Highlights from the 2026 U.S. Book Show on AI discoverability, Amazon descriptions, author content, reading campaigns, and audiobook trends.
Discover why book awards can be even more powerful than bestseller status, helping authors gain prestige, visibility, credibility, and long-term opportunities.
MCRL's new Expedited Sea Shipping Service offers a faster, cost-effective option for time-sensitive offset print runs of 300-1000 units.
Offset print your book for stronger margins and still use Amazon to reach a global audience with a smart hybrid strategy.
MCRL Updated January 2026 With the Trump administration implementing new U.S. trade policies in 2025, many of our clients have asked: “Will tariffs increase the cost of printing books in China?” The good news is: most printed books remain exempt from these new...
Learn what 4/4 means, how to count pages, choose paper weight, and avoid hidden costs so you can read your printing quote with confidence. Ever looked at an offset printing quote and thought, “Wow…so many weird terms I don’t understand”. You’re not alone. If y...
From File to Finished Product Whether you're printing a book, journal, planner, or custom project, MCRL Overseas Group makes the process smooth, predictable, and professional. Our 9-step process is grouped into 4 clear stages, ensuring high-quality results and...
Guest Blog by PR by the Book Getting the word out about your children’s book can feel a bit like trying to stand out in a crowded playground—exciting, but also a little chaotic and disorienting! Luckily, some basic PR strategies can help get you organized and ...
Why They Sell and How to Make Yours Stand Out In a world dinging with digital notifications, one trend quietly continues to grow: the demand for printed faith journals. More than just blank pages, these journals offer something sacred, a space of stillness in ...
Want to start a profitable journal or planner business? You're in the right place. Let's break down exactly how to maximize your profits when selling printed journals, with real numbers and practical strategies you can use today. Digital vs. Offset Printing: M...
As a global printing partner for independent authors, publishers and creative entrepreneurs, we know how much heart and energy you pour into your work—whether it’s a children’s book, a guided journal, an affirmation card deck, or beautifully branded packaging ...
The short answer is YES. If you're planning to offset print your physical product; whether it’s a book, journal, board game or gift box…there are high quality, eco-friendly options. Let's explore a few budget-friendly ways you can produce a more sustainably-ma...
When you hear "white glove service," you might immediately think of luxury price tags and costly add-ons. But here's something that might surprise you: exceptional service shouldn't come with a premium price tag. At MCRL Printing, we've proven that personal at...
What Are the Stages and Costs That Go Into Printing a Children’s Book? Publishing a book that excites bookstores and little readers is an exciting journey, and involves several important steps along the way. By understanding the tasks required at each stage an...
Save Time, Cut Costs, and Get Products to Your Customers Faster At MCRL Overseas Group, we value your feedback and are always looking for ways to enhance our services to better meet your needs. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Logistech Solutions—your go-...
Should you do it on your own or hire help? The importance of interior book layout A big thanks to Alexa Bigwarfe, founder of Write | Publish | Sell for sharing excerpts from her original blog on this topic The answer to the question “should I do my own book fo...
Hey there! My name is Rebecca Gladney, and I’m the author, artistic director, and self-publisher behind the Chirp’s Adventures board book series. MCRL was awesome to work with and created a high level product that competes or exceeds the quality of many board ...
20 years of labour and 20 links you’ll love This year marks MCRL’s 20th year printing gorgeous books, journals, planners and more for authors and brands – big and small. Since we first opened our Canadian office two decades ago, our motto has been, “If you can...
A box can tell your brand story in every fold, feature, and color Impress your customers. Launch a brand. Boost your book sales. Today’s packaging is your storybook. It can highlight your creativity, communicate your company’s values and create an experience t...
It doesn’t have to be one or the other There are basically two ways to publish your book; you can print and sell your book independently (with an offset printer like MCRL) or use a POD distribution service like Kindle Direct Press (KDP) or IngramSpark. What’s ...
3 growth ideas, 2 tips and 1 mindset to make it happen Have you ever thought about producing your own custom branded planner? We’re seeing so many entrepreneurs create physical planners that bloom into beautiful new revenue streams. In this blog we share 3 way...
