Using Createspace

[Katie]

I'm wondering how many Aussie/NZ authors use Createspace as well when they publish to Kindle? I've had a lot of people say they'd like to read my book, but don't have a Kindle (I know, it could just be a good excuse !), but I haven't gone to Createspace yet because I'm worried about the cost of postage to Australia. If I order a number of books to sell, does adding the extra for postage make them too expensive? Most review sites that want a hard copy for reviews are overseas, too. Does that mean I'd have to pay for copies to be sent to me and then pay again to send them back? It all seems like a waste of money.

What are your experiences?
Kate

[[deleted user]]

Hi Kate.

To address the first part of your message (people not having a Kindle)...I believe that it's possible (probably even quite easy) for people to download "Kindle-reader" software for both Windows and Mac from the Amazon site. Assuming that's true, and that the people in question have a reasonable broadband package, then that potentially eliminates that excuse from their repertoire!

For the other part...are you self-published? If so, then a good option might be to look at Smashwords. Once you format your book to their specifications, they then handle all the conversion to the correct formats (online reading, Kindle, Epub, PDF, RTF, Sony Reader, Palm Reader and even plain text). And even if you're not self-published, a lot of publishers will distribute through Smashwords as well. I know mine does.

I hope there's something in there to help. I don't have any experience with Createspace myself...

Cheers,
Willsin

[Murray]

I have an e-ink reader so I don't have to read on the screen. If a book isn't out in an open standard (Kindle isn't open), then I can't read it on my reader and I'm not about to try reading it on a computer. Their 'excuse' sounds perfectly valid to me.

Either hard copy or open standard formats would open your book up to more readers. More ebook options would certainly eliminate your concerns with shipping costs.

[Greg]

I publish on Kindle, Smashwords, and through CreateSpace. Smashwords is pretty much a huge waste of time.

CreateSpace has been great for me. In two weeks I have had to order 120 books to keep up with demand. The people who don't have a Kindle are mostly also not interested in using a Kindle app and reading it on their computer, they want a paperback in their hands.

If you publish through CreateSpace, you can produce your book for a very reasonable cost even if you order them with the 1 week priority shipping. You really need to order 50 at a time to make it work out though.