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Instructions For Authors

The following paragraphs are provided as guidelines for authors who wish to submit proposals to Peak Interactive Books, Inc. for ultimate print and/or electronic publication. These instructions are contained in this single text page to make downloading and printing convenient and quick for you. Just select "Print" from your browser's file menu to make a copy for yourself.

Please note that Peak will not evaluate, or reply to, proposals that have not adhered to the these guidelines.

Our books use an interactive style of presentation suited to the book media form. Potential authors are expected to have examined a Peak Interactive Book before submitting a manuscript. The Peak book entitled "Using Interactive Media to Communicate" is a good choice for this purpose because it treats many of the issues that arise in the design of an interactive book. Copies are available for purchase through the publisher. Mention these instructions and receive a 20 percent discount.

General

Answers to following questions will help us (and you) estimate the market for your book. While you may not have an accurate answer for some of these questions, you must provide your best estimate.

1. What is the subject and proposed title of the book ? Does a manuscript presently exist ?

 

2. Who is the target consumer of the book ?

a) gender

b) age range

c) profession/occupation

d) computer literacy level

e) How large is this consumer group ?

f) How can they be contacted and told about the book ?

 

3. Reader Motivation

a) Why will these consumers buy this book ?

b) What is the price level they have shown they are willing to pay for such a book ?

c) Why will they keep the book once they have purchased it ?

 

4. Author Credentials

a) Do you have a recognized name, special credentials, or other market presence that will help the book to be accepted and purchased ?

 

5. Why is an interactive book a superior choice for the presentation of this material ?

 

6. Why this book ? Why now ?

Manuscript

No judgment can be made about the cost of publishing an interactive book until the textual portion of the book exists. The following questions apply to the text manuscript.

1. Estimate the Word count ?

2. How many chapters ?

3. Is the manuscript presently in a form suitable to be published as a print work ?

4. Has it already been published as a print work ?

Your Interactive Concept

A Peak interactive book may consist of up to nine different types of media organized into an organic whole. It is expected that the book should deliver a consistent message when a single track is pursued from the beginning of the book to the end. It is also expected that the combined media types available at any location throughout the book should complement each other and also provide a consistent message.

Using all the media tracks makes for a rich interactive presentation. In specific cases, one or more tracks might be omitted. When you submit your concept of the book to us, you should have conceptualized what each of the media tracks is to contain.

Overview of the Media Tracks

There are nine tracks. They are:

1. Screen Text

2. Background Graphics

3. Background Sound

4. Content Videos

5. Interactive graphics.

6. Meta-content

7. Knowledge Verification

8. Printed Text

9. Web Site

Each of these tracks can contain consumer value. However not every interactive publication requires all tracks. Indeed it may be necessary to eliminate one or more tracks in an effort to meet a cost or price constraint. It is important to specify in your proposal what tracks you feel are necessary to your purpose, and which may be eliminated. In the following paragraphs, we offer guidelines for selecting and evaluating the contents of each track.

Track 1 - Text on the Screen

Text on the screen carries the primary message of the book. It does not contain digressions, side comments, or other auxiliary content as it might in a print work where text must do the entire communications job. Text on the screen assumes and uses the contextual and content support it receives from the other media tracks.

An original print manuscript should contain everything the author wishes to put in the work. During the planning stages, some of the original manuscript will be marked for conversion and use in one of the other tracks. It is also common that additional material not in the original manuscript will be required for the other tracks.

Track 2 - Background/Context Graphics

We have found that interactive media require a much higher graphical content than print works do. A significant part of this graphical content is static graphics used on almost every page to enhance the look and feel of the book by establishing a graphical context. Any page that does not have a content graphic, an interactive graphic, or a content video, is expected to require a context graphic.

1. What style and/or theme of background/context graphics are suitable ?

2. Is a pool of graphics with an appropriate style and theme already available ? Cost of use ?

Track 3 - Background Sound

Just as in Movies, sounds played while the reader peruses text add emotional color to the text. The task is similar to planning the score for a movie.

Track 4 - Content Videos

The use of videos in an interactive work is a considerable enhancement. Characters can be used to express different points of view, give advice, or relate experiences. Experience has shown that video clips of between 30 seconds and 1 minute are best.