Here’s how 3 clients did it When MCRL Printing was established 19 years ago, our focus was to help people print top-quality, safe products at affordable prices. It still is. With SUSTAINABILITY becoming a bigger part of our story. We choose to print with mater...
Pick a printer before an illustrator. Here’s why … You’ve written a children’s book. The next step is to get your awesome illustrator to design and lay out your story, right? In this blog we’ll explain why it’s prudent to have a plan for printing your picture ...
It all starts with your profit margin. Sales and demand for custom journals continues to grow! Consumers are hooked on bullet journals, gratitude journals, manifestation journals, productivity journals, travel journals, wellness journals, 5 minute journals…all...
Which is better for printing Planners and Journals? Scroll through Instagram and you’ll see gorgeous custom printed planners with large followings and sales. In fact, the global market size for printed planners is expected to grow a whopping 7% between 2021-20...
3 book promo ideas that don’t cost a dime Read how three authors sold over 10,000 copies of their book within the first year. Without spending a dime. ****** You’ve written a great book. Found an illustrator. And printed a book you are incredibly proud of. Jus...
Even if you know nothing about design With online design tools, like CANVA, who needs a professional designer? Probably you, if you’re reading this post. Nothing against CANVA (we love it for social media posts) but a professional designer understands design e...
How a busy mom crowdfunded over $9k to print her first book. Are you aware that crowdfunding campaigns (like those on Kickstarter) can be created to finance publishing projects? As a busy mom of four young children, I used crowdfunding to raise over $9K for my...
Tips you need to know! Board books are a popular format for children under five, primarily because of the durability. If you’re considering printing your book idea in this format, here are the basics you need to know upfront. Board Book Design Board books are ...
The practice of daily journaling is helping many people around the world weather these challenging times. There are many benefits to writing down your thoughts and feelings. Studies show journaling helps reduce anxiety and stress, improves productivity, creati...
MCRL’s Eco-Friendly Planners Are printed planners recyclable? Yep. And more than just the paper can be recycled. If you print Planners and Journals with MCRL Overseas Group, chances are good your Planner’s paper, cover and binding are recyclable. We’ve been re...
Book storage tips for self-publishers Updated July 2023 As a self-publisher, your house often serves as office, store and warehouse! You write and fulfill online and book store orders from your humble abode. Because of this…a question authors frequently ask us...
How to save money when printing your book The size of your book may be one of the most important decisions you make as a self-publisher. To help you make a decision early on in the process, we’ve identified the industry standards AND some ways to save money wh...
As an experienced children’s book editor, Brooke offers tried and tested steps to successfully print-a-children’s-book. Before you hit "print" on your next book, check-off these 8 steps: Step 1: Have your book edited, copy edited, and proofread! Step 2: Get yo...
Many steps go into successfully printing a children’s book. As an offset printing expert, MCRL knows how to print beautiful children’s books. But we aren’t experts in writing, editing and layout. So we reached out to Brooke Vitale. Brooke Vitale spent nearly t...
If you’re building a Planner or Journal business, you have a Vision. A Purpose. A Plan. BUT you may not know exactly how to print a custom Journal or Planner to sell. You’re not alone. Karen Rae, founder of the Balanced Life Planner® and Designer Notebooks, sa...
You’ve spent countless hours writing, illustrating, editing and re-editing your children’s book. Now you’re ready to show the world! But first you need to get that baby printed. As a first-time or established author, you have a choice between Digital Printing ...
Are you a first-time author printing your children’s book for the first time? If yes, writing might be starting to feel like the easy part! Don’t fret. Help is here. Learn from those who came before you Sheri Fink is a world-famous, best-selling author of 14 c...
Affordable. Sustainable. Beautiful. Established paper planner businesses are booming. New planner businesses have popped up with niche themes, unique features and exploding planner communities. Day Planners, Weekly Planners, Productivity Planners, Gratitude Jo...
4 reasons to choose bamboo Bamboo paper is comparable in strength, brightness and printability to paper made from wood pulp. Bamboo paper also helps reduce the environmental effects of clear-cutting and deforestation on our planet. For these reasons, MCRL has ...
