Since it seems like there are a lot of people here that are working on books I thought it'd be good to have an official thread where we could all discuss our experiences, methods, and ideas. We could also rate each others books, buy each others books, and help edit them. We have a lot of great info here at BGOL and it'd be good to see some family get published. Also if anyone has an agent that is willing to work with new authors, this is a good place to post their info.
From another thread:
I just got mine published and learned a LOT during the process. (Here's the thread I posted about it)
There are a few ways you can go about this:
1. Find an agent. This is TOUGH. 99% of agents won't work with new authors. In the link above I posted a link to a guy who publishes strictly new African American authors, so you might want to give him a shot.
2. Publish yourself on Amazon and Target.com. If you create an account with CreateSpace you can do all the work to get your book up and running. Once you've approved the final copy it automatically gets published on Amazon and Target.com - as well as you getting your own storefront. You control everything, including the price and how much of a royalty you'll get. The initial costs are under $100.
Keep in mind though that if you use their free ISBN and Bar Code then they technically own the book. This isn't a big deal if you only want to publish on Amazon or Target. If you want to publish other places or sell to local bookstores you'll have to buy your own ISBN and Bar Code ($150) from Bowkers.
3. Publish through LighteningSource. The initial costs are higher and the process is a little more confusing, but it lets you produce hard cover and soft cover versions, as well as putting you in the national database that bookstores like Barnes and Nobles and Borders order from. Without an agent or LighteningSource you won't get it into bookstores, as they only order from the national database. I think for them you have to have your own ISBN too.
Check the CreateSpace forums - there is a lot of great info on how to self-publish there. With the new Print On Demand (POD) technology you no longer have to buy a lot of copies of your own book, then try to hawk them yourself. Even if you did that bookstores wouldn't take it, since you're not on the national registry.
Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help! Now go check out my book and rate it, even if you don't buy it.
Wrath of the Fallen
Publishing Links:
Getting]https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Gettinghttps://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Getting]https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Getting[/url[/url]] published on Kindle[/URL]
Pros - cheap, no initial costs, easy to do
Cons - Not many people have Kindle yet, and you have to do your own advertising
https://www.createspace.com/
https://www.createspace.com: Getting published on Amazon and Target.com
Pros - Initial costs are under $100, once it's complete the process is automatic and you're selling in a week, gives you your own personal store front to get a bigger royalty
Cons - Still have to advertise yourself, can't produce hard cover, if you get their free ISBN then you can't sell your book anywhere else as they own it (But you can buy your own ISBN and sell it wherever you like, even at these websites)
LighteningSource]http://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSourcehttp://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSource]http://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSource[/url[/url]]: Getting your books in actual book stores[/URL]
Pros - Your book gets entered into the national database that book stores get their supply from (Including B&N and Borders). It's the only way to get a self-published book into bookstores. They let you produce hard-cover and soft-cover books
Cons - Initial prices are higher, set-up process is confusing (but there are forums that help out), you have to buy your own ISBN
Note: Despite what this says, you DON'T have to be a publisher or agent to print here. It used to be that way before Print On Demand, but it's changed now. The application process hasn't been changed yet, but there are ways around it.
Bowker]http://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowkerhttp://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowker]http://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowker[/url[/url]]: [/URL]Get your own ISBN and barcode ($150)
http://www.copyright.gov/eco/"]Copyrighthttp://www.copyright.gov/eco/Copyright]http://www.copyright.gov/eco/"]Copyright[/url[/url]] Office:[/URL] You don't have to copyright your book if you buy an ISBN, but it doesn't hurt.
http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL This]http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL]http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL[/url] This[/url] is a guy who posts a lot on the CreateSpace website. He lived in Japan for a while and moved back to the US with the sole purpose of creating his own agency to support black authors in the US. I've never actually dealt with him so I don't know how he is, but he seems like he knows what he's doing. If you deal with him post some of your experiences here.
From another thread:
I just got mine published and learned a LOT during the process. (Here's the thread I posted about it)
There are a few ways you can go about this:
1. Find an agent. This is TOUGH. 99% of agents won't work with new authors. In the link above I posted a link to a guy who publishes strictly new African American authors, so you might want to give him a shot.
2. Publish yourself on Amazon and Target.com. If you create an account with CreateSpace you can do all the work to get your book up and running. Once you've approved the final copy it automatically gets published on Amazon and Target.com - as well as you getting your own storefront. You control everything, including the price and how much of a royalty you'll get. The initial costs are under $100.
Keep in mind though that if you use their free ISBN and Bar Code then they technically own the book. This isn't a big deal if you only want to publish on Amazon or Target. If you want to publish other places or sell to local bookstores you'll have to buy your own ISBN and Bar Code ($150) from Bowkers.
3. Publish through LighteningSource. The initial costs are higher and the process is a little more confusing, but it lets you produce hard cover and soft cover versions, as well as putting you in the national database that bookstores like Barnes and Nobles and Borders order from. Without an agent or LighteningSource you won't get it into bookstores, as they only order from the national database. I think for them you have to have your own ISBN too.
Check the CreateSpace forums - there is a lot of great info on how to self-publish there. With the new Print On Demand (POD) technology you no longer have to buy a lot of copies of your own book, then try to hawk them yourself. Even if you did that bookstores wouldn't take it, since you're not on the national registry.
Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help! Now go check out my book and rate it, even if you don't buy it.
Wrath of the Fallen
Publishing Links:
Getting]https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Gettinghttps://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Getting]https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin"]Getting[/url[/url]] published on Kindle[/URL]
Pros - cheap, no initial costs, easy to do
Cons - Not many people have Kindle yet, and you have to do your own advertising
https://www.createspace.com/
https://www.createspace.com: Getting published on Amazon and Target.com
Pros - Initial costs are under $100, once it's complete the process is automatic and you're selling in a week, gives you your own personal store front to get a bigger royalty
Cons - Still have to advertise yourself, can't produce hard cover, if you get their free ISBN then you can't sell your book anywhere else as they own it (But you can buy your own ISBN and sell it wherever you like, even at these websites)
LighteningSource]http://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSourcehttp://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSource]http://lightningsource.com/"]LighteningSource[/url[/url]]: Getting your books in actual book stores[/URL]
Pros - Your book gets entered into the national database that book stores get their supply from (Including B&N and Borders). It's the only way to get a self-published book into bookstores. They let you produce hard-cover and soft-cover books
Cons - Initial prices are higher, set-up process is confusing (but there are forums that help out), you have to buy your own ISBN
Note: Despite what this says, you DON'T have to be a publisher or agent to print here. It used to be that way before Print On Demand, but it's changed now. The application process hasn't been changed yet, but there are ways around it.
Bowker]http://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowkerhttp://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowker]http://myidentifiers.com/index.php?ci_id=1567&la_id=1"]Bowker[/url[/url]]: [/URL]Get your own ISBN and barcode ($150)
http://www.copyright.gov/eco/"]Copyrighthttp://www.copyright.gov/eco/Copyright]http://www.copyright.gov/eco/"]Copyright[/url[/url]] Office:[/URL] You don't have to copyright your book if you buy an ISBN, but it doesn't hurt.
http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL This]http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL]http://www.blackpassenger.com/BlackPassenger[/URL[/url] This[/url] is a guy who posts a lot on the CreateSpace website. He lived in Japan for a while and moved back to the US with the sole purpose of creating his own agency to support black authors in the US. I've never actually dealt with him so I don't know how he is, but he seems like he knows what he's doing. If you deal with him post some of your experiences here.
