WIP Sponsor Series: Understanding Your Offset Printing Quote

WIP Sponsor Series: Understanding Your Offset Printing Quote

Hosted by MCRL Overseas Group & BoardBookPrinting.com
Presenters: Taylor Watton & Lori McKnight

Hey authors and publishers! At some point, you may decide it makes more sense to do an offset print run (ie, a bulk print run that’s not through KDP or IngramSpark but a printing company) to reduce the costs associated with printing your book. You can often cut the print cost in half or more from the cost of Print on Demand Printers. The downside – you have to generally order a minimum of 500 books. However.. if you’re marketing, sending people to your website, selling books at events, the ability to double or triple what you’re making per book (sometimes more) – is worth ordering in bulk.

But wow, are there a lot of weird words and things you have to submit and the quotes are like reading a foreign language!

If you have ever looked at a print quote and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

Join Taylor and Lori from MCRL, our featured partner printing company, as they explain key print terminology, show you how to spot hidden fees, and share smart tips to help you save—without compromising quality.

Learn what to look for beyond the numbers—because sometimes, what’s missing from your quote matters most.

🗓️ September 11
🕐 1 PM EST
💻 Register now!

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why and when to request a printing quote
  • Common terminology and what it means
  • Key factors that affect pricing (materials, finishes, quantities, etc.)
  • How to compare quotes and ask the right questions

Whether you’re a first-time customer or a seasoned print buyer, this session will help you make smarter, more strategic choices for your next project.

Lori is the marketing quarterback for MCRL Overseas Group and Boardbookprinting.com. Boardbookprinting.com is powered by the MCRL team, a Canadian-based offset printer of all genres of books from board books to yearbooks to notebooks to custom packaging, card sets, board games and more. Basically if you can think it, we can print it. Joining Lori, is our boardbookprinting.com lead – Taylor Watton.

Taylor is MCRL’s in-house board book expert and your main contact for questions, advice and quotes about printing your board book! Taylor and Lori are passionate about helping authors. With years of experience in the printing industry, they understand how overwhelming the process can be for authors—especially when it comes to board books. Their mission is to provide a seamless, positive experience that leaves authors excited and empowered to share their creations with the world.

 

Meet the 2025 Sponsors at Live Exhibit Booths

Meet the 2025 Sponsors at Live Exhibit Booths

The Women in Publishing Summit would not be possible without the support from all 38 of our sponsors. If you have a ticket to the 2025 Summit, you’ll get two opportunities to meet the sponsors, learn about the resources and offers they have for our community, and ask all your questions! The Sponsor Exhibit Booths will be open on day 0 and day 3 of the conference. At these events, you’ll have the chance to join Zoom breakout rooms and chat directly with expert book marketers, editors, publishing service providers, and more!

These events are exclusive to ticket holders, so if you haven’t gotten your ticket yet to the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit, get it now!

 

Live Sponsor Exhibit Booths

Summit Day 0: Tuesday, March 4, 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern/NY Time

Summit Day 3: Friday, March 7, 3:00–4:00 PM Eastern/NY Time

 

Meet all the sponsors and learn about their offers here: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/sponsors/ 

Day 0 Sponsor Exhibit Booths

Tuesday, March 4, 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern/NY Time (Zoom Room A)

 

Publishing, Self-Publish Services & Printing: Lulu, PublishDrive, BookFunnel,  MCRL & Board Book Printing, Warren Publishing, Luminare Press, Ingenium, Bublish, FriesenPress, Curios

 

Marketing & Promotion: Book Award Pro, Abundantly Social, Bublish, Children’s Book Mastery, Ingenium, Curios

 

Editorial & Coaching Services: ProWritingAid, Ignite & Write, Chanticleer, Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching, Children’s Book Mastery, Your Book Is Your Hook

 

Audiobooks: The Audiobook Experience

Meet the Sponsors:

Book Award Pro is how authors find the perfect reviews and awards for their books. Trusted by authors and professionals around the globe, Book Award Pro operates the world’s largest database of legitimate reviews and awards. AI technology curates accolades specific to your book. The Free Plan ($0/month) finds review and award opportunities specific for your book. Learn more about Book Award Pro and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/bookawardpro 

 

Abundantly Social is an award winning Social Media Marketing agency for authors and small businesses. We specialize in every aspect of book publication, book promotion, digital marketing, and creating Amazon Best Sellers. Learn more about Abundantly Social and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/abundantlysocial

