which is the best "high quality" self publishing company?

Question

I am looking for a very high quality printer/self publisher with excellent quality. I read in a magazine about software you can download that would enable me to do most of the work on my computer but lost the cutting. The book would contain many high resolution photographs. Qulaity rather than price is the main concern here.

Answer 1

There is absolutely NO SUCH THING as a high quality self publisher. That is a literary oxymoron. Self publishing is low quality mostly Print on Demand.

You want high quality for your book. Obviously you care very much about it and have put a lot of effort into it. So why are you willing to toss it away on a self publisher? Your book will NEVER be available in bookstores. You will sell about 2/3 as many copies as you have friends and family. Nobody else will ever know about it unless you dump tons of money into publicity, promotion and marketing.

If you care about your book and put effort into it, then you owe it to yourself and to your book to spend at least twice as long trying to get it published traditionally as you did writing it. Don't you want to see your efforts rewarded? Isn't the reason we write to see our books in bookstores and actually sell them?

Self publishing is a literary black hole. It is a terrible financial drain with almost zero chance of reaping any kind of financial gains.

If you want quality, learn how to publish traditionally and start sending out queries. If after a year or 18 months, you get no bites, then consider caving in and self publishing. But give you and your book a fighting chance. Pax - C

Answer 2

I've self published a book and would do it again BUT, I agree with what Solyant above says. In most circumstances you are better off finding a traditional publisher. If you self-publish, you need to be capable of doing all the editing, layout and marketing yourself. As Solyant said, the marketing end is generally only feasible if you have a niche market and know how to reach the customers. Although you cut the middle man when you self-publish, you will also likely have increased printing costs compared to traditionally published books. If you think you have the ability to overcome the difficulties mentioned, self-publishing does not have to cost you a lot. That's one thing I read over and over, that I have found to be absolutely false. - That's IF you have the ability to do all the editing, layout and distribution. In my case, it was a local photography/History book that provided the niche to sell to. I had some knowledge of layout, knew someone with even more layout expereince, knew an editor and had a retail outlet all squared away before I wrote one word. I never would consider self-publishing something like a novel.

Answer 3

You could try search engines by typing in 'local book printers'.

I know that this isn't being of much help, but many people see self-publishing and POD vanity-press as being one and the same.

Some will lambaste you for even *thinking* of this--even though your chances of getting in traditionally is about the same odds as winning your local state lottery on a $1 ticket alone.

They'll saddle you with a spreadsheet of facts and figures designed to deter you from attempting other avenues. (Because--in their minds--TRADITIONAL publishing is the only way you can gain acceptance with your peers, even though other writers have long since given up on that ideal; citing a tight publishing market, a shrinking publishing base, a closed door policy on new writers and authors, and the fact that e-publishing, self-publishing, and POD publishing (not to be confused with vanity-press) are becoming widely accepted methods of book publishing--including those methods used by small and indie presses.)

It took me a few days to find a good local printer--and then went nationwide to hunt for the same in other states.

Some software will allow you to do most of the work yourself, but you still won't come out with what you originally envisioned.

My advice is to get your manuscript up and running to the best of your ability--professionally edited--and then let the book printer do the rest of the work for you; by getting it printed.

Answer 4

Since your work will feature high quality photographs, I would suggest that you go to a small operation that specializes in producing advertising and training materials.
I knew a family-run business that printed small runs for businesses in Silicon Valley--manuals, brochures, things like that--with excellent photos and graphics.
They have since changed their business to work with artists who need prints made of paintings, because the companies that used to need their services now do everything 'off shore'.
But, if you do some searching, you may find some small operation like this.

Answer 5

The AuthorHouse Story


AuthorHouse™ exists to help authors achieve success -- by their definition. The company was founded in 1997 by an aspiring author who saw a need for a simple and effective self publishing process. Based in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse has grown into the world's largest self publishing company, providing premier book publishing and marketing services for authors.

AuthorHouse is committed to providing the highest level of customer service in publishing. Our authors are each assigned a personal advocate who spends hours guiding them through each step of the publishing process.

AuthorHouse provides a broad array of tools and services to allow authors to make their own choices throughout the publishing process. Authors retain all rights, maintain editorial control and choose the exact selection of services that best suits their goals. Our self publishing company allows every author to control his or her own publishing destiny.

Publishing is a great adventure. Let AuthorHouse be your guide.

Answer 6

The three best places I have seen so far.

www.asukabooks.com
www.mypublisher.com
www.mpix.com

Asuka is very expensive, mypublisher and mpix are moderately priced. Mypublisher has more options for covers than MPIX, but their quality is about the the same as far as the pages inside.

Answer 7

visit site: AUTHOR ASSIST COM
WRITER'S DIGEST,
JOIN STUMBLE UPON.