It’s a rainy summer’s day in London and I’m just back from a delicious lunch in Soho with an inspiring and remarkable lady called Aruna Khanzada. She’s an ex-barrister turned creative book making supremo with the help of www.blurb.com a print on demand self publishing service which allows to you make the book you’ve always dreamt of. Check out Aruna’s story.

Tell us a bit about your background

I moved to England from Singapore at the age of 18 to read law at university. Following on from that, I became a criminal barrister for many years. I’m now a full time mother, married with two kids.  

When did you decide to change your career?

I always wanted to be a full time mum as my mother worked and I didn’t want to do the same. I got pregnant as soon as I was married so the joys of motherhood descended on me more quickly than I anticipated. I then got a digital camera and laptop and started taking loads of photos of family and friends. Rather than having them all stored on my computer that no one would ever see, I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be good to put these all together in a book’. This was the start of my work with Blurb.

How did you find somewhere that would actually help you get a book together?

Firstly I made some Apple books but wanted more, something better, so I found out where I could source the binders to make my own books and tried to do it myself. I continued to do my research online, I even went to Las Vegas in my quest and finally I attended an event in Birmingham and heard about a new company called Blurb.com.

Why Blurb?

 I’d become despondent with the level of customer service I was receiving with most of the book sites out there, I wanted someone real I could talk to if I had questions. When I came across Blurb, I discovered a great bookmaking software and good customer service! It took me 25 minutes to make my first book called ‘It’s All Relative” basically a collection of family photos. From then on there was no stopping me and I looked for every opportunity to make books, including a book for my window cleaner to promote his art (he has had so much good feedback from people as a result of having a book). Encouraged by Blurb, I became the first UK member of BlurbNation which is a directory of book makers put together by Blurb to help those who can’t or don’t want to make their own books find people who can’t wait to get cracking on a new book project! BlurbNation has turned out to be a major reason why my hobby was converted into a business. When I joined I had no idea that it would enable me to meet so many really interesting people with great, creative book ideas.

How did you manage the sales and marketing of your books?

It was predominantly word of mouth. I have a very good friend who was always ringing for advice on cooking curry and I decided to make a book for her, giving tips on making the perfect curry! She actually works in food PR and the more people she told the more demand I got for my book. I also made what I call “time capsule” books for my childrens’ schools comprising of photos of staff, pupils and teachers shot over three days. It is a great keepsake, capturing the school as it is and is much better than the usual boring school photos and not much more expensive! The whole concept of the informal school book took off and Blurbnation is using a similar idea to encourage others to do the same! Many of my books are available in Blurb’s public bookstore where you can buy them all online. I use Vista print to make fliers,postcards and posters to promote my books and business – it is so cost effective.

What has been your most successful project?

Curry Base, a book I made with all the tips to make a fool proof curry base and a host of curry recipes.

What obstacles have you come up against?

I’m a very trusting person and always believe people will do what the say they are going to do. I’ve learnt this is not always the case and just to be a bit more aware of some people.

Top 3 tips if people are inspired and want to make their own book.

• Once you get your idea – just go for it!
• Get savvy about marketing – use vista print postcards, stickers, get good with Photoshop
• Don’t give up when you face problems

Where can people find out more about you?

They can visit my website at www.openandshutltd.com or go to www.blurb.com and visit Blurb nation.

And Finally, What is your favourite……?

• Film – Crossing Delancey
• Book – The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
• Drink – Prosecco (“cheaper than champagne and does the trick!)

I love books, I love going to bookshops and just looking around so the thought of making my own book that actually looks like a proper, real, grown up book is very exciting. So bring in Blurb.com.

Blurb is a great website that allows you to create your own book. And having made my first one it really is very simple and easy to use and I got it today and it is just SO cool!

The book can be made in a variety of sizes and covers at varying costs depending on your budget.

Once you have downloaded the software onto your computer, which is very simple, you’re ready to go. All the various predefined layouts for the page are listed on the left hand side which you can select depending on which photo text combo you so desire. There are 32 layouts provided allowing for full bleed images, a full page of text or anything in between.

With regards to adding images this is also easy and intuitive. If you want to use your own pictures you have to import them which is again straightforward.

Images are added to a page by dragging them from the image library on the left of screen to the placeholder on the page. Once added the image can be rotated, resized and realigned. Custom borders can be used and the software will also warn if the image resolution is too low and should be zoomed out.

Text can by typed or copied and pasted in and most installed fonts can be used. Again you will get a warning if there is too much text.

Once the book is completed it is uploaded to their website and then can be ordered from there and shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks to get to you.

My book was 28 pages long, with premium paper and a high quality cover and it cost around £ 22 in total  including delivery which I think is pretty good value for money. And I have to say I really am impressed with the final product and I hope the lucky person who it’s destined for likes it too.

For further details check out www.blurb.com

Girl Geek Alert

Make sure you use spell check, I double proofed and tripled proofed but still missed a few spelling mistakes!