 

Lulu is a self-publishing and print-on-demand platform that puts you in control. Since 2002, Lulu has empowered over two million authors, creators, educators, and businesses from all over the world to publish, print, and prosper. With Lulu’s global distribution network, direct sales solutions, and industry-leading print-on-demand technology, writers can share their stories while growing their brand, audience, and bank account. Learn more about Lulu and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/Lulu

 

ProWritingAid is the essential toolkit for storytellers helping over 3 million writers craft their stories and bring them to life. Tell your story with ProWritingAid. We’re the always on, always helpful AI writing assistant. Learn more about ProWritingAid and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/PWA

Your Book Is Your Hook is a full service consulting practice serving book writers, screenwriters, playwrights and wannabes as well as the entire publishing industry. Services include 1:1 consulting for writing, marketing, and getting published. https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/yourbookhook

PublishDrive helps you easily self-publish ebooks online, audiobooks, and print books to thousands of stores worldwide. One click, publish everywhere. Learn more about PublishDrive and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/publishdrive

 

MCRL & Board Book Printing: Whether you’re printing your first or fifteenth book, MCRL’s offset printing team takes the time to answer questions, share recommendations, and manage the itty bitty details. Self-publishers will also appreciate our competitive pricing, high-quality standards, and environmental focus. Learn more about MCRL & Board Book Printing and their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/mcrl

 

Warren Publishing is the number one indie publisher in the Carolinas, providing excellence in hybrid publishing since 1988. We specialize in providing a caring and vibrant publishing process where ideas are nurtured and authors receive personal attention. We accept submissions of trade fiction (thrillers, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi/fantasy), literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir, self-help, poetry, children’s books, business books, and more. Learn more about Warren Publishing and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/warren

 

Ignite & Write: Roxanne’s unique and multi-award winning method of storytelling has changed the lives of thousands of budding authors since 2007, allowing them to bring their messages to life in nonfiction books with structure, connection to the reader and potential profit. A prolific ghostwriter, author, workshop facilitator, writing mentor and former print journalist, Roxanne’s presentations are charged with powerful content and tangible tools that remove the mystery from storytelling and ignite a thought-provoking and emotion-evoking theatre within the mind. Learn more about Ignite & Write and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ignitewrite

 

BookFunnel is an eBook and Audiobook Delivery Service for Indie Authors and Small Publishers. Whether it’s delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Learn more about BookFunnel and take advantage of their special offer:  https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/bookfunnel

 

Children’s Book Mastery: Discover how to successfully plan, write, publish and market your children’s books and more! Publishing a children’s book can seem like a nightmare. Our expert video sessions make publishing books for kids a dream. Learn more about Children’s Book Mastery and take advantage of their special offer:  https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ChildrensBookMastery

 

Bublish is a one-stop solution for authors who want to self-publish high-quality books, distribute and market them effectively, and fully monetize their work. Learn more about Bublish and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/bublish

 

Luminare Press offers a wide range of options for authors who want to publish professionally while keeping full control of their work and 100% of the royalty. They are a professional team of designers, editors, and publishing experts who help both first-time and experienced authors publish their books, offering personalized services for whatever level of help is needed. Learn more about Luminare and take advantage of their special offer:  https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/luminare

 

Chanticleer Book Reviews offers editorial book reviews, manuscript overviews, editorial services, writing contests, book awards, an author conference, workshops, and book marketing opportunities to help authors achieve their publishing goals. Learn more about Chanticleer:

https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/chanticleer

 

Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services: Book coach and editor Sara Letourneau works with fiction and nonfiction authors and writers to help them develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need so they can finish their manuscripts, polish them for publication, and stay focused and motivated as they reach for their writing goals and embrace their creativity. Learn more about Heart of the Story and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/heartofstory

 

The Audiobook Experience at Voice over Vermont, LLC is a boutique audiobook production company providing a custom recording experience for authors. We work with authors who want to narrate their own books… and those who definitely do not! Learn more about The Audiobook Experience and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/voiceoververmont

 

FriesenPress is a 100% employee-owned publishing services provider that offers editing, design, production, audiobooks, and promotional support to authors looking to self-publish. Their mission is to embrace each book as their own and empower their authors to share their best stories with the world. To date, they’ve partnered with thousands of authors and have published over 10,000 titles (and counting). Learn more about FriesenPress and take advantage of their offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/friesenpress 

