You have a manuscript and cover file and would love a physical copy of your book? How exciting!
Well there are a bunch of ways to get one!
There are POD (print on demand) companies like amazon, where you get a portion of the sales, or you can print physical copies and go to fairs, schools or sell from your website. The possibilities are endless. There is another option called Ingram Spark, that will get your book into the big stores. Like Walmart, Barnes and Noble and many, many more.
I do a blend of all the above. And I learned how to do it all online. With lots of research and patience. Well maybe the patience wasn’t always great, but I got through it, and you can too!
What I ended up doing is publishing through KDP, which is Amazon, and Ingram Spark.
AMAZON
Pros- If you have uploaded to amazon, you can simply go to your “bookshelf” and order a copy at the reduced rate. No sense of paying full price. When ordering from amazon, through your bookshelf, it unfortunately takes a while. They print for customers first. So if you need them by a certain date, make sure to order early!
Cons-There are also lots of printing errors through amazon. You will see in my reviews that many people mention them unfortunately. If you do happen to get a misprint, simply contact them and they will credit you or send you a new copy. I have had it happen many times sadly. One time it was a spanish book inside one of mine, another time it was a gory book of Jesus being crucified inside. But again, they will send you another so please contact them.
Overall Amazon is a great way to reach your readers, but not my favorite way to print.
Ingram Spark
Pros- They used to charge setup fees, but have recently stopped which is wonderful! They offer hardcovers for books under 70 pages which Amazon does not. I have gotten hard covers and paperbacks from IS, and it is good quality. They will also distribute your book to Walmart, Barnes and Noble, and many other brick and mortar stores.
Cons- So many sadly. If you have an issue I have found customer support to be difficult to contact or get an answer from. And their books are very dark. So whatever you upload will print much darker than you expect. Although initial upload is free, any changes are not. So if you have to make changes, you will have to pay $25 to update your cover file, and then another $25 to update your manuscript. It can get costly to fix errors. Also, when distributing your book, you have to lower your royalties very low, so you make a pittance. If that is not enough, you have to also offer “returns.” Which means that the store can send back your books at yet another cost to you.
I have heard horror stories of authors owing thousands of dollars when allowing returns, so I do not. This does make it difficult to get into large box stores. We also used to have our books available on Target too! But now Target charges a fee to list on their site. So I have opted out.
Overall Ingram Spark is to me a necessary evil, not my favorite resource but needed to get my books to other stores.
Click here to visit Ingram Spark.
Lakeside Press
Pros- They create beautiful books! I just love the quality! I find the paperback books to only be about 20 cents more than amazon, and I never get mistakes like I do with amazon. Laura also gets my books out pretty quickly, which is wonderful as well. She charges $35 for a proof if you want one, and then when you place an order the $35 goes towards your order. Also it is nice to print with a company within the USA.
Cons- I honestly have none… I highly recommend them, and I get nothing from doing so. I found this company by chance, and I am so happy I did.
I love Lakeside press and highly recommend Laura and her company to other Authors. When I have events to sell my books, they usually come from here.
Click here to visit Lakeside Publishing. (I get nothing from this recommendation)
IAPC
Pros- Many authors want to print in China but have no clue how to, or the quality they will get. Fortunately this company is run stateside by Jay Miletsky. Jay is very easy to contact if you have an issue and the company is getting bigger all the time and offering more benefits to authors as well. I have yet to print with them, but hope to one day.
Cons- You have to order large quantities. Like 500-1000 copies. This can be a bit daunting for a few reasons. Where to put all those books, or can you pay for them? Fortunately, the IPAC has started offering warehousing which can at least help with the storage. And a lot of authors also do Kickstarter campaigns to afford the cost.
Overall I think the IAPC is a great resource for authors, if you have the funds.
Click here to visit the IAPC.
So that is how I get physical copies of my books. Hope this info helps you too! Of course there are many other printers and distributors out there… these are just the ones that I know of and have experience with. Good luck with whatever you decide!
More blogs to help you self-publish!
1-Do you need help beginning to self publish? Click here!
2-A publisher has contacted you? Are they a Vanity publisher? Click here to learn more!
3-Ready to start your files? Here is a blog that will help you set them up! Click here!
4-Need tips for finding an illustrator for your book? Click here!
5-What is a blurb? Click here for help creating one!
6-Feeling overwhelmed? This post will help you start your book… Click here
7-Your book is done! Do you need an author page? Yes you do! Click here to see the reasons why.
7a How to upload your book to KDP… the actual platform that you publish from! Click here to visit!
8- Your masterpiece is complete! Now how do you get a printed copy? Click here to see your options.
9- If you have published on amazon you need to advertise! Click here for tips!
10- Want to submit your book to a literary agent? Click here for info!
Need an illustrator? I have illustrated many books of my own and other authors. Please visit my website by clicking here, to contact me or see examples of my work.
If I have helped you and you feel inclined to purchase a book of mine, please click here to visit amazon. Thank you!
I am also available for hire to help you publish! If interested, please contact me at artistmarnie@yahoo.com.
Art and Musings by Marnie 