Simply put, book producers, also known as packagers or developers, are some of the most valuable players on the creative side of the publishing industry today.

Book packagers have earned this distinction for their mastery of one type of book in particular—namely, the complicated book. A complicated book is just about any book that involves more than a straightforward, single-author text. Complicated books include all manner of highly illustrated or elaborately designed or multi-authored titles, such as how-to books, coffee-table books, reference books, textbooks, cookbooks, historic subject books, or fine art or design books of all disciplines. Quietly, these books make up the backbone of the publishing business.

Creating complicated books is a labor-intensive craft that often involves whole teams of writers, editors, designers, illustrators, photographers, researchers and other specialized talent whose separate contributions must be integrated into a seamless whole.

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Complicated can mean many things, depending on the project. Often it means the project involves working closely with an outside organization, like a magazine or a medical school, to shape a book on which the organization can agree to put its name.

Sometimes complicated means coordinating the work of multiple authors, researchers, and experts; supervising the creation of original art and photography; or incorporating various reproduction techniques like silkscreen printing, digital printing, special die-cutting for "pop-up" visuals or foil stamping along with the traditional offset lithographic process. Sometimes it means executing a highly elaborate design or even incorporating non-print materials such as CDs, tapes, video, iPod recordings, branded products, juggling balls, flower seeds, unusual tactile objects, 3-dimensional objects, exotic materials, and substrates other than paper—e.g., plastics, fabrics, woods or other materials—and it may include multiple binding techniques for presentation or in-store display.

Almost always, however, complicated means that the project calls for concentrated, labor-intensive activity. Unlike any other players in the publishing industry, book packagers are specifically equipped to devote the time, energy, and focused attention necessary to bring these projects to fruition.

Drawing on the most sophisticated design and production technologies, book packagers handle every stage of the publishing process and can be counted upon to deliver a product on schedule with the highest level of professionalism.