Comments on: CreateSpace/Amazon: Another experiment

By: walt

walt — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:44:07 +0000

Michael: You’d have to investigate on your own. I use Lulu and CreateSpace as pure-play fulfillment operations: Books aren’t produced until they’re sold. I’m not aware of distributors handling these books, and if they did, it would presumably be on an order-forward basis.

Remember: This is not a disquisition on self-publishing and its various issues. This is just a note about my own experiments, which are in an odd corner of self-publishing, the publish-on-demand/one-book-at-a-time option.

Updated: This is the final comment on this post, as the comment stream seems to have diverged considerably from the very specific content of the post.

By: Michael S

Michael S — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:08:07 +0000

After reading all the entries here I haven’t heard anyone say anything about buybacks. Most book distributors (like B&N) require a guarantee that the books that do not sell can be sent back to the publisher and a refund will be issued. In many cases, this is a cost absorbed by the author. There are some publishers that offer a program where the author is covered in such cases, but it usually runs around $500 to $700 annually. How do these two publishers compare? (CreateSpace and Lulu)

By: walt

walt — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:49:50 +0000

Both Lulu and CreateSpace use full-color covers on all paperbacks; that’s part of the standard production charge. For CreateSpace, last time I checked, you have to design your own cover in its entirety (CreateSpace blocks out the ISBN spot on the back). Lulu gives you some predesigned options, but I’ve always done my own covers–it’s not that hard. (Actually, a grayscale cover might be quite striking, but full color is the norm.)

I don’t remember whether I had to ask to have the cover appear on my book pages or whether it was automatic–but delayed a little. In any case, CreateSpace would take the front portion of your cover image to use as that image.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:43:32 +0000

Hi Walt,

Do you know if you use createspace, can you have a color cover on a b&w book? Does that change the printing charge of the book?

Also do you know how to have an image appear on your createspace book page, instead of this image NoProductImage.gif

http://www.createspace.com/Store/Pix/NoProductImage.gif

Thanks!

By: Keby Boyer

Keby Boyer — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:29:35 +0000

Hi Walt –

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. I’ll definitely check out Cites and Insights. Continuing my research on CreateSpace, I ran across the whole Amazon/BookSurge/Lightning Source “print with BookSurge (Amazon) or we’ll turn off your “buy” button” controversy. Hmmm….makes a person think twice, doesn’t it?

Thanks again for your reply and your help.

Keby

By: walt

walt — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:57:52 +0000

Keby: You should read the current Cites & Insights. CreateSpace has consistently transferred royalties a few days before the end of the month after which they're earned, just as they say they will--a week or so later than Lulu, but a whole lot faster than most traditional publishers. (Of course, the money I get from Lulu isn't royalties, since I don't use Lulu ISBNs: it's simply net proceeds.) CreateSpace has changed their terms in ways that are slightly less favorable. On the other hand, the Amazon connection works: CreateSpace editions have significantly outsold Lulu editions since I made them available, at a roughly two-to-one ratio. But that's my specific case.

By: Keby Boyer

Keby Boyer — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:50:08 +0000

Hi Walt –

I’m curious how you’re book at CreateSpace is doing, and your feelings about their services so far. I heard a rumor that they aren’t paying their authors and they’re being sued. Just curious if you’ve run up against anything like that.

By: gb

gb — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:11:54 +0000

Thought I’d drop in again to say my book has been published through CreateSpace and I’m very pleased. Total cost- $10.23. And most of that was shipping.

I bumbled and fumbled my way through it. As I said, I’m not very good at this sort of thing. The cover turned out to be the hardest part. CreateSpace kept telling me the pics I chose wouldn’t print well because they were 72 dpi instead of the suggested 300. Well, I ordered the proof anyway and it looks great. I can’t imagine it looking better, really. So that was kind of weird.

It should be on Amazon in the next week or so. All things considered, it’s a hell of a deal. Up to this point, I am very satisfied.

By: walt

walt — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:30:30 +0000

gb: I’d say that if you have trouble with Lulu’s submission guidelines, you may want to find someone who can help (locally, presumably–I can’t offer free consulting). CreateSpace is somewhat more opaque…

You don’t need a computer whiz. You do need someone who will understand what embedding all typefaces means. And if your book isn’t already designed as a book, that’s another issue.

That’s probably all the help I can really offer…I know it isn’t much.

By: gb

gb — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:18:27 +0000

I would think the Amazon listing would be a big consideration. Not that it’s any magic wand when it comes to sales, but it’s so easy to incorporate into any online promotion and for people to order from. Even when talking to people, being able to just give the person the title and say “it’s on Amazon” is simple and easy to remember.

I have to admit though I’m not terribly computer literate. I know enough to get by and that’s about it. I was reading the submission guidelines for CreateSpace and Lulu and I might as well have been reading Japanese. My latest book is saved on Word. Would I have to find a computer whiz to get it from there to a “finished PDF?”

Thanks for the info.