Saturday 15 November 2014

The joy of becoming a self-publisher

It's taken months longer than I'd hoped or expected, but I've finally achieved what for so many authors never happens - I've published my first book and have the proof copy in my hand. I'm ready now to accept orders. The "People of the Bird" are ready to fly!! The reason many never make it this far is simple - the process of publishing, or getting a publisher to accept your book, is too hard or complex or expensive.
I have to admit that I didn't even try and contact a publisher, for several reasons. Doing any publishing or printing in PNG, where my story is based, is going to make the end price too expensive. Traditional printers require minimum print runs which cost a lot up front. The more books they print though, the cheaper the unit cost. The down side is having to pay thousands up front and then having hundreds of books to sell. I didn't want either of those options.
So I looked for options for self-publishing using Print on Demand (POD) technology. It was easy to find information on the web by googling words like "self-publishing", with many helpful blogs listed. Two players emerged as possible, Createspace (Amazon) and Lightening Source/IngramSpark (Ingram). While emerging publishers like Pukpuk Publishing (who print the PNG Crocodile Prize Anthologies, for example - see "PNG Attitude" and "Crocodile Prize" web sites) are using Createspace very successfully, I chose to use Ingramspark. The main reason was that they have print presses around the world including in Melbourne. So I figured it would be cheaper on freight to source my books from Melbourne than USA, where Createspace prints. I believe both print quality products.
I registered myself as a business with ABN in Australia, as a book publisher under the name NENGE BOOKS. This didn't take long as Australian government departments conduct most business online these days. Armed with my new ABN, I was able to register with Ingramspark. This is the one aspect which may make Ingramspark unfriendly to those who wish to print but do not have an ABN, or wish to register as a business just to print.
The process of getting my manuscript into final form for submission was a but cumbersome, and I had several attempts which were rejected by Ingramspark on techincalities. I am not a computer whiz, and use a MacBook which I purchased in 2008. However once I figured out the rules, I was able to send in my manuscript successfully as a "print PDF" copy from WORD.
The cover was a bit more complicated, but Ingramspark sent me a cover template which was relatively easy to fill in with the details spaced where I wanted them, including the cover picture which I had painted.
I'll find it a lot easier to do my next book, the second in the series, or any others now that I know the rules for submitting files.
Once the files are submitted and accepted by Ingramspark, it only takes a day or two and the proof copy is ready to review. While they send it to you electronically as a .pdf, I also chose to order the first copy as a hard copy. I picked up a number of mistakes while reading the proof, and there is provision to resend a corrected text, which I did.
Overall I found the process easily manageable and very cost effective. For example, their initial $59 set up fee is refunded if you order more than 50 books on your first order. The value of POD printing is that one can order one or ten thousand books at a basic price, the book is stored electronically and therefore hard copies are only printed when ordered.
I am still working on getting an ebook version done, as my software does not convert to the format required. I am hoping my brother, who works in computer publishing in Sydney, will help me with this soon!
I'm really happy with the final product printed by Ingramspark in Melbourne. It has a strong laminated matt cover, my colour cover picture came out well, and the book feels really nice to open with good quality paper which turns nicely. I think readers will like the feel of it.
The main challenge now is how to distribute it without having to pay huge freight costs, especially into PNG. A bookstore chain in PNG has offered to sell it and I'll post more information about that on the website soon. I'm hoping that import duty and freight costs don't make the selling price too high!
Having gone this far now, I also hope I can be of assistance to PNG authors who are struggling with how to publish. Would love to hear from you if you are in that situation.