Roshan Prasad started writing his first book in 2011.
He finished it in 2016.
It was published in 2019.
Five years from start to finish. Three years from manuscript completion to seeing his book in print.
When he started working on his second book — "The Stamp Chronicles: A Journey Through Philately" — Roshan knew he couldn't go through that again.
This is the story of what changed.
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📌 The Journey at a Glance A cricket philatelist from Sikkim spent 5 years publishing his first book through traditional channels. When he started his second book, he found OrangeBooks — and the experience was completely different. This is his real story: the struggles, the turning points, and the specific problems a good publisher solves. If you're an aspiring author wondering whether professional publishing support is worth it, this story will answer that question. |
The First Book: 2011-2019
Roshan isn't a casual stamp collector. He's an award-winning cricket philatelist with Silver at the World Stamp Championship, five international awards, and five national awards for his philatelic exhibits. When he decided to write "The Stamp Collector's Dictionary," he had the expertise. What he didn't have was publishing experience.
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The Timeline That Changed His Approach:
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The book went on to win awards at national and international levels. But the process had been exhausting.
The Second Book: A Different Approach
When Roshan started working on "The Stamp Chronicles," he had a decision to make. Go through the same 5-year process again? Or find a different way?
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"The inspiration for 'The Stamp Chronicles' came from a lifelong passion for stamp collecting. It all began with a single stamp, a gift from my elder brother, and it grew into an enduring fascination with these miniature pieces of history. I wanted to share the joy and knowledge I've gained through the years with fellow enthusiasts and newcomers to the hobby." — Roshan Prasad (from Chronicle Times interview) |
But this time, he had something his first book lacked: specific goals and a clear vision.
What Roshan Wanted for His Second Book
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He knew what he wanted. He just didn't know how to get there on his own.
The Challenges He Faced (That You Probably Face Too)
Based on his experience with his first book and initial attempts at self-publishing his second, Roshan identified specific roadblocks:
Challenge #1: Finding Editors Who Understand Specialized Content
Philately has its own language. Terms like "perforation gauge," "watermark varieties," "FDC" (First Day Cover), and "thematic philately" don't exist in most editors' vocabulary.
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"The most challenging aspect of writing is often overcoming writer's block and finding the initial momentum to start a piece, especially when dealing with complex or unfamiliar topics." — Roshan Prasad on writing challenges |
The DIY problem: Hiring random editors meant endless back-and-forth explaining basic philatelic concepts. Some editors wanted to "simplify" technical terms that couldn't be simplified without losing meaning.
Challenge #2: The Cover Design Dilemma
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"A book cover plays a crucial role in the selling process, as it serves as the first impression and a visual representation of the book's content, often influencing a reader's decision to explore further or make a purchase." — Roshan Prasad on cover design importance |
Roshan knew his cover needed to appeal to two audiences: seasoned philatelists who'd judge it instantly, and curious newcomers who knew nothing about stamps. Generic hobby book designs wouldn't work.
The DIY problem: Online designers produced beautiful covers — for the wrong book. They looked professional but felt generic. Nothing screamed "philately" to the people who actually collect stamps.
Challenge #3: Interior Formatting Complexity
"The Stamp Chronicles" wasn't a simple novel with chapters and paragraphs. It had:
| • Multiple glossary sections with specialized terminology |
| • Interactive quiz formats ("Stamp Recognizing," "Global Renaming," "The Stamp Quiz") |
| • Reference tables for philatelic accessories and materials |
| • Exhibition standards and judging criteria sections |
| • Historical timelines and stamp evolution charts |
The DIY problem: Microsoft Word couldn't handle the complexity. InDesign required skills Roshan didn't have time to learn. Formatting specialists quoted per-page rates that added up fast.
Challenge #4: Distribution Confusion
Roshan wanted philatelists in Dubai, London, Singapore — anywhere stamps are collected — to find his book. But how?
The DIY problem: Amazon India? Amazon US? Ingram? Each platform had different requirements. ISBN registration seemed straightforward until you hit the mandatory library deposit requirements. And ebook formatting was completely different from print.
The Turning Point: Finding OrangeBooks
A fellow published author mentioned OrangeBooks. Not as a vendor, but as a partner. "They handle everything," his friend said. "You focus on content. They focus on making it a real book."
Roshan was skeptical. After years of publishing struggles, "we handle everything" sounded like marketing speak.
But he reached out anyway.
The First Conversation That Changed Everything
The OrangeBooks publishing consultant didn't start with a sales pitch. They started with questions:
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Questions That Built Trust:
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No one had asked Roshan these questions before. Publishers had asked about page count and print runs. Freelancers had asked about deadlines and payment. But no one had asked about his vision.
