Do you want to publish a book for a special occasion?

JewishSelfPublishing can help. People tend to associate publishing only with the kind of books that are sold in brick-and-mortar bookstores. However, there are many types of publications that don’t fit that image yet still require a publisher’s expertise and experience, like a memento to be distributed at a special wedding anniversary or a bar mitzvah.

In too many cases, one poor family member is assigned the thankless job of project manager: he or she must wrangle all the siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, business associates, etc., to write something in honor of the occasion. It’s no small feat, but it’s only the start of the work. What happens once the material is collected and organized? Just like any other book, it needs editing, interior layout, cover design, and printing—it needs an experienced publisher.

Special Attention for Special Projects

If anything, this type of publication requires a publisher’s touch even more than the regular self-published title. A book like this is a testament to love and devotion written and presented by caring family. In order to get it right, there are special considerations. For example, it’s important to have the right graphic designer, one who is not only talented, but prepared to work closely with the project manager.

There are many occasions where a book is created and presented as part of the special event. I know many fathers who have published their unique insights into Torah in honor of their child’s bris or bar mitzvah. This can be a way of expressing gratitude to the Almighty on a momentous day by glorifying His Torah by disseminating a personal commentary.

Similarly, many grooms choose to enhance their wedding day by publishing something apt for the occasion. In addition to expressing the gratitude that they feel on this wonderful day, they want to demonstrate the maturity they’ve reached by revealing in writing the depth and breadth of their character.

If there is something unique about these forms of publishing, it is the fact that the participants know they need to make a particularly exceptional book. These are once-in-a-lifetime occasions, and the accompanying books need to equal them.

How to Make a Book Befitting the Occasion

That’s why it’s worth using superior materials and labor on a book like this. A standard book is just that—standard, printed with only the features that make it commercially viable. With a book for a special occasion, standards are higher because the goal isn’t to merely sell copies but to express and honor the momentousness of the event you’re celebrating. There are a number of ways to enhance a book like this. Some are indeed expensive, but others only add a little to the cost and a lot to the overall effect.

Here are some features to consider:

  • Endpapers—At the front and back of all hardcover books is a heavy paper that serves to strengthen the book’s binding. Typically, these are plain white paper, but you can also choose from a selection of colored endpapers to match the cover or custom order them with a design or image in any color.
  • Paper weight—Standard books tend to use regular or even low-quality paper. But when you really want to make an impression, it is advisable to print on heavier paper. Besides the solid feeling of the heavy paper, the actual printing on it is more pronounced and easier to read.
  • Paper quality—You may have noticed that pictures don’t come out sharp when printed on regular paper. One reason for this is that ink tends to run a little—just enough to lose the sharpness of a really nice picture. That is why magazines use glossy paper; this type of paper captures the images in their true form. So, if you have pictures in your book and you want them to look just right, not average, it is worth investing in special paper. Some printers can print just a few pages in a book on special paper, saving the unnecessary cost of printing the entire book that way.
  • Color printing—Authors of standard fiction and nonfiction books often request color printing, but it is usually beyond their budget. Besides the expense of the actual color printing, there is the additional expense of special paper to make the color more effective. But for a special occasion, my feeling is that you should consider going all out and order the best possible paper and color printing.
  • Spot UV—This is a simple yet very effective way to make a book cover stand out. With spot UV (ultraviolet), a shiny liquid is applied on a matte finish. For example, if the cover of a book has a picture of a happy couple, you could laminate the whole cover with a matte finish and apply UV to the couple, making them stand out from the rest of the picture.
  • Foil stamping—Writing or an image is stamped onto the cover through foil—often metallic (gold or silver)—emphasizing a certain element. It’s another great way to create an eye-catching cover.

Publishing a book in honor of a special event is one of the many forms of publishing we deal with at JewishSelfPublishing. If you have an upcoming event you’d like to commemorate with a book, please contact us for a consultation at info@jewishselfpublishing.com or request a quote.