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Advice on self-publishing in print?
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Justin
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Aug 19, 2014 09:21PM
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Ingram Spark says you've an option of reaching 39000 retailers worldwide. I wonder how does it work and how much it costs? Must be pretty expensive..
Kshitij wrote: "Ingram Spark says you've an option of reaching 39000 retailers worldwide. I wonder how does it work and how much it costs? Must be pretty expensive.."Long story short, Ingram (also Ingramspark and Lighting Soure) does big time distribution, and mostly works with distribution partners. Going directly to Ingram as an indie author won't get you anything I'm afraid. You have a greater chance of getting a print book in a physical store by contacting the stores directly.
Using paperbacks is awesome for in-person events. I have sold over a hundred copies of Chains of Prophecy that way, making about 6-8 dollars a book (if I buy them in bulk so the shipping is less per unit). As far as Ingram-Spark, the big key for bookstores with them is they allow you to do the industry-standard 55% discount. They also do hardcover editions.
I exhibited at a convention recently with the paperback version of my first novel. I also printed details of the ebook versions of both of my novels to hand out. Through just talking to people I found that most people preferred an ebook over a paperback. After the event and I got my sales figures on-line I found that the ebooks had greatly outsold the number of paperbacks that I sold over the three days.
@Shari, thanks for sharing. Sounds counterintuitive, but that makes your experience even more interesting.On average, how much do these conventions charge authors to set up a table? And how does one find out about these conventions? Are they invite-only?
I have been hoping to do a local township fall fest. It all depends on if I have my paperback and promotional materials together. It is 75 for a table.
Great idea printing out the ebook information! I hadn't thought of that! /facepalm
W. wrote: "@Shari, thanks for sharing. Sounds counterintuitive, but that makes your experience even more interesting.On average, how much do these conventions charge authors to set up a table? And how does ..."
It was just under £100 for the three days. It was a convention that I've gone to before but not as an exhibitor.
You can find out details about most conventions online. I think anyone can exhibit but it depends on each convention.
So I just got my proof from Createspace. It looks great except the cover is crooked! I am hoping it was just the way it was printed, because I double checked the original and it is straight. I think I might order another proof....
Creatspace is great for Amazon and Kindle by default.LULU is also good for both print and epub and will get you into Barnes & Noble and Apple iPad.
So I use both. I sell a fair number of print copies of my technical books and like to have a few hard copies of my novels for gifts and discussion starters.
I've used Createspace for all three of my novels and was very satisfied all around. With my second book, I went with the cream paper and matte cover and preferred it to the white paper and gloss cover of my first. A few unread books with the gloss covers curled a bit. No amount of encyclopedias piled on top would flatten them, either! But it was only a few. Hasn't happened with the Matte covers, and I will continue to go with those in the future.
I tried using create space, but my writings were too short. I write short stories. They don't allow less than 20 pages. I went with another company. I do have amazon for my ebooks and I like this very much. My ebooks are doing well.
Just make sure you're careful to go to a legitimate self-publisher and not a vanity publisher.
I use CreateSpace too. For my short works, I bundle them into collections -- ebooks, too -- and those are the availability in print.
