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Self Publishing

Discussions and recources for all types of self-publishing, from using POD publishing services to doing your own printing and distribution.

Members: 536
Latest Activity: Aug 1, 2023

BEING YOUR OWN PUBLISHER

Yeah, yeah, there's new tech parameters and a paradigm shift and all that.

But the important thing is that there are (and always have been) alternatives to writing something then trying to sell the rights to a publishing company. This group is to explore these areas of self-owned publishing biz.

Some writers have niche books, some have special needs (like texts for their seminars), some are just too entrepreneurial to sell of their own inspirations. And some just want to see something in print.

There is a spectrum these days, from big publishers through the new, small POD publishers, to using publishing services like lulu.com or iuniverse, to printing yourself and selling online, to release of downloadable mp3 "podcasts" or pdf manuals.

If you have expertise, experience, or questions in this area, don't be shy about posting them here. It's a rapidly expanding field and nobody knows everything about it, but lots of us are learning enough to do what we want to do and successfully get it across the counter.

Discussion Forum

LULU.COM Some leading questions 20 Replies

Started by Linton Robinson. Last reply by MAXINE P. SOSO Dec 20, 2009.

Who is your book distributor? 19 Replies

Started by Dana Marie. Last reply by Zhana Apr 19, 2017.

How to get started publishing your books 17 Replies

Started by Linton Robinson. Last reply by Zhana Jan 13, 2018.

Comment Wall

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Comment by Sherlyn Powell on March 20, 2009 at 10:48am
Yes, I agree with the overpriced part. What is an author to do? You have to beleive in yourself and your ability as a writer first. To be a successful writer is my goal and I'm sure I'm not alone there. Thank you both Shelley and Tim, for your response. I'm not close to finishing my second novel but I am remaining open as to who I choose to go with next. I will check out your websites.
Comment by Tim Rouse on March 20, 2009 at 10:34am
Sherlyn - I am with Aaron Book Publishing (www.aaronbookpublishing.com) we're part of the Black Forest Press group, this is our 18th year in publishing! Thanks for jumping back in and helping to answer my question Shelley . . . The ONLY FEE associated with a return is the cost to cover PER BOOK whatever return the author experiences. Since your books are typically sold before they are printed, the chance of a return is highly unlikely. $699.00 for a "return program" sounds a lot like a "documentation fee" for a new car - not needed and over priced!
Comment by Shelley Lieber on March 20, 2009 at 10:28am
Sherlyn, Ingram is a distributor. Ingram owns Lightning Source, which is the printer that most POD companies use, so just about all the POD publishers are served by Ingram, the same as Tim's company. (Some now use Booksurge, owned by Amazon.) Many of the big POD publishers, like iUnivese, charge for the return service. Lightning Source does not work with individual authors, only publishing companies. However, if an author wants to (and can) assume a publisher's responsibilities, he or she can work directly with LS. Just be aware that LS does not offer support services, which why most authors will go with a POD publisher for processing their books. A publisher will supply the ISBN and prepare the final final for printing. Some of the services POD publishers offer, which may be included in a package or separately for a fee, are editorial, design, custom covers, and marketing. LS does not provide any of those services...just printing and they work with the trade. I have a small publishing company, Visual Impressions Publishing, and I use LS for almost our books.
Comment by Sherlyn Powell on March 20, 2009 at 10:11am
Tim,
FYI, I used iUniverse to publish my novel, they use Ingram and Baker and Taylor, if an author chooses to select the book return program the cost is $699.00. Tim, are you connected with a different publisher which is coincidentally named Ingram? If your the Ingram catalogue marks books returnable I'm sure more of us would like to know more.
Comment by Typing Monkey on March 19, 2009 at 10:31pm
Spring Equinox (tomorrow) and the pub date of the new Tarot book:

Well gang, it is official.

I just got home from work to find a package from the UPS. BookSurge came through at the last minute, just like the calvary in those cheesy old western movies.

They rushed the proof out 2nd day air so it would arrive today, as I am scheduled to "approve" the proof copy tomorrow, thereby setting the pub date in stone to be the Spring Equinox of 2009.

This day almost never came. The number of delays, mishaps, arguments, and stalemates ("we CAN'T publish it as you have written it") that required near-divine intervention (the V.P. of the publisher is near-divine when it comes to a book being published or not) are now a part of legend. In the end we all got together and sang Kumbaya, and worked our collective butts off to get this book out on time.

(I haven't opened the box yet--it could be a phonebook--as that is about how big the new book is :-) They might have tricked me. Well, we will just have to see whether BookSurge will remain "my publisher . . .
Comment by Tim Rouse on March 19, 2009 at 8:11pm
Shelley - The "root of the evil" POD authors face (IMHO) is the fact that traditional bookstores won't give a POD title a chance. Let's face it, some of the greatest authors of our time were once POD authors. It's not just for folks who can't get published anywhere else - that's like saying "indie label" musicians aren't good enough for a Sony or RCA recording contract. The truth is, a good book is more than a marketing plan. I know, I know, it takes it all - but to disqualify a title based SOLELY on the fact that it's POD is wrong. To me the even larger crime is to print tens of thousands of books in that initial run that then end up in the "dollar bin". Why, in our age of enlightened "green-ness" have we not realized that there are better ways to publish books?
Comment by Shelley Lieber on March 19, 2009 at 4:43pm
You're right. I should have qualified that as "most" POD books are not returnable. But, that IS why many booksellers won't take POD books, although there are other reasons, as well. BTW, we've both made grievous errors on each other's names. I called you Tom, instead of Tim. (Sorry) And my name is Shelley, not Sheila or Shelly. ;-)
Comment by Tim Rouse on March 19, 2009 at 4:25pm
Sheila, Your point that bookstores won't take the risk BECAUSE books are non-returnable was the source of my comment. You said "POD books are not returnable" therefore that leaves the bookstore "stuck". So perhaps I misunderstood your point? It's true the book MIGHT come back damaged, but with Ingram, our authors (or you) don't suffer any additional charges for our books to be returned and of the titles we've published in the last year, we've not had ANY that were returned. It's a worthwhile risk to check out the POD publisher and make sure that they deal with folks like Ingram and stay away from the folks that have such outrageous charges.
Comment by Shelley Lieber on March 19, 2009 at 3:30pm
Tom, Like you, I use Ingram, but I choose not to take returns. However, authors who use services like Booksurge and some of the others have to pay as much as $600 to get make their books returnable. Why take returns, anyway? You have to return the money, and most often the books are not re-usable because they come back damaged. My point was not really about whether you should make your book returnable or not, but rather that book promotion includes so many other opportunities. Authors would be well served to consider other options as well.
Comment by Tim Rouse on March 19, 2009 at 2:10pm
Which distributor are you using? There are no "fees" to make a book returnable. It's a check box i nthe Ingram catalog set-up.
 

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