Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marilyn Bostick on December 19, 2011 at 2:26am

I'm on Linkedin and in one group we were talking about publishers to avoid. There a couple who said they only us CreateSpace, and they always have great results, and wouldn't publish any other way.  I've heard this before. I have never heard anything negative about CreateSpace. I have never used them.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 12:46pm

Thanks, Marilyn!  I'm like you, never used them, but I've seen them in the news a lot lately.  Couldn't find many negative comments on Google about them either, just mostly some griping about pricing.

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on December 19, 2011 at 5:12am

I have switched from Lulu to CreateSpace for my print books and been surprisingly happy with them. Make sure you upgrade to the Pro Plan, so you can have distribution by Ingram, which means your book can be ordered in any bookstore. Pro allows you to be bought by libraries, and allows you to buy your own book at a reduced cost. I believe the royalty rate is higher, also. The total cost to you can be as little as a proof copy -- and although you're now allowed to skip that step, I don't recommend it until you're at the point where you have one little comma to change. You see things in a print copy that you don't see on the screen. You really do.

Just remember, before taking this step, always always always use a good editor. Not a beta reader, but a paid professional who has the background and experience to bring your book up to its best.

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 12:50pm

Thank you, Susan!  I'm looking forward to riding this CreateSpace wave and seeing where it takes me.  I'm hoping that I can have happy news to report like so many others of you have so far.

Also, making a note to invest in the Pro plan.  I was wondering about its benefits to me as an author.

And I will definitely make sure to get an editor to look over anything I prepare to publish.  Made the mistake with my first book of re-writing bits and pieces AFTER the editor had completed her work.  Ouch!  Not a big ouch, but ouch-y enough that I found some errors that would have been avoided if I'd followed her guidance.  Next time, I'll leave it be, once the editor does the final blessing.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 1:00pm

Susan,

Forgot to ask...what are the names of your books?  Of course, I can just go to Amazon and type in your name.  Duh!  Thanks, again.  :)

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on December 19, 2011 at 1:06pm

Amazon, B&N, Smashwords... I'm on all of them. Thanks to the Pro Plan, I'm on Chapters and Powells, too.

I write the Trevolution series (for now) -- the tales of Trevor Wolff, bass player far-from-extraordinaire for the mega band ShapeShifter. I love how people react to Trevor and his best friend, Mitchell; it's often a real Team Edward/Team Jacob dichotomy. Except Trevor and Mitchell are men, not paranormal creatures (despite the band name), and there's plenty of fun and humor in among Trevor's troubles...

Permalink Reply by Krista Kedrick on December 19, 2011 at 6:56am

I have used Createspace with very good results.  I did have to go through 2 proof copies before I was satisfied with the margins and such and I did catch a few mistakes in the writing that way.  They are very reasonable priced and have a royalty and cost per copy calculator to help you in your decisions about pricing and  book size.

Susan is totally right in getting enrolled in the PRO program it's 40 dollars and gives you so many more avenues to sell in not to mention a lot lower price per copy.

They print and ship quickly I recieved my copies less than 2 weeks from ordering them.

I have not used their design or editing packages but they seem to be similiarily priced to other companies.

I've been very happy with Createspace and have recommended them to other authors . So far no issues and I have placed 2 orders for 250 books each time.  And am looking to place another one after the first of the year.

Permalink Reply by Marilyn Bostick on December 19, 2011 at 10:29am

What do you do with the 250 books? Do you sell? Promotion? Gifts? I signed up at CreateSpace and am seriously considering them. I'll have to check them out more.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 12:54pm

Thanks, Krysta!

I'm so glad to see feedback from people who have actually used it, and not just the stuff that CreateSpace talks about on the site.  It's always good to get insight from real people.

Whew!  250 books sounds grand.  I wonder if I know 250 people who would read my books.  Haha.  Maybe at book fairs or some signing event.  That would be cool.

What is the name of your book? 

Have you considered/Are you doing the e-book conversion with them?  I'm looking into that program, too.

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on December 19, 2011 at 12:56pm

For e-books, Regina, look into Smashwords and Kindle. Don't do the new Kindle lending thing; if exclusives suck for agents and editors, they suck even harder for retailers. Don't punish your readers for not having a certain e-reading device.

Get out there. Circulate your name. Talk about your books. You'll sell 250. (Btw, I buy mine in batches of five, unless I'm doing a signing, and then I do ten or fifteen. They take up less space that way.)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 1:04pm

Thanks, Susan.  I'm also new to the e-book stuff, too.  Learning, but slowly.  Seems like everybody has a program for self-publishing and e-book publishing.  It's nice to go somewhere for honest-to-goodness feedback and advice.  I really appreciate you ladies.  :)

Permalink Reply by Susan Helene Gottfried on December 19, 2011 at 1:09pm

We're all in this together, babe. And if we don't support each other and help each other, who will? You'll get there. Just remember: this side of things is a business, and if you can treat it as such, you'll be better off. It's not easy for us artsy folk, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do...

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