Brooklyn Girl Publishing

One of the main reasons I began blogging was to share the information that I've dug up on my journey, hopefully to make it easier for the next person.

Throughout this journey, I have researched printers and companies that offer self-publishing packages: AuthorHouse, Lulu.com, BookMasters.com, MorrisPublishing (still the lowest-priced/highest quality I've seen to date) to name a few. I'd originally chosen Lulu.com to publish, because one, they offered a single ISBN (which every book needs in order to be published and sold in retail outlets) at a low price along with distribution to Amazon and two, because I figured I could sell books off the web without having to buy any inventory. 

ROADBLOCK!

The cost for an individual book at Lulu was approximately $10.38.  Earning a maximum of ~$1.50 per book in royalites,  at the average author price of $14.95, it would take an eternity to scrounge up enough money to pay for my next visit to the gas station, let alone, buy an I Love It from Coldstone or generate an income.

So what Lulu does, is offer a suggested mark up price that can go as high as $22 in order for you, the author, to make five dollars on a book you've carried, labored and birthed. Meaning Lulu would still get the lion's share of the money because they've overly inflated the book printing price, while the readers pay an exorbitant amount of money to purchase a paperback from an unknown author; an author who would be committing career suicide considering the oversaturated book market and the recession. 

Fast forward. Loansprintersfrontinasssmallbusinessadministration findamarketeventhoughihaveoneetcetcetc...

Enter Createspace!  An on-demand printer...

Aside from sending me the wrong proof (which they have assured is a rare occurrence and have apologized for the mixup) is probably the best invention since at-home relaxer kits for the following reasons: 

1. It's a subsidiary of Amazon. Amazon is...Amazon. Huge. Enormous.
2. They give you the option of selling through your own e-store, or through Amazon. (The e-store yields a higher return.)
3. It is an on-demand service, therefore you can post your book, and anyone that wants to buy it can make the purchase and you never have to pay for inventory upfront. With the Standard Plan, you, the author, receives:  33% of e-store sales, 14% Amazon Sales. With the Pro Plan - which is free from now until July 31, 2008 and $39 for the year afterward - $5 renewal fee -  You receive 52% of e-store sales, 33% of Amazon Sales.
4. If you decide you want to have inventory, the rate to purchase books is the lowest I have seen. (Avg price $6.90 per book - for the standard plan, and $4.09 per book - for the ProPlan).

(Createspace, you may make my check payable to Brooklyn Girl Publishing. Thank you.)

There is still a lot to be said for buying your books from a regular printer (offset or digital) and keeping a majority of the sales for yourself, but as a new author, trying to publish on a shoestring budget, at least you'll be able to get your name out there and make enough to have bread with your peanut butter and jelly.