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MANDI ALLEN
I'm a Mum, Teacher, Author, Playwright, Gardener, Writing and Business Coach, Digital Marketer and Adhd which on it's own, opens so many other worlds!
Writer
From historical biopic movies to thought-provoking theatre scripts, I'm never far away from my latest project.
Coach
Whether it's motivating a writer, helping someone with the concepts of 'A' and 'B' stories or demonstrating the benefit of building an author business. I have you!
Authorpreneur
I've been in business most of my life. I was raised in an entrepreneurial home. I couldn't sell my first car but I gave it away and sold the keyring for £800!
Digital Marketer
Social media is hard. I'm here to help make it a little easier for you, along with help in marketing you books in a digital world.
SELF EDITING CHECKLIST
We all forget something that is glaringly obvious
the moment we press 'submit'.
So, I've designed this checklist to help
as you move through the editing process.
BOOK MARKETING PLAN
Captivate your guests with our captivating event floral arrangements.
Our talented designers will curate floral décor that complements your theme, adding charisma to your celebration.
What The People Are Saying...
Neeta Mardia
A friend recommended that I join this group 6 months ago, and I have not looked back. It's great to be part of Mandi's writing community. I have gained confidence from one-to-one coaching to develop my creative writing skills. Mandi is encouraging and tailors her approach to help you, whatever stage you are at. I like the fact the courses are varied, and cover all aspects of writing, including marketing your book, so once completed... it doesn't just sit on your shelf!
Julie Bury
I would recommend Mandi’s beginner and advanced writing course. It is very informal but knowledgable. It has given me the confidence to call myself a writer and have now managed to complete some of my own stories.
It is a friendly atmosphere which makes it easier to share your work and ideas.
It is also good for your well -being whilst having fun and learning new skills.
H J
Mandi is very good at pushing you beyond what you think you can do and is devoted to the craft of writing.
Ready To Publish
How to Publish Your Book: A Step-by-Step Guide
Publishing your book is an exciting journey, but it’s important to ensure all the necessary steps are completed to make your book available to readers. This guide will walk you through the essentials of getting your book ready for the trade, including registering as a publisher, providing advanced information, and meeting legal obligations.
Step 1: Register Yourself as a Publisher
Before your book can enter the market, you must register yourself as a publisher. This ensures that booksellers and other industry professionals know who to contact about your book. You can register on Nielsen’s website and BDS, which is a crucial step in establishing your presence as a publisher.
Step 2: Register Your Book
Once you have an ISBN for your book, it’s time to register it. This makes your book discoverable and orderable by online and offline retailers. Both Nielsen and BDS offer free book registration services for publishers. Since major retailers like Waterstones rely on Nielsen data, and Blackwell’s primarily uses BDS data, it’s advisable to register with both. It takes only a few minutes to do each (Nielsen will email you back with your username and password in 5 -10 days, so try not to leave it until the last minute).
Here’s the key information you’ll need:
ISBN
Title and Subtitle
Author
Publication Date
Publisher Name (Choose a name that represents you and your writing)
Price
Format (e.g., paperback, hardcover, eBook)
Number of Pages
Number of Illustrations (if any)
Topics/Genres
Short Description
Long Description
Author Bio
Why BDS is Important
BDS ensures your book’s information is shared with UK public library authorities, their suppliers, and the British Library. To take advantage of this, complete their BDSLive form as soon as your ISBN is ready.
Step 3: Fulfil Your Legal Deposit Obligations
Since 1662, publishers in the UK and Ireland are legally required to send one copy of each publication to the British Library Legal Deposit Office within one month of publication. Additionally, you may be contacted by The Agent for the Legal Deposit Libraries, who handles materials for:
The Bodleian Library, Oxford
The University Library, Cambridge
The National Library of Scotland
The Library of Trinity College, Dublin
The National Library of Wales
Legal deposit ensures your book becomes part of the nation’s heritage and is preserved for future generations. Legal Deposit Guidance
Legal deposit is a statutory requirement in the UK and Ireland, ensuring that at least one copy of every publication is deposited free of charge with the British Library and other designated deposit libraries.
At present, they are unable to accept digital legal deposit content via the publisher submission portal. Publishers wishing to submit their titles digitally should contact the British Library’s Digital Processing Team by emailing [email protected]. The team will be happy to provide guidance on alternative deposit methods.
The Digital Processing Team will also direct queries from:
Scottish and Welsh publishers to their respective national deposit libraries
Irish publishers to the Library of Trinity College Dublin
For publishers without an arrangement for digital deposit, we continue to accept print copies. To send your publication, please post it to:
Legal Deposit Office
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
LS23 7BY
United Kingdom
Step 4: Patience is Key
The registration and data-sharing process takes time. Many in the trade recommend allowing around five months for your book’s information to fully permeate the system. This makes early registration crucial. Once registered, many bookshops allow you to upload additional images and data to enhance your book’s discoverability—we’ll cover more on this in the marketing stage.
Useful Links
To make the process easier, here are direct links to essential resources:
By following these steps, you’ll ensure your book is set up for success and positioned to reach its intended audience. Remember, the earlier you start the process, the smoother it will be!
If you are interested in joining The Coffeehouse Writer as an independent publisher, please get in touch via email at [email protected] to see our package deals that include formatting (for ebook and physical copy, cover designs (if required), ISBN and barcodes, and submission and distribution under The Coffeehouse Writer as well as inclusion in our newsletters and websites (coming soon).