1. How many characters will be needed ?

2. How many video clips will be needed ?

3. Has the dialogue for these clips already been created ?

4. What actors or experts will be needed ?

5. Have you approached them yet concerning this task ?

 

Track 5 - Interactive Graphics

There are several different types of interactive graphics already available. They are described in "Using Interactive Media to Communicate" and examples are provided. These are expected to cover most needs. More can be made if necessary, but are costly and time consuming to create.

1. What types of interactive graphics will you need ? How Many ?

____Pictures

____Animations

____Stop-Frame Animations

____QuickTime Graphics

____Linked Graphics

____Programmed Graphics - Describe any you need

2. What is the role of sound in these graphics

Track 6 - Meta-Content Graphics

Meta Content graphics are usually video clips in which comments on specific content are offered to the reader while he is reading that content. They may be offered by one of the books characters, or by a friend or critic of the author. They help communicate the context of the work to the reader

1. How many comment videos will be required ?

2. Who is the commentor ?

3. Do these videos already exist ?

Track 7 - Knowledge Verification

The knowledge verification track consists of a series of test question graphics which ask the reader questions. Each answer is responded to with a comment establishing a conversational exchange with the reader. Even wrong answers are learning opportunities.

In a book developed as a training device, These questions can be embedded within the material to be learned, and used to provide the reader an opportunity to exercise newly learned material. All the questions of a chapter may be presented as a timed test to provide the reader with evidence that he has adequately learned the chapters material. Finally, an independent timed test on new questions may be used as a certification device. Acheiving an adequate score on a certificiation test will result in the printing of a diploma, which can be used to certify the learners knowledge to a third party.

1. What level of knowledge verification is planned ?

___Learning exercises

___Verification for reader

___Certification and diploma

 

2. How many questions will be needed ?

3. Is there an existing source for such questions ?

4. Are there responses for the wrong answers ?

Track 8 - Printed Text

It is possible to eliminate the printed text portion of a combined print, CD-ROM, Web information package, but it is not a good idea. The printed portion can look and act as a normal print book. As such, the book with included CD-ROM can be marketed and sold through the existing commercial methods used to market and sell books.

This is an important advantage since there is no similar distribution mechanism for "CD-ROM only" products. The interactive CD-ROM is not a familiar product to most consumers yet. Many "CD-ROM only" products have died because they have not been given adequate shelf space by retailers.

The print portion plays another important role with respect to the consumer who may not be familiar or comfortable with interactive works. The printed portion can be made browseable. The consumer can find there information which will familiarize him with what the package contains. This material can assist the sale by informing the customer of the products benefits, and why he should buy.

1. What role would the printed form have for your work ?

2. How would you use the printed portion to increase the market for your book ?

3. What is the reader benefit to having the printed form ?

 

Track 9 - Web Support

Some interactive publications have a need for support beyond the initial transaction in which the publication was purchased. A web site can be set up to provide such support. In some cases, a web site supporting the publication can yield additional income. Items which may be used on a web site are:

1. Timely information not available at press time.

2. Updated tables, charts, data etc.

3. Additional chapters planned for inclusion in the next addition

4. Related publications for sale

5. Items for sale

Do you require or foresee a need for a web site ?

1. What would it contain ?

2. What maintenance of the web site or its items would be required?

3. Can the Web site support itself through services it can offer the consumer ?

Your Role

Interactive works are similar to movies in that while they are based on a text manuscript, many additional kinds of skills are required to produce the finished product. It is possible for authors to participate more extensively in the production of the work than to simply write the original manuscript.

1. Do you have any of these additional skills ?

2. Do you desire an additional involvement in the production ?

Where to send your proposal ?

These guidelines for authors provide a basis to begin discussion of the publishing opportunity. Please do not send any proposals until you have examined a Peak Interactive Book. Please respond to all areas mentioned in these guidelines. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please send your proposal to:

Peak Interactive Books, Inc.

31220 La Baya Drive #110

Westlake, CA 91362

We make every effort to review and respond to proposals sent to us. Please allow 6 weeks for such review.

Legal Considerations

All submitted proposals become the property of Peak Interactive Books, Inc. None will be returned. Please submit only copies and not the original. Actual manuscripts will be returned if author requests it, and includes a self addressed stamped envelope.