A growth area for local North Shore company Benefitz (also publishers of Channel Magazine) has been in the area of book production. This looks set to go up another level with the recent installation of their new B2 HP Indigo Digital Press.
“Our ability to print and finish books inhouse is a real strength, but so too is our vast experience and knowledge of book publishing,” explains Benefitz Managing Director Aidan Bennett. “We have a team with decades of experience producing books.”
“The books we produce are varied. Some come to us fully designed and we print and finish them. Some of our customers require assistance with the design as well. We also have the flexibility of printing the books locally if that is most cost-effective, or getting books printed offshore if we know there are considerable savings to be made. We work with several offshore companies.”
The Takapuna Tram is an example of a children’s book printed recently at Benefitz with a true local flavour. The tram did once exist, between 1910 and 1927, it was part of the main public transport system on the Shore, running from Bayswater wharf through Belmont to Takapuna around Lake Pupuke to Milford. A poem written by Elizabeth Welsman Dawson in 1923 (grandmother of the author, Terry Carson), forms the text of the book. The tram was well known for being noisy, smokey and rattling as it travelled along the tracks – apparently there were plenty of complaints! The book is an illustrated humorous account from a Takapuna resident of what travelling on the tram was like.
The Takapuna Tram is a case-bound book printed in-house by Benefitz on their digital presses. This would be a great Christmas gift for children, available through www.alibipress.co.nz.
Benefitz has recently printed another updated version of Nadia Lim’s Let's Eat. Let’s Eat is a 256 page case-bound book also for the Christmas market. It is available in November from all good bookstores and also online. The team at Benefitz will also be helping Nadia with the distribution of online orders of this book. Visit: www.nadialim.com.
Elastic Island - Kingdom of Blong is a soft cover perfect-bound 168 page soft cover kids book that Benefitz has printed recently for a local publisher. Kingdom of Blong is the fifth in the Elastic Island Adventures children’s book series. This is a fantasy action-adventure book for 8-12 years olds that is set in the South Pacific. Kiri, Jed, and twins Emma and Ethan, discover an ‘elastic’ island that sends them pinging across the ocean to a variety of destinations.
Visit: https://www.elasticisland.com/
Benefitz recently designed and printed a book called 'Three Brothers – The adventures of Ebenezer, Gregory and William Norris in New Zealand, 1851–1899’. This was written by Rick Norris, a retired solicitor and former senior partner in the Auckland firm Jackson Russell. Rick is a keen reader of history, collector of model soldiers and wargamer. He is also a great grandson of Captain William Norris. Roger Morris, a maritime artist of international repute, provided the illustrations for the book. This was a 218 page soft cover perfect bound book.
“Our ability to take a manuscript and images and assist with producing books both efficiently and economically is being appreciated by our customers,” adds Aidan Bennett. “We have the expertise to help people from all walks of life bring their publishing projects to fruition. This book for Rick Norris is a classic example. We also get a great deal of pleasure on helping people capture their own life and family stories. We can do this by working from prepared manuscripts or by offering our ‘My Life Story Book’ system as another option.”
Another book printed recently by Benefitz is The Unflinching Ash, by Angela Armstrong. This 368 page perfect-bound book was printed digitally. It has had good reviews, with one author saying “Armstrong’s language is rich and immersive, with a beautifully drawn cast of characters for readers to love and loathe. Her masterful story-telling is reminiscent of the legendary Sherryl Jordan, textured, thought-provoking, swoon-worthy and potent. The Unflinching Ash is sure to ignite hearts and imaginations.” The book is available online from
www.angelaarmstrongbooks.com or from Wheelers, Amazon, Your Local Indie Bookstore, Fishpond, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository.
For more information on book production contact Aidan Bennett or Kent Bowyer-Sidwell at Benefitz – aidan@benefitz.co.nz / kent@benefitz.co.nz or phone 09-477-4700.
HP INDIGO 10000 B2 DIGITAL PRESS
As this issue was going to press Benefitz was installing an HP Indigo B2 Digital Press, further strengthening the companies capability to print books, with advantages in quality and efficiency. Being digital and B2 in size (750mm x 530mm) the Indigo 10000 prints to the same size as the conventional offset printing machinery, but digitally, using the very robust Indigo ElectroInk liquid ink.
MY LIFE STORY BOOK SYSTEM
Benefitz has developed this system that simplifies the process for those wishing to tell and record their life stories. It enables the easy and cost-effective online production of an actual book and it will preserve the story online for generations to come. The 'My Life Story Book' System includes:- Book created easily using online system – loading content online; Hard copy books can be produced easily and economically from that content; Life story of the person is online forever; The Life Stories are fully searchable online; Online version of the book. For more information visit: https://mylifestorybook.co.nz
