Winner of two national contests for independently published books! First Place in Women's Issues in the National Indie Excellence Awards, and Bronze Medal Winner in Women's Issues In the Independent Publisher Book Awards, 2010

"You and your staff have taken my ideas and brought them to life! I am so pleased. I cannot imagine where else or how this book could have been produced so beautifully. I continue to be thankful that I found my way to you, and through you, to Cyndi and Judy, who executed my project with such a spot-on resemblance to my original vision for it that it seems almost eerie.

Gwen Suesse, Author

Cantando Press, a newly formed publishing house in North Carolina, requested our involvement in its first title, "Womansong." Working directly with the author, our copyeditor polished the manuscript and prepared it for layout. While this took place, our design team created the right look and feel for the book.

The author commissioned California-based artist and calligrapher Reene Locks. Renee was engaged with creating a series of orginal watercolor illustrations. Using the Japanese art of sumi brush calligraphy, Renee incorporated inspirational passages into the piece. Working in coordination with the author and illustrator, a design and layout emerged that balanced the content and style of the writing with the boldness and visual impact of the illustrations.

Due to the nature of the illustrations and text, the book was proofed using a high-resolution HP Indigo press. This allowed the publisher to closely monitor how the illustrations and text would look when printed. HP Indigo presses are a relatively new technology in the printing and publishing industry and are ideally suited to proofing this type of book.

At no time during the production process did any of the parties meet face to face. All communications happened via telephone and email. All proofs were exchanged as either PDFs or hard-copy proofs. The book was printed in Hong Kong with one of our longest-serving print providers and delivered back to Charleston, North Carolina.

For more information about Womansong visit www.womansong.com

Product Description

For modern women, so many roles, so little time! However, says Gwen Suesse, author of Womansong: Balance and Harmony in a Feminine Key, busy women can find time and ways to be themselves. Womansong, a series of reflections about modern womanhood, discusses how a woman can find a measure of equilibrium while also filling the multiple roles of being daughter, friend, wife, lover, mother, worker, as well as homemaker. Suesse's book is a feast of musical metaphors that stirs the imagination with possibilities for taking the many melodies of life and weaving them into one glorious whole.

About the Author

Gwen Suesse has lived the modern woman's conundrums. Womansong's essays are the natural outgrowth of her struggle to reconcile the patriarchal identity of her youth with an emerging awareness that women are entitled to their own dreams and self-realization. Her quest is finding solutions not only for women themselves, but also for the people they love—their husbands, their families, their co-workers, and their communities. Gwen has a BA in Music from Wagner College, and an MAT from Harvard University. She is a certified teacher, experienced choral conductor, seasoned speaker, presenter, and workshop facilitator, as well as being human resources consultant specializing in MBTI® applications. Gwen lives in Tryon, NC, where she is active in the local arts community.