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The Moment Roshan Knew This Was Different: |
📹 Watch: The Stamp Chronicles — Official Book Trailer
How OrangeBooks Solved Each Challenge (Specifically)
This is where the story gets practical. Here's exactly how OrangeBooks addressed each of Roshan's concerns:
Solution #1: Editors Who Learn Your Subject
Instead of hiring a random editor and hoping for the best, OrangeBooks assigned an editor who:
| ✓Read "The Stamp Collector's Dictionary" first to understand Roshan's previous work |
| ✓Researched basic philatelic terminology before the first edit |
| ✓Asked clarifying questions when technical terms were unclear — but never suggested removing them |
| ✓Recommended adding brief explanations for beginners alongside expert terminology, not instead of it |
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✓ Result: The book maintained its authority for serious collectors while becoming accessible to newcomers — exactly what Roshan wanted. No compromise needed. |
Solution #2: Designers Who Understand Your Audience
The OrangeBooks design team did something unexpected. They asked Roshan to share:
| • Photos of his favorite stamps from his personal collection |
| • Examples of philatelic magazines and exhibition catalogs he admired |
| • Covers of other philately books (to understand what not to do) |
| • His vision for how the book should "feel" when someone picked it up |
Then they created multiple concepts based on actual philatelic design elements — not generic hobby book templates.
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✓ Result: When Roshan showed the cover to fellow philatelists, they immediately recognized it as a serious philately book — not a generic hobby guide. Mission accomplished. |
Solution #3: Professional Formatting (Without the Learning Curve)
OrangeBooks' formatting specialists used professional typesetting software (InDesign) to handle the book's complexity:
| ✓Glossary sections with consistent formatting and cross-references |
| ✓Quiz formats that were visually distinct and easy to navigate |
| ✓Reference tables formatted for readability in both print and ebook |
| ✓Chapter openings with appropriate spacing and visual hierarchy |
| ✓Preview PDFs sent section-by-section for Roshan's approval |
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✓ Result: The interior looked as polished as any traditionally published philatelic reference. Roshan reviewed, suggested changes, approved — but never touched formatting software himself. |
Solution #4: Complete Distribution Setup
OrangeBooks handled every technical detail:
| ✓ISBN registration (978-93-5621-774-4) with all legal compliance |
| ✓Mandatory library deposits (books printed and couriered to designated libraries) |
| ✓Amazon India listing optimization |
| ✓Flipkart distribution setup |
| ✓Google Play Books ebook conversion and upload |
| ✓Ingram global distribution (150+ countries) |
| ✓Simultaneous paperback and ebook launch coordination |
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✓ Result: The book launched on all major platforms simultaneously. Philatelists in Singapore, Dubai, London could find and order it as easily as readers in Delhi. |
The Transparency That Built Trust
One of the biggest differences Roshan noticed was complete upfront transparency.
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What OrangeBooks Provided Upfront:
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No "by the way, that'll be extra" halfway through. No hidden charges. No surprise delays.
Launch Day: From Sikkim to the World
When "The Stamp Chronicles" launched, something happened that Roshan's first book never experienced:
Philatelists from around the world started finding it.
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📚 Launch Week Results
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📹 Watch: The Official Book Launch Event
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"As the author of 'The Stamp Chronicles,' success means not only creating a well-received and influential book that educates and inspires readers in the world of philately but also fostering a deeper appreciation for stamp collecting, promoting cultural understanding, and leaving a positive impact on the community of stamp enthusiasts." — Roshan Prasad on what success means |
What Roshan Would Tell His Past Self
Looking back at the 5-year journey with his first book versus the streamlined experience with OrangeBooks, Roshan shared this advice:
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💡 Advice to Aspiring Authors
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Where to Find "The Stamp Chronicles"
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📖 Available on All Major Platforms
🌍 Also distributed internationally through Ingram (150+ countries) |
Your Publishing Journey Doesn't Have to Take 5 Years
Roshan's first book: 5 years from start to publication.
Roshan's second book with OrangeBooks: Months from manuscript to global distribution.
The difference wasn't the quality of his writing. The difference was finding a publishing partner who:
| • Actually understood his subject matter (or took time to learn it) |
| • Handled the technical complexity without overwhelming him |
| • Provided transparent pricing with no surprise costs |
| • Thought about his success as much as their own |
| • Made international distribution actually possible |
Maybe you're where Roshan was in 2011: manuscript in progress, expertise to share, but overwhelmed by the publishing process ahead.
Or maybe you're where he was in 2016: manuscript complete, years invested, but stuck in publishing limbo.
Either way, you don't need to spend 5 years figuring it out.
📸 See the Journey in Action
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Let's Talk About No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your manuscript, your goals, and whether we're the right fit to help you get there. Tell Us About Your Book View Publishing Packages📞 +91-810-964-5082 | 📧 info@orangebooks.in |
More from Roshan Prasad
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📰 Full Interview with Chronicle Times Read Roshan's in-depth interview where he discusses his philatelic journey, what inspired "The Stamp Chronicles," his writing process, and advice for aspiring authors. Read Complete Interview → |
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About "The Stamp Chronicles: A Journey Through Philately"
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