Book publishing isn't any one 'thing' - it's comprised of many little pieces that employ the services of a great number of individuals. At least 5 different individuals work on a typical book produced by Dog Ear Publishing. Add copyediting and proofreading and you've added two more to the process.

Once upon a time, the United States represented the hallmark of book publishing - companies like Dog Ear flourished in the traditional market by providing publishing services to traditional publishers. Literally thousands of individuals made their living by designing, composing (the layout of a book), editing, proofreading and managing the physical parts of the publishing process.

Then came 'outsourcing'

Nearly overnight an entire industry was quietly moved overseas where labor was much less expensive. An entire generation of skilled workers - artists really, since book design and layout is truly an art - was forced to find another way of life.

And our books suffered.

Truly brilliant book designers, truly wonderful layout technicians are all much harder to find these days without looking to resources around the globe.

However, at Dog Ear we employ them ALL from the USA - which means several things:

- we sit down with them every day - here in our offices
- they know how our world works, they have experience and they know books
- we help keep Americans working
- we build better books.

Nothing can replace the American publishing professional- though most of our competitors try - and the publishing industry will thrive as long as we continue to build great books right here in the USA.

Employing 100% of your staff from the USA isn't always easy - overseas labor is cheap, it works around-the-clock and on weekends, and it doesn't ask for health benefits. But - ALL of our employees are here in the USA, and 100% of our books are printed in the USA. Sometimes this means that Dog Ear Publishing pays higher wages and has higher print costs than many of our competitors - but we consider these items to actually be an asset rather than a liability. Every dollar that stays in America is good for the country as a whole. We can only afford to purchase to the degree that we are paid.

It's not impossible to publish a book completely built in the US. As Dog Ear demonstrates on a daily basis, no company can make the argument that they must use cheaper overseas labor to save the consumer money. Besides - the consumer isn't really saving ANYTHING - the company is just pocketing more profit.

Here's a quote I've borrowed - when President Warren Harding was challenged by the argument that consumers benefit from cheaper imports, he replied:

"One who values American prosperity and . . . American standards of wage[s] and living can have no sympathy with the proposal that easy entry and a flood of imports will cheapen our cost of living. It is more likely to destroy our capacity to buy."