Re: print on demand

**"* M* <B*@verizon.net>**

C. L., I am a convert to print on demand and I have experience with two

providers, CreateSpace and LightningSource. Both of these printers work with

Amazon and CreateSpace is actually affiliated with Amazon. CreateSpace does

not charge a setup fee or they didn't when I originally started the two

books they print for me. LightningSource, which is affiliated with the big

book distributor Ingram, charges a setup fee but it is reasonable ($75.00).

All these books including Duane's have full color covers but are black and

white inside with photos and line drawings. Duane's book is "Best of Green

Space: 30 Years of Composted Columns."

I am cost conscious because I have to pay the printer and the author's

royalty. I have to allow wholesale customers a huge discount, too. So I do

my own design work and submit the cover and the book block as pdf files

ready to print, and they have to match the printer's specifications. If I

had to pay for designers my costs would skyrocket -- luckily I like art and

design.

The printing prices are reasonable until you get into the area of interior

color printing. There the costs are so high that they get in the way of

having a saleable product. But it is hard to have a garden book that has

enough appeal even without that color inside. Duane's is one that works --

it's all about the words. Very fine words, Duane!

I have written about print on demand in a couple of back issues of Quill

and Trowel and will have another article in the September issue.

Anyway, the advantage of print on demand is that I can get the books done in

smaller batches very quickly. I don't have to have a couple of thousand

sitting in my garage (with the others).

If I must send books to a customer or an author I can have the exact number

printed and sent directly to the customer, so they are handled and shipped

once, not twice. Duane happens to live pretty near one of the

LightningSource printing plants and yes, he ordered some books on a Monday

morning and they were on his porch on Wednesday, much to my amazement. It

usually takes a few more days than that.

At the end of the summer of 2008 I sent Nellie Neal's book, "Organic

Gardening Down South" to LightningSource and we wanted books in time for the

GWA meeting in Portland. We seemed to have plenty of time but a problem

occurred. At LightningSource all the presses were tied up -- they were

rolling nonstop with a small press biography of that then unknown person,

Sarah Palin.Ours arrived at the hotel by Fedex the last day of the

conference.

A friend of mine, Bobby Ward, a writer and editor, self-published his book

about the life of J. C. Raulston (332 pages) using Lulu and had excellent

results. Great book, Bobby! It is called "Chlorophyll in his Veins."

C. L., I know you have a review copy of Duane's book (thanks!!) so consider

it a sample of the LightningSource printing quality.

Betty Mackey, Publisher
B. B. Mackey Books

www.mackeybooks.com

-----------

Has anyone used a POD publisher recently? Your recommendations?

I'll let Betty give you the thorough answer. But I can tell you that when

I am having a signing, I can order books on Monday morning and they land

on my front porch on Wednesday.

D

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