Mike and Leda Owens were honored on a television broadcast for their work as Mr. and Mrs. Claus for deaf children this year.

Imagine sitting on Santa’s lap and he asks you what you want for Christmas, but you can’t understand what he’s saying.It happens every year for children who are deaf.

But a “Signing Santa” changes the narrative for so many kids in the community.

“So there’s quite a few kids out there that appreciate being able to talk to a Santa they can communicate with,” said Santa Claus, known as Mike Owens.

As I have helped writers over the years, I have gotten a lot of questions about the “Copyright Page.” Sometimes it’s been referred to as the “Information Page” or “ISBN Page.” This is also referred to as the “Front Matter.” However, many authors may not need this page in their book. If you are publishing a book specifically designed for family and friends only, there is no need to include this page in your book. Also, if you do not plan to put your book on the market for sale, you would not need a copyright page.

But, if you are like most writers/authors, this is a very important page in your book. If you plan to make your book available to the general public for a price, you should (and must) have a “front matter” page.

Since this is often referred to as a “Copyright Page,” you may be saying, “So, I need a copyright on my book, right?” Well yes and no. Registering your book with the Copyright Office is NOT necessary. Once your manuscript has been proven in its “permanent format”, you have created your own copyright which provides you all the “rights and protections of the law.” Nevertheless, because your book may have particular content of a special nature (such as unique data and/or exclusive research) you may and should apply to the US Copyright Office.

Since this article is basically for those who need a copyright page, here is a list (in no particular order) of items/topic/subjects that should be included. Each will be explained in detail later in the article, with examples as available. I will be using my own “front matter” as examples. If anyone has questions or may need additional explanation of any parts, please contact me at mikeowens1947@yahoo.com.
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You may include some or all of these topics in your front matter. This is my personal preference for the order of this information. Please feel free to order your information as you like.

​Published by
Putting your publisher’s name on the Information Page is quite appropriate.
Example: Published by Scribblers Press, 9741 SW 174th Place Road, Summerfield, Florida 34491
 
Printed by
Putting your printer’s name and address in not needed. However as indie writers, this is a plug for your printer, who plays a vital role in your marketing. If this is a printer you like, you will be helping the business.
Example: Printed by Trinity Press, 3190 Reps Miller Road, Suite 360, Norcross, Georgia 30071
 
Copyright notice
Write out the word “copyright” or use the symbol ©. To find the copyright symbol, look on your computer under Insert >Symbol >
Example: Copyright 2020 © Michael E. Owens
If you use a pseudonym, this is where you can use it along with your real name. If you have different editions, in subsequent years you can use:
Example: Copyright 2015, 2017, 2020 © Michael E. Owens
 
Designer, Editor, Illustrator
There may be other professionals who have contributed to the production of your book. You may want to note them here.
Example: Cover Design by Bridgett Joyce, Illustrator Leda Owens, Editor, Casey Daniels
 
Text/Typeface Used
Although I include this, it is not necessary.
Example: Text set in Times New Roman
 
Country in which the Book was Printed
I always include this.
Example: Printed in the U.S.A.
 
Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)
To register with the U.S. Library of Congress, you must apply for the LCCN. For a nominal fee, Charles de Andrade can apply for you. You must complete a form which is available from Charles.
Example: Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN): 59697790
 
Author’s Name and Date of Publish
At some point in the copyright page, include your full name as it appears on your book and add the date the book is actually being published.
Example: Owens, Michael E. , August 31, 2020
 
Title of book / Author Name
At some point on the page, list your book title as it appears on the cover. I add my name on the same line or the next. I place this information above my summary.
Example: The Bird Nest Real Estate Agency / Michael E. Owens
Summary: (Very brief summary of book)
Have very short blurb here about your book. This is not required, but it indicates the overview  of your book.
Example: Summary: Mr. Bernard Mocking helps other birds find appropriate locations for their nests.
 
