Talent Pool
Trafford Publishing TM Talent PoolInformation for Talent Pool Members
About Trafford
As the pioneer of the print-on-demand (POD) publishing industry, Trafford offers a unique service for self-publishing authors. We build, print, and distribute books for authors from all over the world who would like to retain the rights to their own material. Authors provide us with their completed manuscripts, as well as the images and text for their cover and we will build the book to their specifications.
We do offer an optional in-house book layout service, however we require that our authors submit materials that are otherwise ready to publish. This means that they must either complete all of the cover design, illustration, editing, and/or translation work themselves, or hire an independent contractor to do so. Many of our authors also choose to use an outside source to complete the layout of their book and provide us with "print-ready" files. Our authors can choose to purchase a publishing package that includes basic distribution services, but the onus is on the author to do all of the marketing and promotion for their book or hire someone to complete this work for them.
Trafford created the Talent Pool to provide authors with access to industry professionals who can assist them with the details of preparing their manuscripts and/or cover for publication and/or marketing efforts. There are currently over 200 members of the Trafford Talent Pool offering 11 categories of service.
We have also created a Spanish Talent Pool and a French Talent Pool for authors and Talent Pool members wishing to work in these languages.
Terms
Book industry professionals and businesses do not pay to be listed within our Talent Pool, but agree to remit to Trafford a referral commission equal to 10% of the total billings for work secured through the Talent Pool, payable on completion of the work.
Our Talent Pool members are not employed by or associated with Trafford Publishing, and provide services to our authors on a freelance basis only. When an author mentions to one of our Publishing Consultants that they require a professional service to help them get their book ready for submission to Trafford, we do not refer them to a particular contractor, but rather ask them to peruse our Talent Pool to research and choose a contractor that best suits their needs.
The terms of service must be agreed upon by both the author and the Talent Pool member and should be finalized, in writing, before work begins.
How to Apply
For more information about joining Trafford's Talent Pool, you may download our Talent Pool Agreement and Information Form. You may also contact our Talent Pool Coordinator at talentpool@trafford.com with any questions.
Tools and Instructions for Designers, Illustrators and Typists
As an Illustrator or Graphic Designer listed in Trafford's Talent Pool, it is important that you familiarize yourself with Trafford's required technical specifications and material submission procedures. We want to get our authors' books completed as quickly as possible. However, if materials arrive incomplete, in an unusable format, or if the instructions are not clear, the book may be delayed and/or the author may incur additional charges. To help the book go through production in a timely and efficient manner, please carefully read and follow the instructions provided here.
Trafford offers our authors several different publishing packages to best suit their needs (and the needs of their books!). Please confirm with the author which package they have purchased and review the appropriate instruction kit.
Classic Package (interior layout/typesetting instructions)
Our Classic Package requires that our authors to provide Trafford with a finished, print-ready file for their book. They can either choose to design the layout and provide us with the finished files themselves, or hire an independent contractor to complete this work for them. If you will be supplying Trafford with print-ready files on the author's behalf, please download and thoroughly review our Classic Package Technical Specifications and Submission Instructions for Designers.
Colour Book Package (includes illustration, layout and cover instructions)
Our Colour Book Packages require that our authors provide Trafford with all of the materials and instructions needed to build their book. Trafford can take care of the formatting and creation of the print-ready files. Many of our authors choose to hire a professional illustrator or graphic artist to provide the artwork and/or layout for their books rather than doing the work themselves. If you will be supplying Trafford with digital images, artwork to scan, or fully formatted colour book files, please download and thoroughly review our Colour Book Package Technical Specifications and Submission Instructions for Designers.
Cover Design
Trafford requires that our authors provide us with all of the materials needed to build their books, including the cover. They can choose to design the layout and provide us with the finished files themselves, purchase custom artwork for the cover and let Trafford put it all together, or hire an independent designer to complete all of the work for them. If you have been hired to design and create an author's cover, please download and thorougly review our Cover Design Technical Specifications and Submission Instructions for Designers and Illustrators.
Transcription Tips for Typists
If you will be transcribing a hand or type-written manuscript for submission to Trafford, please ensure you review our Transcription Tips for Typists document. It is very important that our technicians receive a well-organized digital file so that the layout (typesetting) may be completed within the allotted time, without the author incurring additional charges for file clean up.
If you have any questions after having read the instruction kits, please contact the Talent Pool Coordinator at talentpool@trafford.com.
How to Remit Payment to Trafford
If you need to remit a commission payment to Trafford, please send a cheque along with a completed Commission Submittal Form to:
Trafford Publishing
Attn: Talent Pool Coordinator
2657 Wilfert Road
Victoria, BC V9B 5Z3
Canada
The information that you provide in the Commission Submittal Form will be used to update your Talent Pool listing contact information and "Trafford experience".
If you wish to remit payment via credit card or wire transfer, please email the Talent Pool Coordinator at talentpool@trafford.com for more information.
How to Make Revisions to Listing Information
If you would like to update your talent pool listing information, please email the Talent Pool Coordinator at talentpool@trafford.com with your changes.