Happenstance Type-O-Rama » MISSIONS

No Starch Press

admin — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 03:44:39 +0000

Case Study: 01100010-01101001-01101100-01101100
Operation: No Starch Press
Objective: Match the premier publisher of technology books with the premier publishing technology
Mission: Automatize, templatize, optimize, digitize

As the founder of the premier geek entertainment publishing company, No Starch Press, Bill Pollock found himself hacking his way through the jungle of outdated print and digital book production. Searching for a partner who read from the same codebook, he found Happenstance agents already in his midst. After a quick confab with Agent 001, her team built a geek machine that streamlined No Starch's production pipeline. As the single source of XML workflow truth, Happenstance optimized templates, organized processes, automated imports, and digitized exports.

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CAST Professional Publishing

admin — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 01:42:53 +0000

Case Study: 67-65-83-84
Operation: CAST Professional Publishing
Objective: Help an established nonprofit develop a publishing wing
Mission: Maximize accessibility using custom workflow

While undercover in a bookstore, David Gordon untangled the cipher of a copyright page and reached out for help. Already a leader in Universal Design for Learning, CAST was looking to launch its own publishing imprint to inform and inspire educators. Happenstance arranged a meeting in a public place where the heads of these powerful agencies formed an alliance. After establishing production processes, scheduling protocols, branding, and templates, Happenstance deployed their XML workflow. Encoded into every print project, XML layers—like invisible ink—carry metadata vital to accessibility for eReaders. Over a decade later, this powerful partnership continues to prove that if you want to go far, go together.

“Happenstance team members are mentors to us as well as partners.
We know they are committed to us, and that they care about our work.”
—David Gordon, Chief Content Officer and Managing Director,
CAST Professional Publishing

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North Atlantic Books

admin — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:32:14 +0000

Case Study: 8080∞888//8
Operation: North Atlantic Books
Objective: Rescue and Exfiltrate from Scribe
Mission: Liberate from dehumanizing proprietary platforms

Ensnared in the rats' nest of proprietary platform purgatory, North Atlantic Books picked up the big red phone and sent out an SOS. After an extensive debrief, Happenstance agents liberated their team from the morass of subscription services and inflexible platforms. Our agents helped establish a safe haven in which North Atlantic was free to publish their books without being tied to proprietary technology. Using off-the-shelf software, Happenstance built bespoke Word and scalable InDesign templates, with flexible ebook architecture, that meets the needs of any design.

“The crew at Happenstance is amazing and truly enjoyable to work with… they told us from the start that they wanted to create a partnership and that's exactly how it feels.”
—Emily Boyd, Managing Editor, North Atlantic Books

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Maker Media, Inc.

admin — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:25:10 +0000

Case Study: 1098-8A4-//vixoz
Operation: Maker Media, Inc.
Objective: Reboot BookBot-X5000
Mission: Make it fun; make it fast; make it cost-competitive

Maker Media, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, CA, was looking to increase its title list with books and ebooks that conveyed a sense of fun and discovery. Recognizing our flexibility and scalability, Happenstance was given all-access clearance to the mad scientist lab that is Maker Media. After gathering intel, Happenstance HQ proposed bundling agent services including project management, editing, design, layout, proofreading, indexing, and ebook conversion, all at a rate that wouldn’t bust the budget bunker.

“I’d just rather use Happenstance, it’s so much easier.”
—Roger Stewart, Publisher, Maker Media

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