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.
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
