What Our Customers Say
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About our consulting services:
I had worked in publishing for more than thirty years when I was offered an opportunity that required me to ramp up fast, changing from editor/designer to publisher--and wearer of all related hats. At once. Now.
After reading the best books on independent publishing cover-to-cover and consulting lawyers and accountants, I still had nagging concerns about issues I knew were important but couldn't get a handle on. Thank heaven I discovered Marion Gropen! She's quickly helping me find answers that weren't available elsewhere.
I'm losing that "Yikes, what have I gotten myself into?" sensation. It's being replaced by the "Gee, this is out on the edge, but it's exciting!" feeling that motivated this new venture.
Thanks, Marion. You are a true blessing!
from Deborah Robson, Nomad Press
Nomad Press publishes books on traditional textile crafts, with the intention of helping today's artisans enjoy their own creativity and craftsmanship.
Marion’s excellent reputation in the small press industry is truly well-deserved. Prior to working with her individually, I had a healthy respect for her after seeing her work on two publishing list forums, where she generously donates her time moderating lists as well as giving the same patient advice, over and over and free of charge, to new publishers and authors entering the field.
The proof was in the pudding, though, so to speak! When we had a need for some specific advice regarding the business end of an author/publisher contract—on a tight deadline—Marion was the first to come to mind. I contacted her and had an immediate response to our questions. While negotiations went on, Marion was constantly available and provided amazing turnaround times, always less than a day and more quickly if we needed it. Her advice has been right on target, and even though we have a very competent CPA on staff, Marion’s knowledge of the financial side of the publishing industry specifically has been incredibly helpful.
Marion is a true professional and a person of integrity. When I contacted her some months ago about her profitability and pricing analysis products, she turned me down flat after a little back-and-forth communication, saying that she did not believe we needed them, but that she would be glad to be of assistance in the future in other ways. She stood to make money on the sale of those products to us, but would not take the opportunity do so. That’s integrity!
I would certainly recommend Marion to any publishing colleague of mine, and have. We look forward to a long business relationship with her.
Tiffany Jonas, Editorial Director, Aio Publishing Co, LLC
A new breed of science fiction…
Marion provides expert big-publishing-company level financial advice to small, independent, and self-publishers who want to know how their great book idea will translate into great book wealth (or not?!). Marion's participation in publishing forums, workshops and events, and her own downloadable finance templates, and quick response to small questions mean there many ways to tap into her expertise.
Julie Trelstad, Plain White Press
Information for a busy world
I want you to know how helpful your profitability package has been! It's the single most useful tool I've come across in helping small press with their many business decisions. There are so many aspects I hadn't thought about, and you make it easy to input the variables and come up with the end numbers and percents. What looked like a hair-pulling set of business projections (prior to using your software) turned into a simple calculation of which scenario to pick. I'm so glad you put it all together."
from Margaret Evans, Moonlight Mystery Press
[The following comments are about an earlier version.]
The spreadsheets have more than paid for themselves. . . .[They] saved me from making a big mistake.
from Sheila Ruth, Imaginator Press
The info you sent was very well written. As I am sure you know, most instructions leave something out, forget to give definitions and generally fail to make it easy for the reader, whether it is how-tos for putting something together or using a computer program.
from Sallie Lowenstein, Lion Stone Books, Kensington, MD
Marion Gropen makes book accounting fascinating. This is more than a numbers book, it describes how the industry works.
from Dan Poynter, author The Self-Publishing Manual
Few people can make the intimidating wall of numbers involved in book publishing understandable. Marion Gropen is one who can. She writes with a light touch, uses examples from different niches with different economics, and focuses always on keeping publishing profitable for her readers.
from Shel Horowitz, author, Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers
Great stuff if you understand numbers. If not, read this so you will understand what you don't understand... and then hire someone like Marion to do the numbers for you for each project... so that you WILL understand what you NEED to understand.
from Alan Canton, creator of the Jaya123 financial system for publishers