Dear Ellen,

"As a former teacher and mother, turned entrepreneur, I knew little about publishing, as evidenced by my first venture. You took my two mediocre children’s books, advised me of necessary changes and recruited the talent to turn them into marketable masterpieces! I couldn’t be happier with the end result.

"I will certainly recommend you to anyone considering self-publishing. Sharing your in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry gave me insight, saved money and steered my fledgling publishing company in the right direction. In addition, working with you over nine months was simply a pleasure. I’m so glad that I found you!"

Warmly,

Julie Rebboah
www.lightningbuglearning.com

Ellen

"To get your work published an author should find a mentor to shepherd his book through a complicated industry. An author focus on writing. As the author of "Digger, Dogface, Brownjob, Grunt"... published in September 2009 by Cougar Creek Press,I was blessed with three mentors. The first is the most accomplished editor in America, Laurie Rosin. The second is the best cover artist in America, George Foster.

"Assuming I could court publishers with good writing and a quality cover, I began papering my wall with rejection letters. "Digger, Dogface..." was the first title published by Cougar Creek Press with the shepherding expertise of Ellen Reid.

"I found Laurie Rosin quite by chance on the internet...I found George Foster on John Kremer's bookmarket web site... Ellen Reid was recommended by George.

"Without Ellen Reid's team of interior designers, proof readers, script writers, and printers, along with her personal staff, California, my book would stillbe soliciting rejections from an industry layered with gate-keepers.

"Yesterday, "Digger, Dogface, Brownjob, Grunt" won two prestigious awards in The National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News of Los Angeles."Digger, Dogface, Brownjob, Grunt" was the national winner for "Best New Fiction" and "Fiction & Literature: Literary Fiction."

"You can find Ellen at bookshep@gmail.com. Stop trying to be more than an authorand get some help. Ellen is a friend. You'll find few like her in this industry."

Gary Prisk

To Whom It May Concern,

"After retiring from the financial services business, I decided to use my experience to enter a new career as a life coach. I had just finished three years of writing a book about balance in life. Unless you have written many other books or are fairly famous, converting a manuscript to a finished book is a major project.

"It was fortuitous that I met Ellen Reid at a self-publishing workshop. Over the next year, we worked together to make the conversion from several hundred pages of my experiences and wisdom into a book. The book, "A Balanced Life Experience: a Roadmap for Having It All" provided many advantages to me as I began my new career.

"First, it provided credibility. It was amazing to me how differently people looked at me once I was an author. Secondly, as I gave speeches all over the United States, the marketing of my book to those from the audience gave me the opportunity to meet many people I would never have met had I not had a book.

"Finally, and most important of all, I was able to pass along my decades of accumulated wisdom to my children."

Sincerely,
Richard Geno, The Socratic Coach

"I hired Ellen to help me publish a new book I am writing called The Naked Portfolio Manager which is due out in April. Ellen assembled a team of the best copy writers, copy editors, cover designers and book marketers. As anyone who has every written a book can attest, by the time you finally finish your manuscript you feel like you have given birth. But you are only half the way there. Don't trust your "child" to anyone else. Let Ellen be your midwife.

"Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity."

Robert J. hired Ellen in 2008.

Ellen:  I encountered someone at the kitchen place who literally raved about your gig on Beyond Words. "Wonderful information which she plans to pass on to her father who wrote a memoir," she told me.   Now doesn't that feel good?

Fran Halpern

"Ellen... I sold 400 in 5 months - we did order 300 more - they came 2 weeks ago -great!!!  People are teasing me about writing my next book - who knows!!!!"

Fondly, Rusty 

VOLUSIA CENTER for COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

"My book won the Writer's Digest Book Awards a couple of months ago and one of the prizes is consultation with Ellen Reid, Book Shepherd. Dan Poynter coined the term (and suggested that Ellen call herself that), and the shepherd basically helps the author produce a finished book. Ellen also works with the author to help them brand and position the book.

"Anyway, since my book was finished, Ellen reviewed my website. We have spoken a couple times so far and one of the most interesting things she has said is that 'People don't buy books, people buy people.' 

"Based on that comment and many more, I redesigned my website. This includes a big mug shot on the home page, as part of the "people" strategy. I have also added a feature to collect email addresses and will begin sending out newsletters soon." The biggest change is that I am adding new material on a regular basis. 

Norma Lehmeier Hartie
http://www.harmoniousenvironment.com

“For the 15th edition of The Self-Publishing Manual, I turned to Ellen Reid for help. She put together a team of editors, designers, typesetters and proofreaders and produced the book in record time. Ellen can take your good book and turn it into a great book—one your readers will admire and one you will be proud of.

"I plan to work with Ellen again and again.”

Dan Poynter, The Self-Publishing Manual, 15th Edition.

