#lightning source

[jeffalessandrelli]

I had reason to learn recently that Ingram has 16 million individual titles loaded in their Lightning Source database ready to be delivered as a bound book to you within 24 hours, if not sooner. So every book coming into the world today is competing against 16 million other books that you might buy. That […]

[buildingvoices]

Lightning Source, IngramSpark, and CreateSpace

Lightning Source, IngramSpark, and CreateSpace

Lightning Source, IngramSpark, and CreateSpace are all print on demand (POD) printers as well as distributors. Not only are they able to print your book, but they can distribute it to wholesalers such as Ingram. Ingram, just like Baker and Taylor, is one of the largest book wholesalers in the world and is responsible for making your book available to retailers. Both Lightning Source (LSI) and Ing…

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[mumblingsage]

UK Authors who have self-published?

What's a good print-on-demand paperback source for self-published UK authors? My online research has suggested Createspace is not so good if you're an author outside the US. 

[jayeedgecliff]

Ready or Not – Print Edition: Still delayed

Ready or Not – Print Edition: Still delayed

For those who prefer a nice physical, bound book to hold in their hands … I’m sorry but I’m still working on that for Ready or Not.

Theoretically this should be ridiculously easy and all, but Createspace is what I go through for the print because it’s the highest quality Print On Demand publishing service after Lightning Source, which I’d prefer to use but lack the Photoshopskills necessary to…

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[authorsamknight]

The Vanity Press Rant

The Vanity Press Rant

I copied this off my Facebook page so that it could be more easily found.

  I just turned down a cold call from a publishing company. Seems someone noticed a copyright I filed awhile back and they want to know if I am interested in submitting to them. It seems they currently have an “open submission”. I wasn’t interested. And you shouldn’t be either.

I am not going to name names, as I am not…

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[anvidean]

Three top options for easy book printing

Three top options for easy book printing http://anvidean.com/?p=1590

#15 Writing Tip: Three top options for easy book printing

Now, you’ve written your book and want to make sure it’s produced beautifully in printed form. [A future post will cover the ins and outs of e-book creation.]

My first novel, printed on demand by CreateSpace. Almost all the authors I know — even those traditionally published before — are now using this Amazon company to produce their…

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[wrightspeak-blog]

I’ve decided to publish my book with Lightning Source. I chose this print-on-demand provider (POD, for short) for two simple reasons: the company is well-known in the book world and they allow authors to publish their books with a matte book cover finish, as opposed to a glossy lamination.

[jvandenkooy]

The Self Publishing Decision

Currently, I am a self published author. In about a year I hope to have three books in print and available as ebooks, that's two more than i have today.

Dilemma.

I use CreateSpace—for this reason: they're cheap, and great quality. Yes I wish they did hardcovers and matte cover for perfect bound, but we can't all have everything. If I had more money maybe I'd use Lightning source. Maybe. But honestly, Amazon makes it stress free for me: the writer, publisher, and now, one-man marketing department.

Except...

CreateSpace, and Amazon in general is generally despised by booksellers, especially indie bookstores. Why, not sure. Yes Amazon is the Walmart of the book industry, but they've also revolutionized shopping and how people find books (and everything else). So by utilizing the services of CreateSpace and benefiting from their prices (I'm a poor writer) my book is permanently tagged with a negative isbn. Alas.

So my other option is to publish traditionally. Meaning I hold off on the publication of my book (not a bad thing, I'm just impatient sometimes) and waiting countless months by sending query letters to agents, then waiting for them to not respond, and hope that I'll get picked up.

Yes the latter path is probably the only way I'll see my book on shelves in every bookstore in the country and possibly climb best-seller lists. Unless by some rare chance that my indie titles become very VERY well known. Financially speaking, I'm not looking to make a ton of cash in print, since ebooks (I use Smashwords) are the real way to make money.

But here's the thing. I'm an indie artist, and I like that. I'm a student at one of the best arts institutes in the country and doubt I'll ever be on iTunes top 10 by writing 21st century classical music. And I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with my novels getting the same treatment as my music. So I will stay indie, and make my work available, and hope it'll get studied some day.

It doesn't mean my work isn't worth it. It just means people will have to work a little harder to find it. Again, I think I'm okay with that. Maybe when I'll have more capital, contacts, and the quality of my books has improved over a ten year period I'll get my agent and big book deal, and then everyone will look back and say, 'oh, here's a few books he self-published back in the day! I think I'll have a look.'

We'll see.

You know the rest. Time will tell.

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A few edits. Createspace now has matte covers available (WHOO!) and they're used now on the rather lovely cover of the 2nd edition of Fae book 1 :)