• Home
  • About
  • Your Book Done!
    • Nonfiction / Business
    • Audiobooks
    • Fiction
    • More Ways We Can Help
  • Sample Gallery
  • Blog
  • Podcast Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
Get our newsletter and our free marketing eBook
Master Book BuildersMaster Book Builders
  • Home
  • About
  • Your Book Done!
    • Nonfiction/Business
    • Audiobooks
    • Fiction
    • More Ways We Can Help
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • Podcast Videos
  • Our Books
  • Contact

About Tom Collins

Here at Master Book Builders, I'm known as the "Book Artisan" -- the guy who takes over to help with your book design and publishing steps, after you and Yvonne finish writing, editing, and polishing your book manuscript. As a writer myself, I usually chime in with a suggestion here or there. Since reading your book is inherent in my layout process, I bring that understanding of your message to your cover design, as well. And then I help with many of the tech and "author business" tasks in the publishing and marketing phases, constantly learning as the industry evolves. I try to share some of that learning in my blog posts, too.

image of chalkboard with words 'what if truth is paradoxical or irrational' as banner image for blog post entitled 'Marginalia: The Power of Paradox and Fiction as Truth' by Tom Collins

Marginalia: The Power of Paradox and Fiction as Truth

A paradox mindset helps creativity, teamwork, leadership, self-efficacy, perspective, and resilience; and how fiction shows us truth.

By Tom Collins April 10, 2024 Book Reviews, Books, Creativity, Flawsomism, Marginalia
Read More
Image showing ancient scroll writing, quill pen and ink, and text 'Timeless Advice for Authors: Ancient Wisdom Inspired by Seth Godin' as header for blog post by Tom Collins

[TfTi] Timeless Advice for Authors: Ancient Wisdom Inspired by Seth Godin

We’ll focus on six of his 19 points, with a bit more explanation to show why we still advocate them with our clients today.

By Tom Collins March 26, 2024 Books, Indie Publishing, Tips from Tom's inbox, Writing
Read More
image showing a road with cars driving and the caption 'AI, self-driving cars, and the delusion of perfection'

Marginalia: AI, self-driving cars, and the delusion of perfection

Marginalia: on Matthew Crawford’s book, Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road. It might not be apparent from the title, but the two themes that keep jumping out at me are the dangers in our headlong rush toward applying AI to everything and the problem of perfectionism.

By Tom Collins March 14, 2024 AI Tools & Tips, Creativity, Flawsomism, Marginalia, Tools & Technology
Read More
image with chart showing print book unit sales in the US from 2004-2023 for blog post 'Who's Reading All Those Books? Surprise!' by Tom Collins

Who’s Reading All Those Books? Surprise!

According to a recent report on CNN, at least some of the growth in reading books comes from Gen Z and Millennials. The story covers a widespread growth in the number of book clubs.

By Tom Collins February 27, 2024 Audiobooks, Books, Reading
Read More
graphic header showing David and Goliath on a slope with the blog post title, Competing with Giants? Let's Level the Field, by Tom Collins

[TfTi] Competing with Giants? Let’s Level the Field

In this edition of Tips from Tom’s inbox, I’m going to have to work at avoiding a rant. My goal is to help you understand and put to use some truths about book publishing and marketing as an indie author.

By Tom Collins February 15, 2024 Book Reviews, Books, Business & Entrepreneurship, Marketing your book, Marketing your business, Tips from Tom's inbox
Read More
image showing a duck paddling away with ripples flowing behind as banner for blog post 'What Ripples of Impact' are You Leaving Behind' by Tom Collins

What Ripples of Impact are You Leaving Behind?

In this edition of Marginalia we’ll dive into my sidenote scribblings in Chip Conley’s new book, Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets BETTER with AGE

By Tom Collins February 1, 2024 Aging Well, Book Reviews, Books, Marginalia, Writing
Read More
image showing the devil coming out of a laptop and shocked user with an angel whispering into his ear for blog post, Google Made Me Do It (DKIM & more), by Tom Collins

[TfTi] Google Made Me Do It (DKIM & More)

If you got a scary email from Google or your email marketing platform about adding DKIM, DMARC, and more, just do it! If you didn’t get one and want your email newsletter to keep getting delivered, do it anyway! Here’s how.

By Tom Collins January 18, 2024 Business & Entrepreneurship, Tips from Tom's inbox, Tools & Technology
Read More
image showing book page design with wide margins for blog post, Marginalia: 25 Perfectionism Quotes that Probably Won't Make It into Our New Book, by Tom Collins

Marginalia: 25 Perfectionism Quotes that Probably Won’t Make It into Our New Book

Teachings on perfectionism, imperfection, good enough, and why we need to practice flawsomism in our work, play, and lives.

By Tom Collins January 4, 2024 Books, Flawsomism, Marginalia
Read More
image with January 2024 calendar in the background and bold year 2024 with books on shelves as fill, featured image for blog post 'Literary Calendar 2024: An Indie Publisher's Book Marketing Goldmine' by Tom Collins

[TfTi] 2024 Literary Holidays: An Indie Publisher’s Book Marketing Goldmine

Here’s your 2024 literary holiday and events calendar to add fun and inspiration to your book marketing efforts.

By Tom Collins December 21, 2023 Books, Business & Entrepreneurship, Indie Publishing, Marketing your book, Marketing your business, Tips from Tom's inbox
Read More
image showing young woman puzzling over a book's pages as featured image for blog post, What's in a Best-Selling Book, by Tom Collins

What’s in a Best Selling Book?

Understanding the New York Times and other best seller lists and what’s in it for authors who achieve best seller status

By Tom Collins December 7, 2023 Books, Business & Entrepreneurship, Indie Publishing, Marketing your book, Marketing your business, Tips from Tom's inbox
Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 8
  • 9

Let's get in touch

Send me an email and I'll get back to you, as soon as possible.

Send Message

Recent Blog Posts

  • Marginalia: A Lesson on Success from Ancient Indie Authors
  • Ask the Book Coach: Real Answers to Real Questions about Writing and Publishing Your Book
  • [TfTi] No Thesaurus? NO WAY, Stephen King!
  • Don’t Be a Reluctant Performer – Take Charge of Video for Your Book
  • A “Fan-Finder” AI Prompt and a “Recognize & Reward” Mindset
Tom Collins and Yvonne DiVita - Master Book Builders
  • Tom Collins & Yvonne DiVita
  • Master Book Builders

© 2005-2025 · MasterBookBuilders.com

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Home