Mr Einstein and Me and The Universal Theory of Immigration book covers

Mr Einstein and Me by Adam Bethlehem was the first book to be printed with Clays through the Indie Publishing arm so is a very special book on our shelf. Adam is an author and also the founder of Triple Point Press, and he has now printed his second book with us. Find out more about his indie publishing experience …

Mr Einstein and Me by Adam Bethlehem was the first book to be printed with Clays through the Indie Publishing arm so is a very special book on our shelf. Adam is an author and also the founder of Triple Point Press, and he has now printed his second book with us. Find out more about his indie publishing experience …

What was behind your decision to self publish your books?

I had been writing fiction as an antidote to a career in medicine when, one Sunday morning, my family asked what I was going to do with my novels. I didn’t know much about the world of books so I had a look at the options and decided to have a go at self-publishing.

You publish under the imprint Triple Point Press – what was the inspiration behind this, and how did you come up with the name and logo?

Triple Point Press imprint on book spinesIn physics, a triple point marks the moment of equilibrium between different phases of matter. Sounds a bit like the lives we all lead – juggling work, home life and the dreams which keep us going.

What is your process for coming up with your titles?

I spend ages thinking about titles. When I get an idea for a new book, that’s my starting point – I’m looking for a phrase with the essence of my idea. I started with Mr Einstein and Me, next is The Universal Theory of Immigration (due out in June 2016), and coming soon will be The Legacy of Joshua Jones and The Infinite Possibilities of the Day.

Why did you choose to go to print?

I like books. I sometimes read newspapers or articles on an e-reader but if I’m going to spend hours in a story I think real books are just better.

 

You print paperback with flaps, which is a lovely format. Why did you decide to do this?

Mr Einstein and Me cover with flapsI discussed all the print options with Ron Callow, my designer at D23, and together we spoke to various booksellers – their overwhelming advice for novels was to do a paperback. I like the flaps because it allows us to extend the cover and add a little more information – the book feels more substantial to hold and flaps are great as bookmarks too.

Your covers are both different but have a similar style. How important is this for your author branding?

Covers are an opportunity. A reader comes to a work of fiction with an open mind and their experience starts with that very first impression. Mr Einstein and Me was my introduction to the market and anyone who enjoyed it is going to love The Universal Theory of Immigration – clues about continuity in the cover design makes it easy for the reader to take the next step.

What do you do to market and publicize your book?

For the release of The Universal Theory of Immigration I’m working with Ben Cameron (Cameron Publicity and Marketing). I also use Twitter, Facebook and write occasional articles for magazines and newspapers.

How do you split your time between marketing and writing?

I spend most of my time writing but also enjoy the hours with Ron when we talk about design and setting. As publication date approaches I’ll be working more with Ben Cameron to plan the launch.

You have a great website for Triple Point Press. How important do you think having a website is?

The Triple Point Press website was designed by Simon Buchanan (Ron’s partner at D23). An independent publisher bringing a new product to the market has to be Mr Einstein and Me and The Universal Theory of Immigration books on display in front of a windoweven more attentive to electronic media and marketing than an established company.

If someone is thinking about reading my novels, I want them to know that they’ll be buying a professional product – the website gives a potential reader the opportunity to see the work that goes on behind the scenes.

How did you find the Clays experience? 

Clays haven’t just printed my books, their team has been on hand with advice about all aspects of the industry from cost management through to marketing and help with distribution. From the first phone call all the way until the moment when the delivery man arrived with the first run of my new novel, every aspect of dealing with Clays has been a pleasure.

 

What is your top advice to indie authors?

Get an editor and speak to people in the industry. If you don’t already work in publishing then, like me, you probably need help with design, printing, marketing and distribution. My experience is that professionals are happy to talk about their work and welcoming to a newcomer.

What are your next steps?

Adam Bethlehem portraitAt the moment I’m working on a picture book for kids called Christmas in Marylebone – the story of a mouse raising her family in Regent’s Park. I’ve also been looking at the manuscript of The Legacy of Joshua Jones which should be ready for publication next year.

Click to follow Triple Point Press on Twitter, or find them triplepointpress.com!

Click here to find out more about Clays Indie Publishing.

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