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Hi, Isabelle,

Thanks for posting.

I would like to be able to help you out, but I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong person. An author writes a book and sends it to a publisher. The editors at the publishing company decide to publish it and buy the rights from the author by means of a publishing contract. After that, the publishing process is something that the author is completely excluded from. I know absolutely nothing about the actual printing, or advertising, traditional or otherwise. I don’t believe any writer does. And a book becomes a bestseller because the public decides to like it and buy it. Authors and publisher have nothing to do with creating a bestseller. The reading public does that. Conversely, the reading public can ignore a book and make it a financial and literary failure.

Just like you, I was 12, and in 7th grade when I sold my first book. The publisher was Scholastic. I also publish with Hyperion, Little Brown, and Harper Collins. They’re all excellent companies. My advice for you is to ask your questions of an employee of a publishing company or, more likely, even a company that does the actual printing.

I’m sorry I can’t be of more help to you, Isabelle, but it really is information about the physical act of producing a book that you’re looking for, and that excludes the author, who doesn’t have to worry about such things! We just do the writing. Isabelle, I hope to be writing you a fan letter one of these days. Good luck with your book!

                                                                                                              —–Gordon Korman—–