Amethyst
Harbor, Inc.
indexing for cookbooks, trade
books, and textbooks
About Indexing
Writing an index is an art. It takes more than just technical know-how to craft an index that is logical and helpful, and at the same time is written appropriately for the intended audience.
It’s usually best when authors don’t index their own work. While they obviously know the book’s material very well, an index is written specifically for readers who may use different techniques to locate the information they need. Professional indexers understand the ways readers search for material, and how best to manage and categorize subtopics.
A well-written, useful index is an easy way to get more readers and sell more books. Cookbooks rely on good indexes perhaps more than any other non-scholarly publication. If a reader can’t locate a recipe or a specific ingredient, the book will be put back on the shelf.
Meet Amy Hall
In between earning my BS from
As the President of Amethyst Harbor, Inc., I will be creating your index myself. I don't use subcontractors. You will deal directly with me, from the initial review of your manuscript, until the project's completion.
Indexing Subject Specialties
Food and Beverage
Culinary Arts
Nutrition and Diet
Arts and
Crafts/Hobbies
Social Psychology
Rare Diseases
Criminal Justice
Children
Communications
Hospitality
Management
Sample Indexes
Click on the links below to see some samples of the kind of work that I do. These indexes were created with CINDEX professional indexing software.
Manners by Kate Spade
The Perfect Wedding Details: More than 100 Ideas for Personalizing Your Wedding by Maria McBride-Mellinger
Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes by Giada de Laurentiis
kosher by design—Kids in the Kitchen by Susie Fishbein
Pillsbury Doughboy Family Pleasing Recipes by The Pillsbury Company
Scapegoat: The Chino Hills Murders and the Framing of Kevin Cooper by J. Patrick O’Connor
Rates
I typically charge by the page. I will be happy to provide you with a firm bid after receiving a sample of the work to be indexed along with a page count.
Indexing occurs as one of the final steps in the publication process. Only when the final page proofs are ready can the indexing process begin. This ensures that there will not be any other changes to the text, and that the page numbers are accurate.
Client Testimonials
“Amy, to be frank
I don’t know much about indexing except that it helps the reader find what he
is looking for. I have just gone through
your indexing of the [book] and I must say, W-O-W, it certainly looks
impressive. Congrats on a job well
done. There’s no doubt in my mind that
you raise the standards of that book!
Congratulations and many thanks.”—J.G.
“Amy—it was
fantastic working with you. The index
looks great and you made some critical catches.
So happy to have found you.”—M.F.
“Terrific! Thanks again for working with us on this—I
know it could not have been easy! Thanks
for your hard work and your flexibility.”—N.C.
“Thank you so
much for doing the indexing for me. I
really appreciate your cooperation and professionalism throughout the
process. It was a pleasure to work with
you.”—J.P.O.
“Wow you are
fast.”—P.P.
Other Services
In addition to
indexing, I can also provide editing and proofreading expertise. Editing and proofreading are charged by the
hour.
Contact Information
Contact me about working with you on your next publication at amy.hall@amethystharbor.com. I will be glad to review your project and provide you with a bid in a timely fashion.
Member, American Society for Indexing
Copyright 2013 Amethyst Harbor, Inc.