"Thank you for helping me produce a beautiful book. What an incredible journey, and thank God you were there to shepherd me!"

Love, Coco (Colette Waddell, author of Through the Eyes of a Survivor)

Ellen,

"Thank you for returning the manuscript and other material int the mail. I got them today when I made my weekly pilgrimage to the mailbox.

"Summer Capricorn will be released June 30, with a newly re-designed book cover, done in Adobe InDesign CS2, and a newly paragraph–justified interior, also done in Adobe InDesign CS2. The Manufacturing Representative said he had seldom seen such clean, error-free files from a first-timer.

"I appreciate the help you provided. Your hour was worth it's weight in gold. I'll be sending you a copy as soon as it is out."

Sincerely,

Terry Row, Author of Summer Capricorn

"I never imagined the day would come when my dream of publishing my memoir, I’ll Be in the Car, would be realized. After I made contact with Ellen Reid, the daunting prospect of self-publishing became less frightening and more exhilarating. I had made a commitment to invest in myself as a writer and author, so presenting a professional, authentic product to the public was mandatory.

"Ellen assembled the perfect team of editors and designers who were willing to delve into my sometimes tragic but inspirational story. Together with Ellen, the team brought their individual skills to this project as well as their ability to perceive the essence of the story. With Ellen’s firm but steady hand, she guided not only the editing and design work but walked me through navigating the registration and marketing process of ISBNs, book reviews and other minutiae to bring I’ll Be in the Car into the light. "

Annette Januzzi Wick
Author of I’ll Be in the Car, One Woman’s Story of Love, Loss and Reclaiming Life
Three Arch Press
www.Illbeinthecar.com

"I write to discuss my book-publishing experiences.

"I worked with a book coordinator, Ellen Reid, who helped me establish Kelty Press. Our goal was to create a book that to most people would not look self-published.

"I established Kelty Press because I planned to write and publish other financial planning books. I realize now I could have simplified my life by using Ellen's company, and that is what I recommend you consider. She has her own publishing company.

"If you view your book as a marketing tool for your primary business, then your expectations for sales will likely be more realistic. From the standpoint of establishing credibility–especially among estate planning and other attorneys–my book has worked well for me. Of course I use my book to build links with other referral sources, such as healthcare professionals and social workers.

"Ellen recommended that I hire a copywriter to develop copy for the back cover, my bio and an introduction. Since I am an experienced writer, I questioned the need for a copywriter. However, I followed Ellen's recommendations throughout and I am glad I did. I also paid for a book designer–to design my cover, layout the pages, choose the typeface and develop the look and feel of my book. That was certainly money well spent. I also paid a copyeditor to proofread my book. I was amazed how many errors she caught.

"I paid extra for a higher grade of paper for the covers and the book, plus I paid extra to have the photos enhanced for publication. These items matter because you want to have your book serve as an extension of you and your company. People recognize when a book has been printed on cheaper paper and the illustrations lack zing.

"Two years have passed since publishing my book and I am still proud to use it to promote my business. I attribute much of that success to Ellen's experienced guidance. With your permission, I will refer you to her."

Bob Cullen, Kelty Press

Bram Stoker First Place Award Winner talks about Ellen:

"Thanks to Ellen Reid of Little Moose Press, Smarketing.com and BookShepherding.com who is undoubtedly the top Book Shepherd in the business, for hanging in with me since the beginning."

Steve Burt, Award-Winning Author

THANK YOU!

"Your input about the project, most especially the SHOCK of the realities concerning marketing, were a real eye-opener for me.

"Bless you, lady!"

All the BEST

Lenny Tumbarello – WeTooCanDo Publishing

"Ellen, thank you for your unwavering support, your practical experience and your incredible creative team! You have not only helped me give birth to a life long dream, you have supported me in creating a high-quality product that I hope will touch the lives of many others! I highly recommend your services and your personal approach!"

Kim Fulcher – www.remodelyourreality.com

Respectfully,

Marc J. Stockwell-Moniz, www.georgewashingtonsunsungheroes.com

Dear Ellen,

"Your guidance and attentive handholding were exactly what were needed to turn Briefs for Building Better Brands into the impressive and exciting gem that it is. You've proven to be a true friend who takes an genuine and ongoing interest in your client's success, and your contributions are always right-on-the-money.

"Thanks again for your honesty, insight, advice, and ongoing support. "

Warm regards,

Allan Gorman, Chairman of the Board
www.brandspa-llc.com

"Ellen was the first to read my manuscript. Her take on it seemed to be right on. The book is now being printed, and I am thankful and appreciative that I had Ellen read it and inspire me. She is an awesome individual and I recommend her intuition and knowledge highly to anyone considering publishing a book! "

Tina Volpe, Author of The Fast Food Craze, Wreaking Havoc on Our Bodies and Our Animals...

