus of Your Book Post-Contract

Often, books are contracted months or even years ahead of their release. As authors’ platforms and work evolve, they may find that the audience or topic they’re writing to is no longer the largest part of their business. To get the publisher’s support to change directions while keeping the contract terms intact, an author might… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authorplatform, #bookcontract, #publishing, #publishing101
April 11, 2023

Communicating Your Vision for Your Book’s Cover Design

Cover design is one of the most exciting parts of the book production process. Undoubtedly, both author and publisher understand that a well-designed cover draws in readers, and all parties want to be proud of the end result. However, the author and publisher often have differing ideas of what that design looks like. For the… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #books, #coverdesign, #publishingtips, #writers
July 18, 2021

Submitting Your Proposal (for First-timers)!

So you’ve finally written your book and compiled a list of publishers whose audience will love it. But what do you send? Each publisher has its own guidelines—usually found on its website, but send the following and no detail will be left to chance. Cover letter (or email) summarizing your manuscript, your expertise, other publishers… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #books, #publishing
June 4, 2016

Querying Authors: How to Write Queries, When to Write Them

Sometimes it’s necessary to query authors to clarify an idea or concept. In my opinion, the best queries are straightforward, spelling out exactly what information you need. You want to respect the authors’ time and avoid any chance your request can be misinterpreted. Perhaps the authors said “Research says” or “Studies show”, but they don’t… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #authorqueries, #books, #publishing, #publishing101
May 16, 2016

Understanding the Power of Partnership

One of the reasons I chose to pursue a career in publishing is that I love helping people achieve their goals. I’d like to say that as a copy editor (and proofreader and project manager), I take a manuscript in its raw form and transform it into a polished piece, marketable to the public and… Continue reading

Permissions 101, Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #books, #HabitatForHumanity, #partnership
August 17, 2015

Highlighting 3 Elements to Check During Proofreading

Proofreading is one of the final hands-on stages of the publishing process. At proofreading, the manuscript will receive a final read through. According to the University of Chicago Press’s (2010) The Chicago Manual of Style (Sixteenth edition), “Proofreading is the process of reading a text and scrutinizing all its components to find errors and mark… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #ChicagoManualofStyle, #inkblotediting, #proofreading, #publishing, #publishing101
July 3, 2015

Identifying 3 Ways to Locate Copyright Holders

You’re publishing a piece and decide that a text (poem, song lyrics, book quotes longer than 500 words) or visual someone else created would help illustrate your point. You don’t want to include the other party’s work without written permission from that party because (1) you could be sued if she finds out and (2)… Continue reading

Permissions 101

#ashantethomas, #copyright, #CopyrightClearanceCenter, #permissions, #Permissions101, #publishing, #publishing101
June 27, 2015

Citing Sources: How to Do It Properly

Citing a source means you admit to readers that they aren’t the first to see the information. Continue reading

Permissions 101

#APAstyle, #ashantethomas, #books, #inkblotediting, #permission, #publishing, #PurdueOWL

About Me

Rooted in the rhythms of Motown and most at home on Midwest hiking trails, I am an editor with a career that bridges trade and scholarly publishing. Whether working in continental philosophy, Holocaust studies, or my current focus on health and fitness, I respect the creative process and the dedication it takes to bring a book to life. When I am not tending to my backyard patch of cabbage, I use this space to clear my mind and share practical insights. My goal = help nonfiction authors demystify the publishing journey and enjoy a much richer experience from manuscript to marketplace.