New Resource for Self-Published Authors

[Steve Everist]

Earlier this summer, Michele and I updated the Fingerprint Dictionary print version with a 2nd Edition. She's normally sold them directly through the online site via email link.

We found out that, since the 1st Edition, Amazon.com has created a way that self published authors (as well as musicians) can get their works available online.

It's called Createspace (http://www.createspace.com). Since we had already finished the book and had printed 200 of them, we already had the PDF files for the cover and text. So all I had to do was go through some online forms and upload the PDF's to the createspace site. After being reviewed, if there are any errors that would affect the printed book, you can fix them and re-upload - if they're going to be a problem. Once you're ready, you can purchase a proof copy to review. After reviewing, you can make more changes if needed or go live with the book.

The nice thing is that, assuming you haven't already went through the process of purchasing an ISBN, createspace will issue the book one. They provide you with your own eStore to sell the book as well as making it searchable via Amazon.com's main site. The difference being is that the author will get a larger royalty payment with purchases directly from the eStore. You can then link the eStore directly to your site. For example, Michele's old email link now takes you directly to the eStore for her book (https://www.createspace.com/3490996).

Createspace takes care of the printing, packaging, shipping, etc... So instead of having to purchase a lot of books up front, they can be printed on demand. The downside is that it can take a couple of weeks for the book to arrive under standard shipping, etc... The upside is that you don't have to put out a lot of money up front and find a place to store a bunch of books.

It also allows you to purchase books for yourself near cost. This is helpful if you like to give them away when teaching or presenting. However you will still have to pay shipping.

You can go to the createspace site and estimate how much the royalties would be for your book by inputting some information regarding page size, number, whether or not it is in color, etc... So if you've already got a book in progress and want to use this for comparison with other potential publishing avenues, you can do so. Just understand that color interior pages really change the pricing for the book and non-standard sizes do too.

So if you've been holding back from publishing a book because you don't have an interested publisher, or the publisher wants you to make changes that you don't agree with, you've got an option now.

[hemmid]

have you considered making the book available in Kindle format, for purchase?

Danielle

[Steve Everist]

have you considered making the book available in Kindle format, for purchase?

Danielle

Yes, that's something I'm looking into. I had hoped it was going to be as easy as converting the PDF in Adobe InDesign, however the two-column format of the dictionary didn't work right. I changed it over to single column and I'm getting closer. The sample reader I installed to check it appears to be sized for a smart phone and not a kindle/iPad device, so I don't know how it would look in those situations.

The inside cover pages, likely due to my formatting, are still a little messed up too.

When I was looking into it, it appears that it won't be linked through the Createspace eStore though - it will be done directly through Amazon's main site. I just need to work it out or at least make it acceptable in that format. The pricing format is a bit different, so it would end up cheaper than the printed version, which is still pretty cheap at $19.99.

I just need to figure it out.

[sandra wiese]

Steve and Michelle:

Just fyi: Createspace recently added a Kindle conversion service for about $70. I'm letting them do all the work for me in that area since that particular area has proven a headache and not worth learning how to do (for me at least). Right now they are also having (I think) 15% off services on the site.

Obviously this doesn't work for things like the Nook reader, but getting it in a format available to all e-readers is not possible at the moment, though I did read that Google is working on something like it for their new book service/self publish service so keep your eyes peeled. I'll letcha know if I find out more.

Sandra

[Bill Schade]

Wait a minute

This dictionary is available FREE!! on a website courtesey of Michele (a valuable public service, Thank you Michele)

Why spend anything to offer it in kindle format?

I'm confused.

No wonder I never went in the private sector.

[sandra wiese]

haha, true true. And they can get most books for free at the library, yet Amazon continues to be a #1 retailer.

Sometimes people want books in a "hold in my hand" form and sometimes they want to carry it around on their nifty ebook reader. Neither of which you can easily do with the info on the website.

No, I can't explain people's preferences either. We are all wonderful walking contradictions.

[Bill Schade]

That I do understand, but with a "living document" like the fingerprint dictionary I think the web resource is clearly superior.

In fact, in a "scientific" setting like an accredited fingerprint section, printed documents are frowned upon since they are never "up to date"

[Steve Everist]

Steve and Michelle:

Just fyi: Createspace recently added a Kindle conversion service for about $70. I'm letting them do all the work for me in that area since that particular area has proven a headache and not worth learning how to do (for me at least). Right now they are also having (I think) 15% off services on the site.

Obviously this doesn't work for things like the Nook reader, but getting it in a format available to all e-readers is not possible at the moment, though I did read that Google is working on something like it for their new book service/self publish service so keep your eyes peeled. I'll letcha know if I find out more.

Sandra

That price is a bit prohibitive at this point. Amazon has also made available an InDesign plugin that lets you export to Kindle directly from inside InDesign. Unfortunately it has some issues with fonts, character styles, and revision 6.0.4 of version CS4 (which I use). They also provide a Kindle viewer to preview it. The problem is the formatting isn't working. It has compressed all of the entries together and killed the bolding of the term (which I used a character style on). I don't have a Kindle, but I sent the file to my brother-in-law and his reply was "it just doesn't look right". There's some info on Adobe's site relative to exporting to digital editions that covers these issues, but I haven't had time to spend figuring it out.

[Steve Everist]

Wait a minute

This dictionary is available FREE!! on a website courtesey of Michele (a valuable public service, Thank you Michele)

Why spend anything to offer it in kindle format?

I'm confused.

No wonder I never went in the private sector.

This is something that comes up a lot - usually by Michele. However some people just want a printed book. When it was first published in 2006, it was just an exercise for the two of us that came as the result of a lot of requests for it to be printed. And she sold quite a few for a book that wasn't advertised and has a very small target audience. Thus the price has remained as low as it has, especially since the online version is the most up-to-date.

We're looking at ways to change the website to make it a bit more searchable and convenient too.

However, this is a great service for people who have topics that they'd like to write about and don't know if they'd be able to find a publisher. They no longer have to.

In fact, in a "scientific" setting like an accredited fingerprint section, printed documents are frowned upon since they are never "up to date"

Let me know if you're throwing out old first editions of Galton, Herschel, et al

[Bill Schade]

Steve E. Wrote:
"Let me know if you're throwing out old first editions of Galton, Herschel, et al"



Touche

I knew Galton. and Michele is no Galton