"Ellen's advice and guidance was invaluable through the process of getting my book from initial rough concept to polished, professional-grade finished product. Not only did she help me find the right book-production people at the right time (editor, photographer, cover designer, etc.), she even introduced me to a publisher. The quality of my book was so impressive that I now have a publishing deal with Oakhill Press. I'm on my way! I chose Ellen Reid to be my book shepherd because I wanted my self-published book to look so polished and professional that anyone would think it came from a major publisher. With her guidance I got just what I wanted—a book that I’m proud of. Ellen knows the ropes, has the contacts, and guides you gently but firmly in the right direction. And she’s very patient with nervous authors! She’s the best!"

Barbara Wright Abernathy, author of Venus on Top

"The best professional I've ever met in the book business."

Michael Levin

"Ellen helped me to get places I would have never gotten by myself. She helped to get my books to the next level. She helped with the sub-title, back cover, all the branding, and the new cover design. I now have all the things I need to do my own marketing; a terrific website (she introduced me to my Web designer and host); a one sheet, a poster, and books that are done professionally and printed using offset, not digital. I feel like a real publisher and author now with the right information on the copyright page and all the many things I didn't do before. Thanks, Ellen! You are truly a 'book shepherd' extraordinare."

Mabel Katz, www.mabelkatz.com

"Ellen's expertise in the publishing industry is legendary! Her phenomenal team is responsible for some of the most professional and well-designed books in the United States today. Ellen will help you hone your message into a product you can be proud of. Highly recommended for any author that is interested in becoming a small publisher."

Jeff Keen, President & Publisher, JPX Media

Dear Ellen:

"Now that my book is about to be published, I realize how much there is to know about the publishing business. You brought every part of it together and your role as my consultant was invaluable.

"A recipe is only as good as the ingredients and most importantly the chef who is putting it all together. Creating is a serious business, and you know yours well.

"Thanks for all your support and guidance. "

Susanne Reyto, author of Pursuit of Freedom

"Ellen Reid is not only an expert at positioning and collaborating with authors on their books, she also guides them through the maze of details in starting their own independent press. She makes me proud."

Dan Poynter, The Self-Publishing Manual and 100+ other books, parapublishing.com

Ellen,

"Check my website. I am speaking an average of once per month (twice this month). I usually sell a book to 25–-50% of the attendees. With groups of 100–200 (2 or 3 this year), I usually sell 30–40 books.

"Two weeks ago, I spoke in Redding (Shasta NAIFA). There were 60 in attendance, and I sold 37 books. With small groups (25 or less), I usually sell a book to 60–100% of the group.

"I'm getting about 1–2 new coaching clients from every talk. 80 percent of my coaching sessions are now done by telephone. I have two groups and will soon be expanding to three.

"The Million Dollar Round Table has now purchased 200 books, and seem to be selling pretty well. At the annual convention in June, they sold 60 books in their 'Supermarket.' The remainder have been sold on their website.

"I've been getting outstanding feedback from people who have bought and read my book. I still mention you in every one of my speeches as my book shepherd. Also, that 'post-mortem' discussion we had after my Silicon Valley speech in January, 2002, was probably the most valuable communication I have had in the past several years. I really didn't enjoy hearing some of what you had to say, but I did listen, and it has made me a 500% better speaker."

Richard Geno, author of The Balanced Life Experience

"Ellen Reid and her team at Smarketing provided expert publishing guidance that saved us time and money, and significantly improved the quality of decisions we made. Their guidance on positioning, the production of the cover and interior, their knowledge of production and distribution options, and the seemingly thousands of questions that were answered weekly were all handled in superior fashion."

Judith Anderson, The Path to Corporate Nirvana, www.silverfallspress.com

Dr. H

"If you want to save time, money, and get your book done right. You must hire Ellen!"

John Assaraf, author of The Street Kid's Guide to Having it All!

"Ellen Reid is a creative genius! She masterfully assembles your project team and tailors it to fulfill the needs of your individual project and budget. Then Ellen creatively steers you and your team on a course which avoids the many pitfalls of the self-publishing process.

"I highly recommend Ellen Reid's services to anyone who wants to create a first-class product and at the same time work with someone who is intuitive, trustworthy and caring."

Dr. Mawiyah Clayborne, author of How to Remember Your Bliss

"Little did I know what was in store for me when I attended Dan Poynter's seminar last January and had the privilege of meeting you. I knew I needed help in marketing my book, but I could never have anticipated the exciting journey you would lead me on: a new cover, a new book interior, a website all my own and a glimpse into the world of marketing through your eyes.

"I'm so grateful for your expertise, the highly competent people you have chosen as your colleagues, and your vision for each special client you have.

"A million thanks for all that has happened and for what is yet to come."

Louise Gaylord, author of Anacacho, www.anacacho.com