Digital Book Publishing Helps Students Become Published Authors

Drew Bryan, a freshman at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, uses writing as an escape and plans to be a fiction writer. Uzuri Collier, a senior at Glades Central High School, wants to be a nonfiction writer. These young women, along with 37 other students from the School District of Palm Beach County, realized their dreams to become self published authors when they participated in the second annual Océ Future Authors Project summer writing workshop. The book publishing program leverages the output quality and printing efficiency made possible by Océ digital book manufacturing solutions.

To help inspire young writers, Océ North America, a leading provider of digital document management and delivery solutions, created this free program, offered in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County, Barnes & Noble, Maroone, an AutoNation Company, and other local partners. During the workshop, the students learned about writing, editing, and digital book publishing. Instruction was provided by certified teachers, with additional insight provided by Océ executives and by published authors, James O. Born, Jonathon King, Dr. Brian Latell, and Mark Tomback.

"No Such Thing as Writer's Block: Creative Works by the Next Generation of Authors,", which includes a compilation of the student's writings, was printed and digitally published by Océ North America on the Océ Digital Book Solution, a combination of Océ VarioStream® printers and Océ PRISMA™ workflow software. The book is now on sale at Barnes and Noble book stores throughout Palm Beach County and on www.barnesandnoble.com.

“It was thrilling to see my work in a formal format and on paper,” said Bryan, who was inspired to be a writer in the seventh grade after reading J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books.

“This was such an eye-opening experience for me,” added Collier. “I especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many published authors.”

Océ executives predict that digital book printing and publishing technology like the Océ Digital Book Solution will open up more publishing opportunities for aspiring writers like the students. “Digital printing technology is revolutionizing book publishing and fueling trends like self-publishing in run lengths from one to 10,000. This creates exciting opportunities for new talent — like these young, aspiring authors — to pursue their dreams of getting their works published, while bringing a rich diversity of titles to market for all of us to enjoy. As a leader in providing digital printing solutions for the book industry, Océ is proud to support the Future Authors Project and to help make children's' dreams a reality,” said Océ Senior Director of Marketing Services Sheryl Pattek.

School District of Palm Beach County Board Member Mark Hansen sees this program as a model for successful private/public partnerships. “Thanks to support from companies like Océ, Barnes & Noble, and Maroone, our students participated in what could be a life-changing experience. It's proof of what can be done when the community works together for the good of our students.”

For more information about the Océ Future Authors Project, visit www.oceusa.com/futureauthors.