George
I just had a look at the xlibris site and it doesn't seem quite as free as
that. Even the minimum service costs 200 dollars but, and this is important,
the typesetting is described as not suitable for poetry (or cookery books!!)
so you have at least to go to the next level, which is 600 dollars, I think,
or further, and recall that this is paying for books which might never be
produced, it only guarantees author copies, aka proofs, if sales don't
occur. As Random House are the owners I imagine the motives aren't entirely
altruistic, however, self-publishing in 'proper book' form usually involves
some layout so maybe the cost is worthwhile, I haven't gone into the figures
that closely.
best
david b
----- Original Message -----
From: George Simmers <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 1:47 PM
Subject: Re: self-publication
> On this subject, I don't think anyone yet has mentioned the service
offered
> by www.xlibris.com
> Essentially, you send them a computer file of your book, and they print
> copies on demand. Bruce Bentzman, a regular Snakeskin contributor, tried
> them out, and it seems to work fairly well. I ordered a copy of his
> collected stories through Amazon, and it arrived after a few weeks, a
> solidly produced paperback. I think Bruce chose the standard option, which
> is free to the author, but means a rather drab cover and standard
> type-setting. Pay a fee and you can have the book looking jazzier.
>
> The books cost $16, which is expensive for a basic paperback, but not
> excessive for a book you want to read. I think Bruce has sold a reasonable
> number by publicising his work on the Internet.
>
> Anyway, it's one option to consider for writers anxious to get into print
> with non-commercial work.
>
> George
> ______________________________________________
> George Simmers
> Snakeskin Poetry Webzine is at
> http://www.snakeskin.org.uk
>
|