ISBN Number
For those of us who want to sell books, this number is very important. The barcode of your book’s number along with the price of your book, should appear somewhere on the back of your book. The number itself should appear on the Copyright page. For the same nominal fee, Charles de Andrade can order both the ISBN number and the associated bar code for you.  Please note that if you publish through Scribblers Press the ISBN number and the Bar Code tie back to Scribblers Press.  All royalties are linked to the owner of the ISBN number.  Scribblers Press prepares a monthly report showing the book sales and the author gets 90% of the royalty/commission paid to Scribblers Press.   So, if you want to own the ISBN number you must buy your own number, bar code, and do the filing with the Library of Congress separately, and you will not be able to use the Scribblers Press Imprint.   Ask Charles for more clarifications.
Example: IBSN Number: 978-0-9992631-0
 
Rights and Permissions *
Most likely you do not need to go into detail about your work as your copyright information should cover you as to the use of your content. However, you may want to spell out your rights as to your book and the length of your permission to give to someone for your book.
Example: All rights reserved or
Example: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical review and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact Charles de Andrade, Scribblers Press, or Michael E. Owens, Books by MEO.
 
Disclaimer *
If you are a writer of fictional work, you may want to protect yourself from a lawsuit in the event your work includes resemblance to people or situations in real life. This has not been a part of my books to this point, but from now on, I will be including the following:
Example: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
 
Author Website
If you are a writer, you should have created a website. If you have one, you must include this on your Information Page
Example: www.bookbymeo.com
 
Edition Information *
If you have printed additions to your book, you may indicate this by simply adding a line that says
Example: 2nd Edition, 3rd Edition or Second Edition, Third Edition
Trademark notices*
If there are any trademark notices or logos associated with your publisher or other trademarks in your book, explain it here
Example: McBurgler is a trademark of the McDonalds Corporation
 
Ordering information
You may include how to order your book here; maybe a brief location where your books may be ordered, such as on the Amazon website as well as the Sribblersweb site. Personally, I have one page in my books dedicated to how to order the books in a fairly detailed format. On this same page, I also have a disclaimer for children not to order books without parental approval first.
Example: www.booksbyMEO.com, or  www.Scriblersweb.com for ordering information.
 
Environmental notices
A statement may be included, indicating the author’s environmental awareness, such as noting the books use of  specific types of paper, or processes that is are better for the environment. This is an item that is not included in my information page.  .
Example: Not available
 
Reading Statistics (for Children’s books)
If you write for children, for tweens or young adults, you may want to include statistics and reading levels for your book. This is available on Word Review> editor>. However, you must account for any errors your computer had indicated. Once all errors are corrected, you will be shown the reading statistics.

Example: Readability Statistics for “The Bird Nest Real Estate Agency"

Mike has been writing since Middle School – short stories about friends and their adventures in strange and exotic places. Stories that would wind up, sooner or later, buried in some trash can by a mother who believed a neat and tidy room was next to godliness. It was no big deal at the time- a career in writing wasn’t in his thinking. It was just a fun thing to do while entertaining himself.

As a senior in high school in Metairie, Louisiana, Mike won the Journalism Gold Medal Award; a prize he cherished - especially since he was competing against some of the smartest students in the class. Even at this point, he still never considered writing as more than a pleasurable pastime. He continued to write in college and was recognized for his attributes in writing, especially by his history professor, Dr. Thomas Howell.

In his first job at Pinecrest State School in 1974 as a Speech Therapist,, he collaborated with Nathan Canella, the music therapist, to produce Eggs! Eggs! Eggs! an Easter musical that was performed at the school for many years afterwards. He also wrote his first instructional manual for teaching sign language to non-verbal students at the school. Later, as an Educational Consultant for the Department of Education in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he wrote numerous training manuals for special education teachers and administrators covering a variety of special needs students.

In 1995, Mike traveled to Costa Rica and taught there for three years. He continued writing about the wonderful people he encountered while traveling around the country. The bug to write was still there, but the thought of becoming a published author, was not part of his life’s equation.

 It wasn’t until about five years later, after returning to the states, did the urge to publish take hold. It took almost ten years to finish writing two young adult books. It was after retiring, and a move to Georgia before he realized the opportunity to become published. Only after becoming a part of the Scribblers’ Christian writers group in Norcross did publishing his works become a reality. Mike gives much credit to Charles de Andrede, the leader of Scribblers, for his direction and encouragement to him personally in the completion of his first two published novels. A year and a half after arriving in Georgia, Mike married Leda Still, a budding artist with whom he collaborated to produce a third book jointly called “The I Hate Vegetables Book of Poetry for Kids” due out for Christmas 2017. Additional books, as well as Leda’s artwork displayed at Leda’s Loft, are in the works. As they become available, announcements will be made on this website and blog.

For more on Mike, visit his website!