 

Ingenium Books a hybrid publisher looking for stories that awe, inspire, enlighten, and challenge. Whether fiction or nonfiction, they are interested in stories that demonstrate our innate resilience, that transformation is possible. Their ideal authors are professional women who are writing crime thrillers, women’s fiction, or historical fiction. (Of course we’ll take a look at nonfiction, too.) Learn more about Ingenium and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ingenium

 

Curios is a direct sales and engagement platform where authors can sell/distribute ebooks and audiobooks directly to their readers while keeping 100% of the sale. Additionally, authors get access to readers’ email and contact information for any transactions so they can communicate directly with them. Curios has created a $1 MILLION creator fund that offers up to $12,000 to authors for joining the platform and distributing their books on the Curios Marketplace. We want to put the power back into the hands of the author! Learn more about Curios and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/curios

 

Day 3 Sponsor Exhibit Booths

Friday, March 7, 3:00–4:00 PM Eastern/NY Time (Zoom Room A)

 

Publishing, Self-Publish Services & Printing: Lulu, PublishDrive, MCRL & Board Book Printing, Warren Publishing, Luminare Press, Ingenium, Old Mate Media, Curios

 

Marketing & Promotion: Book Award Pro, Bublish, Ingenium, Old Mate Media, Curios

 

Editorial & Coaching Services: Chanticleer, Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching, Old Mate Media

 

Audiobooks: The Audiobook Experience

Meet the Sponsors:

Book Award Pro is how authors find the perfect reviews and awards for their books. Trusted by authors and professionals around the globe, Book Award Pro operates the world’s largest database of legitimate reviews and awards. AI technology curates accolades specific to your book. The Free Plan ($0/month) finds review and award opportunities specific for your book. Learn more about Book Award Pro and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/bookawardpro 

 

Lulu is a self-publishing and print-on-demand platform that puts you in control. Since 2002, Lulu has empowered over two million authors, creators, educators, and businesses from all over the world to publish, print, and prosper. With Lulu’s global distribution network, direct sales solutions, and industry-leading print-on-demand technology, writers can share their stories while growing their brand, audience, and bank account. Learn more about Lulu and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/Lulu

 

PublishDrive helps you easily self-publish ebooks online, audiobooks, and print books to thousands of stores worldwide. One click, publish everywhere. Learn more about PublishDrive and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/publishdrive

 

Warren Publishing is the number one indie publisher in the Carolinas, providing excellence in hybrid publishing since 1988. We specialize in providing a caring and vibrant publishing process where ideas are nurtured and authors receive personal attention. We accept submissions of trade fiction (thrillers, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi/fantasy), literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir, self-help, poetry, children’s books, business books, and more. Learn more about Warren Publishing and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/warren

 

Bublish is a one-stop solution for authors who want to self-publish high-quality books, distribute and market them effectively, and fully monetize their work. Learn more about Bublish and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/bublish

 

MCRL & Board Book Printing: Whether you’re printing your first or fifteenth book, MCRL’s offset printing team takes the time to answer questions, share recommendations, and manage the itty bitty details. Self-publishers will also appreciate our competitive pricing, high-quality standards, and environmental focus. Learn more about MCRL & Board Book Printing and their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/mcrl

 

Luminare Press offers a wide range of options for authors who want to publish professionally while keeping full control of their work and 100% of the royalty. They are a professional team of designers, editors, and publishing experts who help both first-time and experienced authors publish their books, offering personalized services for whatever level of help is needed. Learn more about Luminare and take advantage of their special offer:  https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/luminare

 

Chanticleer Book Reviews offers editorial book reviews, manuscript overviews, editorial services, writing contests, book awards, an author conference, workshops, and book marketing opportunities to help authors achieve their publishing goals. Learn more about Chanticleer:

https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/chanticleer

 

Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services: Book coach and editor Sara Letourneau works with fiction and nonfiction authors and writers to help them develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need so they can finish their manuscripts, polish them for publication, and stay focused and motivated as they reach for their writing goals and embrace their creativity. Learn more about Heart of the Story and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/heartofstory

 

The Audiobook Experience at Voice over Vermont, LLC is a boutique audiobook production company providing a custom recording experience for authors. We work with authors who want to narrate their own books… and those who definitely do not! Learn more about The Audiobook Experience and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/voiceoververmont

