Comments on: The American Book Release http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:34:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cdinwv http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-3143 cdinwv Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:07:03 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-3143 Great information. Thank you for sharing your journey. It's very encouraging and insightful. Great information. Thank you for sharing your journey. It’s very encouraging and insightful.

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]]> By: Henry Baum http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1696 Henry Baum Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:44:38 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1696 More from me. Thanks to Charles Dodd White: http://ltmarlborough.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/henry-baums-eschatology/ More from me. Thanks to Charles Dodd White: http://ltmarlborough.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/henry-baums-eschatology/

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]]> By: Vincent Eaton http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1711 Vincent Eaton Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:36:55 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1711 On the ISBN & eBook subject brought up earlier, here's a good article on the subject: http://bit.ly/sLmJB On the ISBN & eBook subject brought up earlier, here’s a good article on the subject: http://bit.ly/sLmJB

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]]> By: Brent Robison http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1700 Brent Robison Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:09:08 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1700 Your 3:AM article -- as usual, balance, clarity, common sense. Good stuff! Still, there are hordes who simply can't hear your reasoned arguments for the clamor in their own heads, made up of knee-jerk superiority (self-pub = loser), fear-based employee mentality (worship of gatekeepers), and their inner cries of, as Moriah Jovan characterized it, "Hey, you're cutting in line!" I thought of posting a link to your article on http://litopia.com but remembered it would only, once again, invite endless abuse upon my head.... I commend you for your tireless evangelism for, not just self-publishing, but more importantly: independence of thought. Your 3:AM article — as usual, balance, clarity, common sense. Good stuff!

Still, there are hordes who simply can’t hear your reasoned arguments for the clamor in their own heads, made up of knee-jerk superiority (self-pub = loser), fear-based employee mentality (worship of gatekeepers), and their inner cries of, as Moriah Jovan characterized it, “Hey, you’re cutting in line!” I thought of posting a link to your article on http://litopia.com but remembered it would only, once again, invite endless abuse upon my head….

I commend you for your tireless evangelism for, not just self-publishing, but more importantly: independence of thought.

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]]> By: Henry Baum http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Henry Baum Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:02:33 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1719 Adding here: more from me on the difficulty (and usefulness) of self-publishing, posted today: http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/countering-the-myth-why-self-publishing-works/ Adding here: more from me on the difficulty (and usefulness) of self-publishing, posted today: http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/countering-the-myth-why-self-publishing-works/

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]]> By: Vincent Eaton http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1699 Vincent Eaton Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:38:51 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1699 Not to keep this discussion limping on, but I avoided Lulu and such to set up my own company to run my books, audio books, eBooks, multimedia and t-shirts and such in order to have a logo, a "brand" (forgive me the use of for me a slightly sullied term), so I can collect about me different creative outlets under my own umbrella. It's more work. No, it is a ton of work. Or rather, a ton of time. Learning. Gathering. Social media-ing. :) I'm guessing it takes a few books published to get all the tracks laid down for each subsequent book, each asegment interested. And this from someone who spent ten years in international marketing communications in publishing. To echo Henry, the saying is, when you start out on this, it's about getting eyeballs, not sales. And Seth Gordin, someone who seems to know what he's talking about, calls the physical book "a souvenir". That this is a souvenir after hearing it for free online, reading the cheap or zero cent eBook, getting chapters off the internet, that they'll buy the book in the end as a remembrance. Sound reasonable? Don't know. It's all shaking out. Rolling on. Whether we like it or not, we're inventing this as we go along. And this conversation is part of the building blocks. There's not a fortune in this, but I'm hoping for a livelihood with smiles. Not to keep this discussion limping on, but I avoided Lulu and such to set up my own company to run my books, audio books, eBooks, multimedia and t-shirts and such in order to have a logo, a “brand” (forgive me the use of for me a slightly sullied term), so I can collect about me different creative outlets under my own umbrella. It’s more work. No, it is a ton of work. Or rather, a ton of time. Learning. Gathering. Social media-ing. :) I’m guessing it takes a few books published to get all the tracks laid down for each subsequent book, each asegment interested. And this from someone who spent ten years in international marketing communications in publishing. To echo Henry, the saying is, when you start out on this, it’s about getting eyeballs, not sales. And Seth Gordin, someone who seems to know what he’s talking about, calls the physical book “a souvenir”. That this is a souvenir after hearing it for free online, reading the cheap or zero cent eBook, getting chapters off the internet, that they’ll buy the book in the end as a remembrance. Sound reasonable? Don’t know. It’s all shaking out. Rolling on. Whether we like it or not, we’re inventing this as we go along. And this conversation is part of the building blocks. There’s not a fortune in this, but I’m hoping for a livelihood with smiles.

