TRUST is one of those words primarily defined by the person using it. What’s important to you might not be as much of a priority as it is for the next author.
It was Spring, 1962 . . . I found myself at the bottom of a neighborhood hill, laughing and giggling as I lay bunched up against a small row of bushes. I had just turned six and received a shiny new pair of sparkly-gold steel roller skates with bright red wheels for my birthday. I even had a skate key tied onto a shoestring to hang around my neck! I still have those skates, and I think they weigh as much as I did!
You see, moments earlier, I had been on the sidewalk at the top of that hill, flanked by my brother and sister (10 and 12 years my senior). They had been given the responsibility of teaching me to maneuver on my shiny new skates.
Now, kids today have all the “right equipment” . . . they have helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads. Back in the 1960’s, we had no such fluff. So, my sister, the practical one, had “belted” a pillow to my mid-section (for soft back-side landings), and tied rags around my knees and elbows — just in case. I couldn’t move, but I was ready to roll!
My relationship with my brother and sister was pretty much from a distance, as they were so much older than me. I knew my brother as the “teaser and tormentor,” and my sister was the “mini mother,” always looking out for me. With skates on my feet, I remember my brother wanting to just PUSH me down the fairly steep (to ME, anyway) sidewalk . . . just to see what would happen . . . and my sister holding me back from what she saw as certain death, doom, and destruction.
Luckily for me, my sister’s grip and determination were stronger than my brother’s, and she began guiding me down the hill as she held my elbow, trotting alongside me as we picked up speed. As we neared the bottom of the hill, she let go . . . and I veered left, plowing headfirst into the row of bushes (long before helmets). I was having fun and was ready to go again!
Now, had my brother won the battle of the wits that afternoon, the story may have ended on a much less positive note. But I learned a valuable lesson that day about TRUST — I trusted my sister to guide me and not place me in a harmful situation. I also learned that trying something NEW could be fun! (This skating story is reprised from an original post in 2017.)
Publishing is a lot like learning to roller skate. It can be intimidating at first, but when paired with someone you can trust, you will see positive results once you start rolling.
You don’t have to navigate the ever-changing landscape of publishing by yourself. We’re here to walk beside you, guide you, and help you avoid many self-publishing pitfalls.
How can you trust your Publishing Expert to put your best interest first?
1. Consistency & Follow-Through
- Delivering feedback, edits, and guidance on time.
- Keeping promises regarding milestones and next steps.
2. Clear & Honest Communication
- Setting realistic expectations about the publishing process.
- Being upfront about timelines, costs, and the author’s role.
3. Integrity & Ethical Practices
- Avoid making unrealistic guarantees about bestseller status or sales.
- Offering transparent pricing and fair agreements.
4. Respect for the Author’s Vision & Voice
- Guiding authors without taking over their story.
- Encouraging their creative process while providing professional insights.
5. Expertise & Industry Knowledge
- Staying informed about publishing trends, self-publishing, and book marketing.
- Providing valuable insights on editing, cover design, and distribution.
6. Accountability & Professionalism
- Taking responsibility for mistakes and correcting them quickly.
- Maintaining a positive, supportive, and structured coaching environment.
7. Confidentiality & Trustworthiness
- Protecting unpublished work and respecting client confidentiality.
- Ensuring all materials, ideas, and discussions remain private.
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Such a great post on Trust. I loved it, Cathy.
Thanks to Cathy and her team, the children’s book that’s been in my head for years, has come to be a reality! Davis Creative Publishing has been a joy to work with, and I can’t thank them enough to help make my book come to life and become available to children of all ages!
Jan Baron, Author, THE FLY ON THE WALL
St. Louis, Missouri
Thank you Jack and Cathy. We were a great team and my book CHIN UP CHIN OUT JOB SEARCH has helped hundreds of my clients. I’m now working on my second edition hopefully to be published by October 2025 and of course I’m going to use Davis Creative again.