AKD-75.3 - Pangs of publishing

 

Writing a book is easier than managing post-production, printing, and distribution. Like any other chore, book publishing is a collaborative endeavor. 

I am in the midst of one. For the first fifth time, for the fourth book in Engish after a gap of nine years.

DRIVERNAMA is at the printing press, awaiting ferro approval before the printer switches on his Heidelberg or its equivalent Japanese offset machine at Shahibabad, Uttar Pradesh. 

Not to be forgotten is my past 45 years of association with the world of publishing: bringing out dailies, weeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies, quarterly, annual issues, etc. 

Meanwhile, the daughter is busy building www.konsultramesh.in website (for the first time) to bring all my work scattered under various blogs, social media, etc. While she and her team handle the technical side, the content to fill up those internet space has to come from me. Yes, additional work. No free hand in the sense that I have to adhere to her design templates. The title and text have to fit into her designs. 

Simultaneously, packaging has to be decided. How many copies are in each box? Which destinations? How to transport: road, rail? Logistics, yes. Nightmare, yes. 

Luckily, CILT Sanjeev Garg rescues with his much-improved rail logistics linkages (yes, he is an ex-Indian Railways officer). In the past, all my previous books were sent by road in trucks of friendly motormaliks to Chennai, Mumbai. This is the first time I am taking the rail route. Hopefully well in time for the September 17 launch.