How to Publish a Book (from Manuscript Notes)… I Did This
How to publishi a book? The entire journey from manuscript to a published book.
We often talk about ghostwriting, editing, and storytelling, but today, I want to take you behind the scenes of a complete publishing journey. This is a real case study of book publishing, and I'm proud to share it with you.
Publishing a Book: The Whole Journey
I’ve just completed a deeply rewarding project: a commissioned biographical-legacy book for a wonderful client. He loves it. I love it. The publishing team behind it loves it. And now, it’s ready to meet the world through all major online book retailers.
This wasn’t just any book. It’s a large-format, hardcover, visually striking piece—landscape orientation, image-rich, and beautifully produced. I was involved in every step: ghostwriting (Exclusively ghostwrote part of the book), editing, formatting, cover design, interior layout, font choice, image placement… every detail was curated with care.
From start to finish, the entire process, (from ghostwriting, editing, creatives and publishing) took about six months and every minute was worth it.
Reviewing the final draft before the book is published.
The Story Behind this Biographical Memoir Book
The book is called The Life, The Times, and the Adventures of Kevin Forbes (2nd Edition). It’s a biographical memoir that began as a stack of manuscript notes. From those raw materials, a compelling, polished narrative was built that traces one man’s journey through family history, and professional life.
Like all great books, it’s full of challenges and obstacles, unexpected heroes, and the kind of villains that trailblasers inevitably face. Kevin’s story isn’t just personal, it’s political, social, and deeply human. His mission was to create change in a world that wasn’t always ready to accept it. And through determination and vision, he did.
This is the kind of book that not only entertains—it teaches. It offers lessons, reflections, and moments of clarity. Readers come away inspired by what one person can do, even against the odds.
Ghostwriting: Bringing Voice to Life
The book was based on real notes and a clear plan. The original notes were deeply personal, but needed shaping to become a publishable story. That’s where ghostwriting came in.
My job was to take the author’s memories, tone, and intention and translate them into a flowing, engaging narrative. Every word reflects his voice, while every sentence has been crafted to draw the reader in and keep them turning the pages.
The creative design review
The Book Edit: Structure, Clarity, Emotion
Once the initial draft was written, we went through several rounds of editing. The entire editing process put the story in a clear order, bringing clarity and rhythm. Proofreading gave it that final polish.
Each paragraph was fine-tuned to evoke emotion, provoke curiosity, and reward the reader with insight. The surprises, the real-life characters, and the emotional highs and lows were all preserved and sharpened.
Design: Designing a Book That Looks and Feels Great
Given the books’ large-format, hardcover presentation, the design process was a creative challenge in the best way. The interior layout had to be both readable and beautiful. Images had to enhance the story not distract. Fonts were chosen for readability and style. And the cover? Striking, elegant, and aligned with the book’s themes.
Design isn’t just about looks, it’s about feel. Holding this book is an experience, and that’s no accident.
What’s Next?
Now that the book is published, the next step is to be listed across online platforms such as Amazon and all good retailers, the next step is marketing and distribution. We’re building a tailored strategy to make sure this story gets into the hands of readers who will truly appreciate it.
I’ll also be supporting the client with author branding, PR campaign for the launch and more!
Why Am I Sharing This With You?
Two reasons.
The first, do you need help publishing a book or do you want myself to ghostwrite the book for you?
The second, to share with you this. If you have a story, a life’s journey, or even a handful of notes that deserve to become a book, know that it can happen.
If you have that driving thirst to become a celebrated author it is very possible.
This is more than publishing. It’s legacy work. And I’d be honoured to help bring your story to life.
Tamara Forrest-Smith
Hire a Ghostwriter | Get Help to Edit Your Book | Publish Your Book | Book Consulting
