Ashante Thomas's Blog

Freelancer ▪ Acquisitions Editor

#publishing101

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
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
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

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.

#publishing101

Shifting the Focus of Your Book Post-Contract

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

Highlighting 3 Elements to Check During Proofreading

Identifying 3 Ways to Locate Copyright Holders