When the pandemic put her community-center career on hold, Leanne Janzen pivoted into a new world: self-publishing. Today at FriesenPress, she leads a team that helps authors turn finished manuscripts into beautiful books — and she’s passionate about educating writers before they sign any contract.

“Publishing is project management,” Leanne explains. “Editing, design, formatting—each step requires specialists, and our job is to coordinate it all so authors can focus on their story.”

Guidance from Manuscript to Marketplace

FriesenPress offers editing, cover design, interior layout, print and e-book production, and distribution. Authors work with a dedicated publishing specialist who manages every stage: “one person who knows your project intimately and advocates for it,” Leanne says.

Unlike many service providers, FriesenPress reads every manuscript that comes through its doors. An editor evaluates the book, recommends the right level of editing—developmental, content, or copy—and even provides a sample edit so authors can see exactly what to expect.

Educating Authors First

Leanne urges writers to ask tough questions early.

• Know who you’re talking to. Is it a hybrid publisher or a self-publishing service provider?
• Clarify rights and royalties. “Your content ownership should be 100% yours,” she stresses.
• Demand transparency. Ask to see a service agreement before paying anything.

Red flags include blanket promises (“we’ll publish you in four months,” “your book will cost $6.25 to print,” or “guaranteed 5,000 sales”). “There’s no way to know those numbers upfront,” Leanne warns.

Marketing Reality Check

Whether you self-publish or land a traditional contract, marketing remains the author’s job. FriesenPress offers coaching to teach authors how to set up websites, social media, and launch plans, but the ongoing promotion is in the writer’s hands. “We’ll help you make your book available,” she says. “But you create the demand.”

Encouragement for the Hesitant

For writers who feel intimidated, Leanne offers a mantra: “Done is better than perfect.”
“There’s an audience for every story,” she reminds us. “Even if traction takes time, keep going. Your readers are out there—they just haven’t found you yet.”

Whether you dream of a legacy memoir or a worldwide bestseller, Leanne’s advice is clear: educate yourself, ask questions, and take the next step.