On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about craft publishing with my guest, Amy Marson. Amy is the publisher at C&T Publishing which includes the Stash Books and FunStitch Studio imprints. She’s worked at the company for 16 years.
Modern Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman is one of many modern quilting books published by C&T.
We begin by talking about the history of the company and how Amy came to work there. Amy then talks about the incredible changes she seen in the craft publishing scene throughout her time at C&T and how she’s worked to ride each of those changes and adapt C&T’s offerings to the new ways we are consuming content.
Among C&T’s new products are Alison Glass temporary tattoos.
Amy provides valuable tips on how to pitch a book, what C&T is looking for in an author, and the financial arrangement’s authors can expect. Amy explains how C&T approaches marketing new titles including bringing authors to Quilt Market and licensing properties to Craftsy. Amy spent the first part of her career working in merchandising and she has insightful perspectives on how quilt shops can succeed in today’s retail environment.
In this episode, we refer to:
- the C&T author submissions guidelines
- FabShop News
- The Cotton Patch quilt shop in LaFayette, California
- C&T on Instagram
And, of course, I ask Amy to recommend great stuff she’s enjoying right now. Amy recommends:
- Make It Simpler fusible interfacing
- Side threading needles
- Judith Baker Montano on Instagram
*If you interested in craft publishing you also might like episode 39 with Melanie Falick (Abrams), episode #47 with Deborah Balmuth (Storey), and episode #66 with Jennifer Keltner (Martingale).
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This episode is sponsored by QuiltWoman. QuiltWoman.com is your source for quilting and sewing patterns offering over 10,000 items by over 270 designers to retail and wholesale customers. Wholesale customers enjoy no minimum order and free U.S. shipping with a $60 order. Use the code ABBY at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Great interview, Abby. You ask great questions of your guests. It was interesting to hear about the craft book publishing industry from Amy’s perspective (and C&T’s). After hearing about how critical the company is in acquiring new authors/book ideas, I felt very fortunate that I had as easy a time as I did doing my how-to’s with Creative Publishing International. Granted, this happened in 2007 before social media was as important a factor as it is now. But to hear that you need to have a significant online audience/following before they will consider publishing a book authored by you is somewhat intimidating. Also, I’m glad you probed her about advances and asked about money. It took many months of full-time work for me to do my how-to books and I really had no other significant income at the time. My business was new and generating a little income, but the advance that I was able to get (less than 3,000) still helped. Sounds like from what Amy said, they don’t offer advances and you really need to have other income while working on your book. Thanks again for providing great information through your podcasts. The podcasts are entertaining as well as educational, and I really appreciate that!
Hi Abby
Thank you so much for a great podcast. As an aspiring book writer, it was so helpful!
You asked the hard questions that we want to know when embarking on the book writing journey.
Thank you for asking about advances and the amount you can expect when writing a book.
It is really more of a resume and business builder than a money making endeavor for the artist.
Not so much for the publisher : (
Thanks again for an informative podcast!
Thank you for listening, Charise. I think it’s important to realize that a publisher is putting up a lot of money to make a book, often somewhere near $25,000. It’s a risk on their part, too.
Hi Abby,
Thank you for another fantastic podcast. I agree with Charise. You asked some really great questions that I would never think to ask. When you realize how much money the publishers have invested, it really makes you see that they want you to succeed a much as you want to succeed!