Getting started

  • What services do you offer?
  • Chandler Book Design offers text layout and cover design services. We can typeset your book from a Microsoft Word document and design a fantastic cover to go with it that will really make your book stand out from the rest.

  • What information do you need from me to get an accurate quote?
  • The simplest and quickest way is to complete as much of our contact form as you can. This asks for all the relevant information that we need to be able to give you an idea of costs. If you prefer to 'phone us and talk things through then we will be happy to talk to you.

  • What timescales should I allow for the design and printing of my book?
  • Once you have approved the layout of the text and the cover designed then it takes on average about 3 weeks to delivery of bound books.

  • Do I have to mention your name and the printer's on the title verso page?
  • We would appreciate you allowing us to include Typeset and cover designed by Chandler Book Design. There is a legal requirement however to include the printer's name. The Printer's Imprint Act of 1961 states that books, journals, newspapers, periodicals, and most other matter printed in the UK must bear on the first or last leaf a legible statement of the printer's name and usual place of business (the 'Printer's imprint'). We will add their imprint for you.

  • Where do I find a barcode?
  • If required then this is included as part of our cover design service for no extra charge. Please note that we do not offer this as a stand alone service. You will need to have obtained an ISBN number before your barcode can be made.

  • Are you a publishing company?
  • Chandler Book Design is a book production services company offering typesetting and cover design to self-publishers and first time authors. We are NOT a publisher.

  • What about copyright?
  • Publishers and distributors in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have a legal obligation to send one copy of each of their publications to the Legal Deposit Office of the British Library within one month of publication.

    The right of the British Library to receive one copy of every publication distributed in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland is based on the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and the Irish Copyright Act 1963 (currently being replaced by similar provisions in the Copyright and Related Rights Bill of 1999).

    All publications (except newspapers) should be sent to:

    Legal Deposit Office
    The British Library
    Boston Spa
    Wetherby
    West Yorkshire
    LS23 7BY

    Tel: +44 (0)1937 546268 (monographs) / 546267 (serials)
    Fax: +44 (0)1937-546176
    e: legal-deposit-books@bl.uk
    e: legal-deposit-serials@bl.uk

    Other Legal Deposit libraries

    The deposit regulations of the Copyright Acts 1911 and 1963, with slightly different conditions, apply also to the other five legal deposit libraries:

    the Bodleian Library, Oxford
    the University Library, Cambridge
    the National Library of Scotland
    the Library of Trinity College, Dublin
    the National Library of Wales

    These libraries and are entitled to receive, free of charge, and inclusive of postage and packing, a copy of every work published in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

    Agent for the Legal Deposit Libraries is responsible for acquiring legal deposit material for these libraries. Enquiries about deposit with these libraries should be addressed to:

    Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
    100 Euston Street
    London
    NW1 2HQ

    t: +44 (0)20 7388 5061
    f: +44 (0)20 7383 3540
    e: cma@cla.ac.uk
    w : www.llgc.org.uk/cla

    Further information can be found on The British Library's website

  • Do you offer a proof-reading service?
  • Yes, we can arrange this as an additional service. Please contact us for further details.

Preparing your typescript before sending it to us

  • How should I prepare my typescript?
  • Ensure that your typescript is in Microsoft Word. Don't worry too much about making your Word document look beautiful as we will flow your document into our layout programme and do all the formatting for you. The key thing is to indicate where paragraph breaks should fall.

    Run a spellchecker through the document a couple of times before sending it to us to eliminate as many mistakes as possible.

    If you have problems spotting your own errors, ask a friend or family member to read it and check for obvious errors. Corrections made after we have typeset your book will be charged at an hourly rate and extra costs could quickly mount up.

  • Will you check my document for spelling mistakes?
  • Our typesetting service does not correct spelling mistakes or any gramatical errors. If you require a full PROOF READING service then we can arrange this for you for an additional cost. However we strongly reommend that any proof reading is done before we start work as extra costs can quickly mount up if we need to do these once the text has been typeset.

  • Handy checklist of things to remember when you are ready to send us your typescript:
  • Here is a handy checklist of things to remember when you are ready to send us your files:

    • Your 'nom de plume', if any.
    • Any dedications
    • Any preface or acknowledgement
    • Any index requirement, contents list or other index - just the headings as the numbers are added later
    • Your prelim pages
    • Your biography
    • The blurb (words) for the back cover
    • The Word files
    • Illustrations with any captions and instructions for each one
    • Your mock-up, if it exists
    • The brief for the book and the cover design brief
    • Copies of any book you would like the designer to take as a model

    We would recommend that you send everything by registered post.

ISBNs

  • Do I need an ISBN number and where can I get one from?
  • An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. If you wish to sell your publication through major bookselling chains (such as Borders or Waterstones), or internet booksellers (such as Amazon), they will require you to have an ISBN to assist their internal processing and ordering systems. If however you are only going to sell your book privately through your own website or at fund raising events then it is not necessary to have an ISBN.

    The ISBN also provides access to Bibliographic Databases such as BookFind Online, which are organised using ISBNs as references. These databases are used by booksellers and libraries to provide information for customers. The ISBN therefore provides access to additional marketing tools which could help sales of your product.

    ISBNs can be ordered from the UK ISBN Agency which is the national agency for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

    The UK ISBN Agency can be contacted by any of the following:
    Tel: +44 (0)870 777 8712 (9:00am - 5:00pm)
    Fax: +44 (0)870 777 8714
    Email: isbn.agency@nielsen.com
    Post: ISBN Agency, 3rd Floor, Midas House, 62 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6LQ, United KingdomFor further information about ISBNs including costs and how long it takes to obtain an ISBN then please go to www.isbn.nielsenbookdata.co.uk

  • Can you purchase an ISBN for me?
  • The ISBN must be registered in your name so that you are clearly identified as the publisher of the book which is why we are not able to purchase an ISBN for you. However we are happy to answer any questions you might have when completing the ISBN application form and guide you through the process.

  • How can I get my book listed on Amazon and other online book stores?
  • For a book to be listed on Amazon UK and other online book stores it needs to be listed at Neilsen Bookdata. They provide a key source of bibliographic data for books published in the UK and internationally that is used by Amazon, W H Smith, Tesco and sales staff at bookshops. When you purchase an ISBN for your book from the UK ISBN Agency, which is part of Neilsen Bookdata, it will automatically be entered on to their database and thus it will be listed on Amazon etc.

    For further details about Neilsen Bookdata go to www.nbdrs.com

Payment

Cover designs that work

Blister by Conrad Jones
The English Barn by Charles Mcardell

©  Chandler Design Associates Ltd
Registered in England & Wales No. 6852666
VAT No: GB 910 0840 71