THE WORD ON SELF-PUBLISHING / PRINT ON DEMAND - ADDED 11-29-2011

BMN - Of course, I forgot to add the cost of an agent, if you go that way - and this is a big expense.  And, too - you pay tax on your earnings.  Finally, I doubt that you'll get 40% of what's sold.  That's obsolete, also.  Maybe you'll get 12% - 15%.  The book publishing industry is set up as any capitalist enterprise, to maximize profits and part of doing so is to cut the cost of their material, and that's YOU, the writer.  You're a slave to that system.  Are there some who make it big?  Sure, and you should look into how they got there - their background, mentors and associations.  Good luck!  TRC