How to self publish or print a book?

Question

I have a small kids book I would like to publish, and/or have printed. How do I go about doing this?

Answer 1

STOP before you even consider Publish America. If you go to Absolute Write Water Cooler Bewares and Background Checks yoiu will find there are so many complaints against Publish America that they have their very own forum with over 57 THOUSAND POSTS worth of complaints!!!

Why would you want to self publish when the average sale for a self published book is 100??

If you believe in your book and in yourself, you owe it to your book to try traditional publishing. It takes longer, and it is harder, but it is the proper route.

I have starred many great Q and A regarding publishing and writing on my profile. Many professionals have come here and offered great information. Surf through them and pick some that offer good information that will help you.

But whatever you do, stay away from self publishers. They routinely turn up in Top 10 Worst Publisher Lists on Writers Beware sites. They will publish anything as long as your check clears. But it will be a low quality job, it will take forever and it will NOT be for sale in bookstores.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Self-publishing used to be a very expensive and emotionally risky proposition. Most printers recommended printing around 5,000 copies, and the odds were excellent that the writer wouldn't be able to give away most of the copies in their lifetime.

With the rise of the Internet things have changed and anyone can afford to publish a book; specifically through the use of on-demand printers, such as www.cafepress.com.

Cafepress gives each client a "store", and you upload items ranging from books to T-shirts and bumper stickers. If something sells, they print it, ship it and bill it, and send you a check. Publicity is up to you. They have a set amount they will receive per page, and whatever you make above that is your profit. If you offer one item, such as a book, the site is free. If you offer more than one, it's about $5 a month to have the site. Many people upload books, artwork, etc., and use it to create gifts for friends and family.

Answer 3

Here's the thing...

Congrats on finishing the book. Many writers don't even get that far. Now for the reality check. Self-publishing costs money. A lot of money. If you don't have it to spare, it makes it an unfeasible option. Also, unless you have the time to self promote your book, don't expect to sell many copies. Their are tens of thousands of children's books out there competing for shelf space, many of which are by either established authors or celebrities. I'm not saying that you shouldn't try at all, I'm just saying that there may be a few hiccups along the way. Don't give up.

If you do decide that you want to self publish, research the companies thoroughly before you submit your manuscript. There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there with questionable business practices.

Check out...
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Good Luck!

Answer 4

If you want a coffee-table book for friends and relatives to look over then simply visit your local printing shop--preferably those near universities and colleges. You can get a copy or two for around $80.

Otherwise, steer clear of vanity publishers. As Persiphone and others have recommended, get the current Writer's Market book and find a reputable literary agent that will accept your genre. Preservere through a top-notch query letter and follow exactly the agent's submission guidelines.

Answer 5

I would not go the course of self-publishing.

Writer's Market 2007 or 2008. It will tell you every last thing that you need to know.

Answer 6

This site can help I think!