I would like to let you know that I have highly recommended your publishing company to other poets and writers, and they seemed very interested in contacting you. I have also sold quite a few copies at Chapters-Indigo in Vancouver, which is great. I am very satisfied with the customer service and quality you provide there.

~Lucia Gorea

First Choice Books is proud to partner with Keith Holmes and Lori Prodan in helping with literacy in Africa by promoting their self published book "E is for Ethiopia" a rhyming alphabet book that will appeal to both children and adults. With thirty-two pages of full colour photographs, this book is a unique journey through Ethiopian life and culture. It is a perfect introduction for someone learning about Ethiopia for the first time, or a beautiful book for those familiar with this great land. Please follow this link to read more about the "E is for Ethiopia" Media & Project News... Lori was on CBC radio last Wednesday afternoon.  You can hear excerpts from the broadcast at www.eisforethiopia.com.

Shy

I got my first order today for 5 copies to the South African Tour!! Congratulations and by the way, President Clinton was playing at my golf club on Friday. I understand you were chosen to produce a book specially for him.

~Alan Rae
Lewis Chitengwa: A Gentleman's Game

Hi all, I just want to say thank you for everything. As I told Ken today, I'm planning to sell 5000, sooooo lots of traveling and book signings for me. I'll let you know when I need more.

Again, THANK YOU

Sincerely
~Randall

My sister Sherry and I had always wanted to do a book together. It seemed like a “natural” for us: I have been writing all my life, and Sherry is an accomplished watercolour artist. I completed a children’s book, Mr. Squiffly’s Cow, in early 2005, and Sherry illustrated it. We were thrilled!

We then researched how to get the book published. We discovered that a publisher might take my story or Sherry’s illustrations, but very likely not both. And the whole point of this project for us was to do the book together. So we looked at self-publishing. We talked to various printers and were far from happy. Often the samples of their work looked amateurish or their prices were astronomical. We then heard of First Choice Books.

From the first meeting, we were impressed. First Choice clearly seemed to understand what we wanted, and their samples showed us that they could deliver a good product. And their price was excellent. We decided to take the leap. I laugh when I think back. We had decided to have just 50 books printed, but a run of 250 was more cost-effective. Oh how we agonized over that decision to print so many books! How would we sell them all?

Needless to say, we have sold them. We have taken part in craft fairs, the BC Ferries crafters market, and shared our books with children and adults in schools and bookstores. We are thrilled to know that our book is now all over the world! And Mr. Squiffly’s Cow is now in its third printing. First Choice of course printed our second book, Sally Squiffly and the Runaway Rodent, and most recently, our first hardcover book, Grandma Jo’s Crazy Quilts. All the books are selling well.

Ken and Shy have been amazing to work with. Their attention to detail is phenomenol. My sister and I are perfectionists, and First Choice has not let us down. Calls and emails are answered; problems are solved immediately. Printing is done on time and for the quoted price. We couldn’t be happier.

I encourage anyone thinking of self-publishing to take the plunge. Yes, it entails a lot of work, but there are few things that feel so rewarding. There is something so special about holding your completed book, knowing that these are your words and your illustrations, and that this book will be around for years to come, someone’s treasured storybook. And to hear a customer tell you that your book is her grandson’s favourite, must-have-every-night bedtime story – this continues to make it all worthwhile.

~Maia Levine

When I first admitted to myself that I was actually writing a book I thought that approaching a mainstream publisher would be the way to go. I researched local publishers for ones whose book list included local histories and sent off my manuscript. The publisher I first sent the manuscript to wasn't interested and while I could accept the rejection I found the amount of time it took frustrating. I then decided to self-publish rather than go through the process again with another publisher.

I had the computer skills to format the text and design the cover so what I needed was someone to print my book. After researching my options I found First Choice Books. They were helpful and patient  and my association with them has been a very satisfying one. Whether the author needs a lot of help or just a little to get their manuscript  polished they are there to help.

In the beginning I was very naive about marketing but found that retailers were more than willing to take a chance on an untried author.  Then, to my amazement, I found that retailers were approaching me, rather than the other way around. After six months I have sold most of my first printing of 500 copies and I'm now ready to think about a second printing.

There are many benefits to self-publishing and I would recommend it to anyone who has a potential book lurking in the back of their mind. It has been more work than I imagined but I have learned a lot and the sense of accomplishment is immeasurable.

~Carole Davidson

My book the Homesteader's Daughter has been an amazing success from the beginning. The first edition came out on Dec. 14, 2006. It is now in its third printing. Much of the success of the book is due to its shelf appeal. The cover as set up by the staff at First Choice Books is dramatic and eye-catching. The quality of materials used throughout the book is excellent.

I cannot say enough about the wonderful people at First Choice. They were patient and encouraging and helped me though what seemed at first to be a very daunting project.

~Marianne Van Osch