Printing Holiday Magic: Behind the Scenes of Jingle These Bells, a Christmas Romance Anthology

There's something extra magical about seeing a Christmas story come to life in print — especially when it's wrapped in romance, spice, and holiday cheer.

Jingle These Bells is exactly that kind of project. A festive, wonderfully cheeky Christmas romance anthology featuring fifteen authors; a brilliant mix of traditionally published and indie writers who came together to create something joyful, steamy, and utterly delightful. Releasing on November 11 to kick off the upcoming holiday season in style, this collection brings together established voices and fresh talent united by one festive thread: the sound of jingle bells (and the spice meter that comes with it).

The anthology was edited by Melanie Schubert and Angela Montoya, co-hosts of the podcast Of The Publishing Persuasion, and founders of the new independent publishing house for this new release, aptly named Throbbing Quill. Through their podcast, they've fostered a vibrant community of authors, many with a penchant for spicy romance, which made this collaboration possible. Contributing author and cover designer Robin Alvarez brought the vision to life with a stunning design that features her own hand on the cover —a personal touch that makes the whole project feel even more special.

Our team at FolioFox had the absolute pleasure of working with Robin and Melbourne-local Melanie to get the book print-ready and brought to life here in Melbourne, just in time for Christmas.

Behind the Scenes:
Getting Ready To Hit The Press

By the time Jingle These Bells reached us, Melanie and Angela had already done the hard yards: all fifteen stories were edited and polished, and Robin's gorgeous cover design was ready to roll. Our job was to make sure the physical book matched the quality of what was inside.

We worked closely with Melanie and Robin throughout the print prep process, ensuring that every technical detail was spot on. The book needed to feel as good as it looks, so with our guidance, the Throbbing Quill team selected 70gsm Enso Creamy Bookpaper for the internal pages, a premium uncoated stock that has a lovely weight and warmth to it. For the cover, they went with 300gsm Standard Silk finished with a matte anti-scuff laminate. The result is vibrant colours that really sing, a matte yet silky, tactile finish with no glare and that can handle being tossed in a handbag or clutched dramatically during a particularly spicy scene. At 133mm x 203mm, the book is set to the perfect compact size for tucking into a Christmas stocking or reading curled up with a cuppa by the tree.

We then filmed the entire process in our Melbourne print factory as the pages were printed, trimmed, laminated, perfect bound and packed for delivery, to really bring all the authors along in the journey to bringing the book to life! When we delivered the freshly printed books to Melanie, she actually couldn't crack them open wide just yet (much to her dismay), but that patience will pay off with a book that's built to last.

As the book is perfect bound using PUR perfect binding, it actually takes 48 hours to fully cure (dry) and set, which is why all delivered boxes are labeled with when you can open them. It becomes a bit of a waiting game when books can be produced so quickly, but it’s absolutely worth it as the adhesive creates an incredibly durable bond that means the book is wonderfully floppy, will hold together beautifully through multiple readings and can be opened flat without cracking the spine. 

The Collaboration:
Capturing the Book Printing & Binding Process

One of the most fun parts of this project was filming the entire printing journey at our Melbourne factory. We documented everything, from the covers rolling through the press in all their colourful glory to the moment the finished books came off the line after their final trim. There's something genuinely satisfying about watching a book transform from digital files into something you can hold.

When we delivered the books in person, we grabbed a coffee with Melanie, took more videos to celebrate the occasion, and generally had a lovely time geeking out over the finished product. These behind-the-scenes Reels sit alongside the brilliant content Melanie and her husband have been creating, where they cosplay as couples from each story in the anthology. They're comedic gold and perfectly capture the playful spirit of the project.

“It's so cool to see this entire process! Absolutely the coolest 😎” - Katya de Beccera, Contributing Author of Jingle These Bells

“Oh my god the “pew” sound when the blade goes down to trim the pages!” - Lisa Tirreno, Australian Author

The response from the authors, readers, and book lovers in the community has been fantastic. While international readers can still order a copy through other manufacturers, these Melbourne-printed copies are something special. With any luck, you might spot them in local Australian bookstores in the future, which would be pretty wonderful.

Why It Matters:
The Value of Book Printing in Australia

Here's the thing about printing locally: it changes the entire experience. When you're working with a printer in your own city, you're not just sending files into the void and hoping for the best. You can meet them in-person for a coffee, have actual conversations about paper stock, see your book come to life in real time through video snippets, and know there's someone in your corner who genuinely cares about getting it right.

That's what we’re so grateful to be able to do with the Throbbing Quill team for Jingle These Bells. It’s all about truly collaborating and bringing the authors and the community so they can be part of the journey. There's no waiting weeks for a shipping container, no crossing your fingers that everything turns out okay despite being printed on the other side of the world. Just real connection, real collaboration, and the confidence that comes from working with people who are invested in your success.

For authors, whether you're traditionally published, indie, or somewhere in between — having that kind of support matters. Publishing is already complicated enough without feeling like you're navigating it alone. We love being that hands-on partner who makes the printing process more enjoyable with support and genuine care. Projects like this one, where a community of like-minded authors came together to create something brilliant, remind us why local matters. It's not even about proximity; it's about connection, accountability, and being able to celebrate wins together over a flat white (or in our case, a dirty chai).

Celebrating Australian Authors, One Book at a Time

We're absolutely thrilled to have helped bring this festive spicy anthology to life, and we can't wait to see it in readers' hands this Christmas. There's nothing quite like knowing a book we printed will be making someone's holidays a little more magical (and a lot more steamy).

If you're an author planning your next book project, whether it's a romance, a memoir, a cookbook, or something entirely different! We'd love to help you bring it to life. Learn more about our book printing services or request a quote online to get started.

Jingle These Bells, Out November 11

Slip beneath the mistletoe and into something a little more sinful with Jingle These Bells, a sizzling holiday anthology where desire crackles like a Yule log fire. Fifteen naughty and nice authors-some freshly unwrapped and others well-established-have teamed up to deliver steamy tales bound by one festive thread: the sound of jingle bells.

Wrapped in tinsel and temptation, these stories will set your stockings on fire and leave your heart thundering with seasonal delight. From tantalizing rendezvous with Santa, to bold encounters at office parties, this collection is a celebration of heat, heart and holiday magic. So pour the cocoa, cue the carols, and get ready to jingle all the way.

Contributing Authors: Melanie Schubert (Editor/Contributor), Angela Montoya (Editor/Contributor), Robin Alvarez (Contributor/Designer), Katya de Becerra (Contributor), Kerrie Faye (Contributor), S.M. Perez (Contributor), Haleigh Wenger (Contributor), Casia Pickering (Contributor), Lucy Nightshade (Contributor), Stevi Bakos (Contributor), Diane Billas (Contributor), Amanda Aoki (Contributor), Gabriel Torres (Contributor), Louise White (Contributor), Honey Hazzard (Contributor)

Project Specifications

• Internal/Text Pages: 70gsm Enso Creamy Bookpaper (Premium Uncoated)
• Cover: 300gsm Standard Silk + Matte Anti-Scuff Laminate
• Finish Size: 133mm x 203mm 
• Binding: PUR Perfect Binding
• Full-Colour (Cover) + Black & White Digital Printing by FolioFox, printed & bound in Melbourne, Australia.