So Madison area author David Benjamin jokingly described his wardrobe choices to the Waunakee Rotary Club during their July 16 virtual meeting.
While pants may be optional, other aspects of Benjamin’s profession are actually quite detailed and complex.
The author of several books and a former newspaper editor, Benjamin described how he began his own self-publishing company and the many roles involved.
He began writing in second grade, and as he grew into a novelist, journalist and editor, he found a good agent in New York. When that agent died in 2012, Benjamin faced a real challenge in finding another in New York City.
He published two books with the publishing company, Event Horizons, but neither had much staying power, he said.
So he began his own publishing company and came out with three books simultaneously in 2019. To do this, he had to assemble a team.
The players include a book designer, and Benjamin found one in Mineral point who is also a graphic designer. She not only designs the covers, but determines the typeface, the location of the right and left pages, spaces between chapters and lines up each page.
The dimension of a book are also important. A paperback must be 5-by-8 inches, otherwise it won’t fit on bookshelves and booksellers won’t take it.
Distribution is also important. Event Horizon’s distribution was through Amazon, and with booksellers at war with the that company, Benjamin couldn’t get his books into stores.
He also needed a printer, which has found in Verona.
And he needed an artist and a copy editor. Benjamin said he learned as the a newspaper editor in Mansfield, Massachusetts, that every word you print could be a mistake.  
Writers also need to schmooze a little, and Benjamin said he has several fellow authors who write glowing reviews on his book jackets.
He also has a publicist, who helps market his books.
His company is called Last Kid Book, and he has found a web designer to keep up his website, lastkidbooks.com, where his essay are also published.
Books also need and ISBN number and PCN for libraries.
And authors have to seek permission to reprint lyrics or paintings, as Benjamin did in “They Shot Kennedy,” his latest novel, which quotes a Bob Dylan song.
Benjamin said his books have no particular genre and they tend to be heavy in humor.

 

Other News:

-The Village of Waunakee is looking for committees to help with ideas to celebrate Waunakee’s sesquicentennial, President Tom Kennedy said. If you’d like to serve on this, let Tom know.

 

Birthdays: July 25, Jim Schmitz; July 26, Erick Plumb; July 28, Bob Arntz; July 29, Jim Pingel.

 
Anniversaries: July 29, Brian and Lynn Franzen.

 

Programs: ?? Stay tuned!