Book publishers have a wide array of cover materials to choose from today—designed for most any application and budget.

By Gretchen A. Peck

While it’s not often an author’s role to be hands-on with the design and manufacturing of a book, Shaw says, “I learned all I could about publishing and manufacturing a book. … I looked at books and more books. I saw how some were done inexpensively, and some were over the top.”

In search of guidance, Shaw contacted renowned memoir author Mary Jane Robinson, who gave Shaw some sound advice. “She said, ‘Listen, Walter. You can make a book that costs 30 cents or [one] that costs $150 to manufacture. You need to find a balance,’” recalls Shaw.