 

Ingenium Books a hybrid publisher looking for stories that awe, inspire, enlighten, and challenge. Whether fiction or nonfiction, they are interested in stories that demonstrate our innate resilience, that transformation is possible. Their ideal authors are professional women who are writing crime thrillers, women’s fiction, or historical fiction. (Of course we’ll take a look at nonfiction, too.) Learn more about Ingenium and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ingenium

 

Old Mate Media works primarily with authors that want to self-publish and retain 100% of the rights to their stories. For these authors we provide author services as they need including editing, illustrations, design and marketing. Learn more about Old Mate Media and their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/oldmatemedia

 

Curios is a direct sales and engagement platform where authors can sell/distribute ebooks and audiobooks directly to their readers while keeping 100% of the sale. Additionally, authors get access to readers’ email and contact information for any transactions so they can communicate directly with them. Curios has created a $1 MILLION creator fund that offers up to $12,000 to authors for joining the platform and distributing their books on the Curios Marketplace. We want to put the power back into the hands of the author! Learn more about Curios and take advantage of their special offer: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/curios

 

 

The Women in Publishing Summit is a four-day virtual event running from March 5 to 8. All sessions are recorded, and you can rewatch them as many times as you’d like through the end of the year. We also have networking, community-building events, and special bonus sessions. It’s a LOT of fun! The best part is that you get to be a part of the WIP community all year long with free bonus post-conference webinars, monthly networking sessions, and access to sponsor discounts.

 

Don’t forget to grab your ticket today, so you can participate in these exhibit booths at the conference and take advantage of the sponsor offers and discounts all year long!

 

Want to meet with these sponsors? Grab Your Ticket today!

We hope to see you at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit!

beginner author, women in publishing summit, 2025, ticket, publishing, sponsor
Lulu: Turn Your Manuscript into a Masterpiece with Print-on-Demand

Lulu: Turn Your Manuscript into a Masterpiece with Print-on-Demand

Hi, Amy here again, I’m a self-published author who has used Lulu as a service for print on demand books. I needed very specific books printed: special edition hardbacks for a giveaway and Lulu delivered!  Lulu is great because they know exactly what an author needs! They make the creation of books seamless with each step and the books always look great!

Lulu is set apart as a self-publishing option because they have a comprehensive suite of services. With Lulu, authors are empowered to take control of their publishing journey. With print-on-demand technology, authors can avoid the costs and risks associated with large print runs. Lulu also provides distribution services, making it easier for authors to get their books into bookstores and online retailers. 

In my experience, Lulu is extremely user-friendly, allowing authors like me to focus on their writing while Lulu handles the technical aspects of publishing. Additionally, Lulu offers a range of marketing and promotional tools to help authors reach a wider audience and build their brand. This combination of services and support makes Lulu a valuable partner for authors looking to self-publish their work successfully.

We’re excited to welcome Lulu to the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit as a Silver Sponsor. Lulu is on a mission to make the world a better place, one book at a time. They use sustainable practices and innovative print-on-demand products to make this happen.

What does Lulu do? 

Lulu is a self-publishing company that offers a range of services to help authors publish and distribute their books. They provide print-on-demand (POD) services, which means books are printed only when an order is placed, reducing the need for large upfront print runs. Lulu also offers distribution services, making it easier for authors to get their books into bookstores and online retailers.

What kind of author needs Lulu?

Lulu is ideal for authors who want to self-publish their books with minimal upfront costs and retain control over the publishing process. 

It’s perfect for:

  • First-time Authors: who want to publish their first book without the hassle of managing inventory.
  • Experienced Authors: looking to publish additional works with a reliable and efficient platform.
  • Authors with Niche Topics: who may not have the backing of a traditional publisher but have a dedicated audience.
  • Authors Seeking Global Distribution: wanting to reach readers worldwide without the need for large print runs.
  • Authors Who Value Creative Control: preferring to make decisions about their books’ content, cover design, and pricing.

How can I learn more about Lulu?

To learn more about Lulu, you can visit their official website: Lulu. There, you’ll find detailed information about their services, how to get started with self-publishing, and resources to help you through the process. You can also explore their blog and tutorials for step-by-step guidance.

Join us at on January 28, 2025 for the WIP Webinar Series: What to Know BEFORE You Publish with Chelsea Bennett from Lulu

 

Join us at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit!