Self-Publishing your own book.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Does anyone here have experience in self-publishing a book that you have written? Did you print out a batch via a local printer? Or did you go to an online publisher such as Amazon, Barnes and Nobel ... ?

How did you find the experience? Would you do it again? What things did you learn from your experiences if you were interested in releasing another book?

I am reading a book that I saw being promoted on another forum. The book looked interesting. I ordered the book from Amazon as the recommended supplier. After reading the book for a while I got curious about who had published the book. These details are usually located somewhere within the front two or so pages of most books. After a search, I found printed on one of the last pages of the book "Manufactured by Amazon.com.au Sydney, New South Wales, Australia." The fact that the book was 'manufactured' and not 'printed by ...' was interesting. So, I did an online search and found out that the book was "Printed on Demand" by Amazon. I found a YouTube clip that featured a tour of one of Amazon's USA printers.

I have since been watching more YouTube clips about self publishing via online 'manufacturers'. It would be good to know about other people's experiences with this form of publishing.

Kind regards
Lionel

[RANDLOVER]

For a long time I've thought of writing a book about my work experiences, but I'd have to publish it as a fiction work as no one's going to believe the things really happened.

[JDNSW]

My brother has just published a book he has written using a "print on demand" publisher (Lulu). He has previously had at least one other book printed but not published by the same outfit, and in addition has had a book published by a learned society.

Having watched his efforts (and done a lot of editing for him) it seems to me that a large part of doing this successfully is to learn to create a print ready file, and to gain at least some insight into how publishing and bookselling and printing works. I think he got a lot of the necessary skills from from being on at least one online writer's forum, and probably also helped by fifty years experience in writing and publishing professional papers.
(I spent six years as editor of a professional refereed journal, which is where I gained some skill as an editor.)

[V8Ian]

For a long time I've thought of writing a book about my work experiences, but I'd have to publish it as a fiction work as no one's going to believe the things really happened.
Before publishing a book on my work, I have to research statutes of limitations. [bigwhistle]:angel:

[Tins]

Have to say, I'm not sure how you would "Self Publish" someone else's book.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Tins,

I could be acting as an intermediary for someone else. I could be assisting them to get their book published because they are not confident in organising the project themselves.

Or perhaps I just fell back on an earlier time when 'self-publishing' was the established term well before flash new ones such as 'on demand printing' came along. Also, how books were always previously printed not 'manufactured'. Hmmm - perhaps I am showing my age too!

Kind regards
Lionel

[JDNSW]

"self-publishing" and "on demand printing" are not interchangeable, and on demand printing can be used for traditionally published books and for numerous other types of printed materials.

What has changed is that machines now exist that can take a properly formatted file and produce a printed and bound book without human intervention. These can be used by a traditional printer, but other developments such as Amazon's distribution network to make it easy for a company to publish and print and distribute books economically, without committing to a specific number of copies.

[RANDLOVER]

You'll know you've got your book right, when it is republished nearly a hundred years later like my grandfather's.

[Lionelgee]

"self-publishing" and "on demand printing" are not interchangeable, and on demand printing can be used for traditionally published books and for numerous other types of printed materials.

What has changed is that machines now exist that can take a properly formatted file and produce a printed and bound book without human intervention. These can be used by a traditional printer, but other developments such as Amazon's distribution network to make it easy for a company to publish and print and distribute books economically, without committing to a specific number of copies.

Hello John,

I stand fully corrected!

I previously associated self publishing with people from my youth, who paid local printers to print off a batch of books. Then you would see the authors at community market stalls and car boot sales attempting to sell their books. Subsequently, I never associated 'self-publishing' with high degrees of quality and success. Or it was organisations such as the Goulburn and District Historical Society getting batches of books they could sell at their information centre.

After reading the book by two professors, and then watching the YouTube clip about print on demand - my former view of self-publishing has become more positive. I have started to do more research about it. I suppose ignorance is not characterised as a positive virtue for a reason.

Kind regards
Lionel

[NavyDiver]

Hello All,

Does anyone here have experience in self-publishing a book that you have written? Did you print out a batch via a local printer? Or did you go to an online publisher such as Amazon, Barnes and Nobel ... ?

How did you find the experience? Would you do it again? What things did you learn from your experiences if you were interested in releasing another book?

I am reading a book that I saw being promoted on another forum. The book looked interesting. I ordered the book from Amazon as the recommended supplier. After reading the book for a while I got curious about who had published the book. These details are usually located somewhere within the front two or so pages of most books. After a search, I found printed on one of the last pages of the book "Manufactured by Amazon.com.au Sydney, New South Wales, Australia." The fact that the book was 'manufactured' and not 'printed by ...' was interesting. So, I did an online search and found out that the book was "Printed on Demand" by Amazon. I found a YouTube clip that featured a tour of one of Amazon's USA printers.

I have since been watching more YouTube clips about self publishing via online 'manufacturers'. It would be good to know about other people's experiences with this form of publishing.

Kind regards
Lionel
Hi Lionel

I met the author of two very good books at a local market. He self publishes via Amazon and sells directly at the market near here.


Highly recommended by me, Australian Crime Writer | Geoff Davis (https://www.geoffdavisbooks.com/)

PM me your phone number and I will ask him to chat to you about his self-publishing reasoning.

He mentioned he sells mostly via Amazon. My books are signed by him as were the other two sets I brought for mates.

[RANDLOVER]

Before publishing a book on my work, I have to research statutes of limitations. [bigwhistle]:angel:


Have to say, I'm not sure how you would "Self Publish" someone else's book.

People have underestimated Ian before, much to their chagrin, like his teacher who said no one was going to pay him to sit and stare out a window all day.[biggrin]

[Tins]

Hello Tins,

I could be acting as an intermediary for someone else. I could be assisting them to get their book published because they are not confident in organising the project themselves.

Or perhaps I just fell back on an earlier time when 'self-publishing' was the established term well before flash new ones such as 'on demand printing' came along. Also, how books were always previously printed not 'manufactured'. Hmmm - perhaps I am showing my age too!

Kind regards
Lionel

Self. I was being humorously ( I thought ) pedantic. Self has a very particular definition.

[Tins]

People have underestimated Ian before, much to their chagrin, like his teacher who said no one was going to pay him to sit and stare out a window all day.[biggrin]

I've met Ian. Underestimating him would be difficult.

[Tins]

his teacher who said no one was going to pay him to sit and stare out a window all day.[biggrin]

They got that one wrong with me as well. What they should have said was "nobody is going to pay you very much if..."

[Lionelgee]

Hi Lionel

I met the author of two very good books at a local market. He self publishes via Amazon and sells directly at the market near here.


Highly recommended by me, Australian Crime Writer | Geoff Davis (https://www.geoffdavisbooks.com/)

PM me your phone number and I will ask him to chat to you about his self-publishing reasoning.

He mentioned he sells mostly via Amazon. My books are signed by him as were the other two sets I brought for mates.


Hello Navy-D,

Sorry, I have missed this thread for a while and just noticed new posts have been happening during my absence. It is pretty late with only less than hour left of Friday the 19th of November left in Queensland. I will reply tomorrow. This was the last check of messages before shutting the computer down. Night - night.

Kind regards
Lionel

[goingbush]

Ive written a book, its avaliable on Blurb . Hardcopy is Expensive at about $100 & the PDF is about $20.00

I get $3.00 per sale, Ive sold hundreds of them . Not exactly going to retire on it. Fairly niche market though.

People tell me theirs one on every Iveco Australia service managers desk .

Compleat Idiots Iveco Daily 4x4 by Don Incoll | Blurb Books (https://www.blurb.com/b/10053025-compleat-idiots-iveco-daily-4x4)

My wife has written some cracking books (also on Blurb) but we fail at marketing. They would be great mainstream sellers .