Writing a book for Manning Publications Co

iText in ActionWriting a book forManning Publications Co.What is iText?• First PDF library: rugPdf (1998)– One Christmas holiday of study– Developed in six weeks time– Not user-friendly: for PDF experts only• 2000: I want my own project!– Rebuild a PDF library from scratch– For people who don’t know anything about PDF– iText hosted at lowagie.comorialee tutFr2004: First contact• November 2004: offer to write a book forO’Reilly• April 2005: offer to write a book forManningPreparing a book• First contact: Publisher’s Assistant• After evaluation: Acquisition Manager:helps writing the Book Proposal– Short Summary– Detailed Table of Contents– Marketing Overview• Industry reviewBook contract• 5 deadlines– Chapter 1– 1/3 of the manuscript– 2/3 of the manuscript– 3/3 of the manuscript– Final manuscript• “Author Launch”Writing a book• Development Manager assigns:– Developmental Editor• Helps the writer “developing” his book• Obey the Manning Style Guide!• Review Manager• Coordinates the review processProduction• Production Manager assigns:– Copy Editor– Technical Editor– Lay-out– Proof Reader• Cover Designer• Marketing Manager: go or no-go• Back cover: written by the Publisher himselfTimingFirst Edition:• May – July 2005: preparing the book• September 2005 – February 2006: writing• March – November 2006: productionSecond Edition:• August – September 2009: preparing• October 2009 – April 2010: writing• May – August 2010: productionThe result