Hello,

I've just joined. I hope to get some pointers of those that have gone before me. I just finished my first book and started to look into getting a publisher.

What I have found is every name I check out has complaints. It is good to know that there are sharks out there but what I would like to hear is has anybody had a good experience with a particular company?


So far I've been pitched by AuthorHouse ($700.00) and what sound almost like a used cars saleman for IUniverse that went on about "Just this morning we started a special going from $2,090.00 down to $1,290 but it won't last long"

What I've seen is everbody seems to be saying the POD publishers sell service but not books. What you get are a few professional looking copies for you family and friends but no real public exposure.

Thanks.

Hi and welcome.

Here are a few links to information about various publishing options. Perhaps you will find them useful. The topic of each article is in the last segment of its link. (Disclosure: I have no connection, financial or otherwise, to BookLocker.)

http://publishing.booklocker.com/pod-an ... ublishing/
http://publishing.booklocker.com/reasons-not-to-use-us/

Dave

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www.davidlevinchess.com

Hello Dave,

Thanks for the info. Have you had personal experience with Booklocker?

My only concern is that I don't feel like I'm in a position to do much marketing of my own book.

Last May I learned I have stage (4) lung cancer and I'm not sure of my future time wise to take on a lengthy or extensive effort.

My book will likely draw a small interest group. The title is "Falsification of Special Relativity". Most professional won't touch it and only layman interested in the subject might and many of them aren't into buying books - lol.

Dan

Hi Dan,
I have not worked with BookLocker. My books (two on chess, one on bridge) were self-published in the most literal sense, that is, I personally performed everything except manufacturing the books.

If your primary motive for publishing is to share your perspective, there are ways to do so that cost almost nothing. For example, you could put your manuscript into a commonly accessible electronic format (e.g., pdf), create a website, and post the manuscript file there. Some folks on this board have websites that allow prospective readers to automatically download a copy upon purchase, as discussed briefly in the following topic.

Shopping carts
http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=8298

Dave

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www.davidlevinchess.com

I don't know much about POD publishing--all my books have come out of traditional publishing houses--but I did look over Scribd earlier this year. You might want to check out their options. They're more like an offering/marketing outfit, so that you upload, they offer, but it might work.

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Charlie Self
www.charlieselfonline.com

Thanks for the info.

Thanks Charlie,

Can I ask what the subject of your books are and who published you?

Thanks.

The easiest way is probably for you to look at www.charlieselfonline.com and check the Samples page. I've written more than 45 books, so the list is a bit long to type out. All are non-fiction, generally do-it-yourself books on various subjects, ranging from farming to horses to building to brickwork to welding to woodwork and a bit more.

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Charlie Self
www.charlieselfonline.com

Thanks Charlie,

Interesting photos. Brings back memories. My first car was a 1947 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane Convertable - Black with a white top. Proposed to my wife over 50 years ago in that car. - Still have her but not the car - lol.

My first car was a '50 Studebaker Champion four door. I didn't propose to anyone in that. Mostly I just changed rod bearings: it had a poorly designed six cylinder flathead engine with a whippy camshaft, and enough mileage to burn almost more oil than gasoline.

It is fortunate that women last much longer than cars.

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Charlie Self
www.charlieselfonline.com

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the group!

I'm afraid I don't have any advice regarding publishers, since the only writing I've done for the past 39 years is advertising copywriting.

I wanted to tell you I'm very sorry about your diagnosis, and I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Also, I don't know how you feel about alternative medicine, but there is an excellent book on alternative cancer treatments that was published by Booklocker. It's Cancer Free - Your Guide to Gentle, Non-toxic Healing by Bill Henderson. There's a link to more information about it on the WritersWeekly home page.

Nancy

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Please spay/neuter your companion animals. And when it's time to add to your four-legged family, save a life by adopting a stray or from a shelter or rescue group.

Of course one can never be 100% sure of orign but I did smoke many years and quit just 4 years ago. So I likely caused my own problems.

I've finished chemo with some positive results but time will tell.

Thanks.

Welcome Dan. The title of your book sounds intriguing.

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Elle
Word 4 Writers has been relaunched!