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Comment by Jessica Gardner on January 8, 2013 at 3:08pm

Elizabeth, I wouldn't ever pay a publisher to do this for me, because I know how to do everything myself (except cover design, which I always outsource). Lightning Source is great if you know what you are doing or have access to someone who has done it before. Their reps at LSI are supremely unhelpful, but their POD distribution is huge.

I used Microsoft Word and Adobe Pro to make my interior book file and design it the way I wanted. I'm working on some articles for my new website that will provide self-publishing authors with a step-by-step walkthrough. I may even create a template for Word. As far as conversion to ePub and Mobi, I used my writing software, Scrivener, and then did ePub cleanup in Sigil from Google. Then I used Calibre to convert to mobi until I liked the look of the file. Sometime soon I will start offering conversion and formatting services to others, to help pay for all the work I took in learning it! I could private message you with my phone number if you want to ask me some questions directly.

Comment by E.C. Diskin on January 8, 2013 at 11:21am

Thanks Jessica for the response. I had to put all this aside to get through holidays, but now I'm ready to make a decision and get rolling. I assumed I'd use LIghtning Source as well.  Who did you use to format the pages? And do you think if you'd done it over, you should have gone with a publisher to get more help with the formatting/cover, etc. --the process?  I know that Mill City Press doesn't charge a royalty on any books but it's a big $1600 to work with them, as opposed to Createspace or others...Thanks for your thoughts! 

Comment by Jessica Gardner on December 19, 2012 at 12:14pm

Elizabeth, I just finished going it alone, and I can tell you it is very hard work, but also within your reach. The book I wrote and published is "Fraud on the Court: One Adoptee's Fight to Reclaim his Identity" and we used Lightning Source for our POD provider because we wanted a hardcover and potential distribution to the bookstores. Lightning Source is the best option IMHO because they are tied to Ingram and thus have distribution potential everywhere, but they are awful to work with your first time simply because they are not geared to the first time publisher. We made it through, but with a lot of mishaps. If you want more details or are thinking about them for your POD, I'd be glad to share more, just shoot me a message or a reply!

Comment by E.C. Diskin on December 18, 2012 at 6:43pm

Hi all. I've spent countless hours in last few days trying to learn the ins and outs of self publishing. Im really only considering POD since its a debut and i have a massive hill in front of me as i hope to find an audience. After looking at lots of the publishers, the cost outlays and royalties, I find myself wondering if maybe I should become a publisher and cut out this middleman. I'll spend $ on cover design and formatting and editor regardless so I wonder if I should at least then shoot for a better return. Am I crazy? I know there must be a big learning curve and I want to know my limitations but I've always been a bit of a do it yourselfer. . Anyone want to talk me out of this? Anyone have experience truly going it alone? Thx for feedback!

Comment by Ariel Rosetti on October 23, 2012 at 12:56pm

Hi,

    I am Ariel, and I have just sent the second in the series The Sentinel and Allyce

Book 2- Home to the publisher yesterday. They will return the galley to me next week.

I was lucky to find a printing press, who will be doing my paperbacks for me, and in French, Spanish German and  Italian. I have been doing my own marketing,

 That is the latest.