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]]> By: Henry Baum http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1718 Henry Baum Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:28:59 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1718 Thanks, Brent. I agree, it's rough out there, which is why I'm giving away the ebook for free. Right now, I'd rather be read than turn a profit, and if that can build momentum, then good. This may contribute to the criticism that self-publishing is overly difficult to sell books, but it's hard to unload any type of book, traditional or self-published. 10,000 copies of a book is a success. 10,000 copies of a mainstream CD is a failure. Recently on Twitter I linked to this Youtube video of Joshua Bell playing violin in the DC Metro and being ignored - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc. An illustration of how difficult it is to reach people. I'm still happy to be in control of my literary fate and output, but I have no illusions about the difficulty. Thanks, Brent. I agree, it’s rough out there, which is why I’m giving away the ebook for free. Right now, I’d rather be read than turn a profit, and if that can build momentum, then good. This may contribute to the criticism that self-publishing is overly difficult to sell books, but it’s hard to unload any type of book, traditional or self-published. 10,000 copies of a book is a success. 10,000 copies of a mainstream CD is a failure.

Recently on Twitter I linked to this Youtube video of Joshua Bell playing violin in the DC Metro and being ignored – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc. An illustration of how difficult it is to reach people. I’m still happy to be in control of my literary fate and output, but I have no illusions about the difficulty.

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]]> By: Brent Robison http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1709 Brent Robison Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:14:49 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1709 Henry, I'm glad to see your book is out and I appreciate the detail and candor about your process. The music angle is a great idea, and I like the tunes you posted here. I look forward to seeing how you develop this dual offering in the market. I have to confess I'm feeling envy of the time you're apparently able to dedicate to your project. I've discovered that being a husband-father-homeowner-breadwinner leaves almost zero time for the roles of writer and publisher, and when I have to choose between those two, I lean towards writing. So I've yet to accomplish some marketing fundamentals, like e-book versions and video trailers. But I'm glad to hear you say your focus is on the long tail, because it's become clear to me that if my book builds momentum at all, it will be very slow. I was naive to think that a couple hundred local fans of my previous litmag publishing efforts would immediately buy my book (who knew it was so hard to get $15 out of people's hands?), and that my handful of excellent reviews would have any impact on sales at all. So I'll keep plugging slowly along, and learn from you. Thanks for the inspiration, and I look forward to reading your book! Henry, I’m glad to see your book is out and I appreciate the detail and candor about your process. The music angle is a great idea, and I like the tunes you posted here. I look forward to seeing how you develop this dual offering in the market.

I have to confess I’m feeling envy of the time you’re apparently able to dedicate to your project. I’ve discovered that being a husband-father-homeowner-breadwinner leaves almost zero time for the roles of writer and publisher, and when I have to choose between those two, I lean towards writing. So I’ve yet to accomplish some marketing fundamentals, like e-book versions and video trailers. But I’m glad to hear you say your focus is on the long tail, because it’s become clear to me that if my book builds momentum at all, it will be very slow. I was naive to think that a couple hundred local fans of my previous litmag publishing efforts would immediately buy my book (who knew it was so hard to get $15 out of people’s hands?), and that my handful of excellent reviews would have any impact on sales at all.

So I’ll keep plugging slowly along, and learn from you. Thanks for the inspiration, and I look forward to reading your book!

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]]> By: Joel Friedlander http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1704 Joel Friedlander Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:24 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1704 Hey, Henry, thanks for the detail. I like your process and the way you (and Christopher) use Lulu as kind of a modern day Crane's (where publishers used to get their bound galleys) and the price can't be beat. Good idea, I'll pass it along. Hey, Henry, thanks for the detail. I like your process and the way you (and Christopher) use Lulu as kind of a modern day Crane’s (where publishers used to get their bound galleys) and the price can’t be beat. Good idea, I’ll pass it along.

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]]> By: Christopher Meeks http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/11/27/the-american-book-release/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Christopher Meeks Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:44:01 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=3212#comment-1717 I do the same, Henry, with Lulu. Once I think I have the book done, I go to Lulu, convert my Word file to PDF, and then have a couple of copies sent to me. I'll typically look it over and then give the copies to friends to read/proofread. Small mistakes are found, and I do it over again. Once I feel I have a clean copy, I'll upload that version to Lightning Source. The other day I was at Staples and Office Max, where photocopies are now ten cents a page. Heck, it's cheaper to have a book printed with a cover at Lulu than to have a mere photocopy. After all, 360 pages = $36.00 versus the $10.50 a copy at Lulu and about $5.50 a copy at Lightning Source. As you know, though, it costs $75.00 to set up at Lightning Source, so you don't want to be making many versions there. I do the same, Henry, with Lulu. Once I think I have the book done, I go to Lulu, convert my Word file to PDF, and then have a couple of copies sent to me. I’ll typically look it over and then give the copies to friends to read/proofread. Small mistakes are found, and I do it over again. Once I feel I have a clean copy, I’ll upload that version to Lightning Source.

The other day I was at Staples and Office Max, where photocopies are now ten cents a page. Heck, it’s cheaper to have a book printed with a cover at Lulu than to have a mere photocopy. After all, 360 pages = $36.00 versus the $10.50 a copy at Lulu and about $5.50 a copy at Lightning Source. As you know, though, it costs $75.00 to set up at Lightning Source, so you don’t want to be making many versions there.

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