Affordable. Sustainable. Beautiful. Looking to print vegan, sustainable, plastic-free or recycled Journals and Planners? Here are three ways MCRL ensures your eco-friendly Journals and Planners are printed with the lowest carbon footprint possible. 1. Eska Esk...
When it comes to overseas printing, tariffs, shipping costs, and material prices can significantly impact your project’s final price and profit margin. If you’re comparing multiple overseas printing quotes, it’s crucial to understand exactly what’s included—an...
44,572 trees planted ...and counting! As a Trees for the Future sponsor, MCRL Overseas Group and our clients have planted over 44,572 trees since 2019 …helping to break the cycle of poverty and hunger for thousands of families in developing countries. What is ...
Simply THE BEST! From start to finish, the MCRL team was outstanding. They were patient, courteous, professional, timely, and produced results that met or exceeded our expectations time and time again. As a published author, I've interacted with many editors a...
Safe, sustainable and soy much more You just need to walk into a book store, scroll through social media or bend your ear to witness North America’s pre-occupation with food and fitness. Whether real or aspirational, there is a huge focus on health, wellness a...
Soy many reasons to choose soy-based ink Ink. It’s likely not something you think alot about when designing a book and selecting a printer. Ink looks pretty much the same to an untrained eye BUT studies show there are health and safety considerations, especial...
FBA fees and facts Selling your product through Amazon can be one of the best things you do to get more eyeballs, around-the-clock customer service and quick delivery … BUT like most big decisions make sure to gather the facts before signing up! If you are con...
Work-back your schedule so your project arrives on time You’ve signed off on a quote and are now ready to get your project rolling. MCRL Overseas Group has a team of experienced project managers to walk you through the process and provide you with a schedule a...
Follow these 6 tips Choosing an overseas vendor to handle your printing and packaging projects can be an overwhelming exercise. In this blog we'll provide 6 tips to help you evaluate overseas vendors. 1. Identify what's most important to you First off, a...
With our creative people and products Every day the MCRL team collaborates with clients to produce awesome print, packaging and promotional products. BUT because 99% of our business is word of mouth or google search, we’d never actually designed promotional it...
Learn from our client Sheri Fink! Sheri Fink is a world-famous, best-selling author of 15 children’s books including The Little Rose - a #1 Amazon Best-Seller for over 60 weeks. As a successful author, inspiring speaker and President of Whimsical World, Sheri ...
What goes into pricing your project Selecting the right supplier to print your book, planner or other product is a big decision. It warrants research and comparing quotes. However, not all quotes can be compared equally. Be wary of the fine print and get clari...
Back to Basics with Journals and Planners “Digital Detox” was the overarching theme at Paperworld. Sales of planners grew by nearly $10 million in 2018 according to NDP Group and U.S. consumers spent nearly $210 million at retail for notebooks – an 18 percent ...
A recent study from Packaging Digest found that 40% of online shoppers said they would be somewhat or much more likely to purchase from a retailer that offers premium packaging. MCRL Overseas Group’s team is constantly sourcing new designs and innovative ways ...
Saving the planet one tree at a time MCRL Overseas Group is proud to be a Trees for the Future partner. As a sponsor we’re helping plant trees and inspiring our customers to support an amazing organization that empowers many impoverished families and communiti...
The Perfect Appreciation Gift Shopping for a unique and personalized employee appreciation, anniversary or birthday gift? Journals are a great choice for your multi-generational workforce. Even Millennials with an aversion to paper will appreciate a functional...
3 reasons why The North American printing market has seen incredible competition from the Chinese printing industry in the last five years. There are over 100,000 Chinese printing companies now servicing a growing list of global clients BUT all overseas printe...
Unless printers and clients care a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not. MCRL Overseas Group believes in producing products with the least environmental impact possible. This eco-friendly badge means our processes and facilities have been ...
A product's packaging communicates many things, from what the product can do for your customers to your company's values. Given one-third of consumers’ decision making is based solely on product packaging, packaging is a crucial marketing and communication too...
Why Print? Even though everyone these days seems to have an electronic device glued to their hand, when it comes to reading, people still want to curl up with a good old-fashioned print book. Fast fact: 65% of people who read a book in the last year read ink o...
