Publisher Reviews

Self-publishing book services reviewed in detail by SPR’s community of experts and bloggers

Matador Publishing Review

Matador is the self-publishing imprint of Troubador Publishing based in Leicester, England. Troubador itself is a commercial publisher founded in 1990, but the Matador imprint for self-publishing authors was launched in 1999. Matador offers self-publishing authors a wide range of services, from the design and production of a book, through to marketing and distribution.

In the past few years there are signs that this kind of publishing model (a commercial publisher also offering self-publishing services) may form the basis of where the future lies. If you like, it has become a kind of hybrid of publishing or centre ground. I […]

2017-02-12T09:04:01+02:00July 11th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

Infinity Publishing Review

Please note that this article is from 2011, and since 2020, Infinity has been bought out by FastPencil. If you are an author looking for help and support on your Infinity contract, please read our article here.

There is one factor which singles out Infinity Publishing from many other author solutions services. From the very beginning, in 1997, Infinity Publishing did all their POD printing in-house and offered authors a non-exclusive contract. They describe what they do as ‘originated book publishing’, but the self-publishing industry and the world at large doesn’t really need another way to describe an author solutions […]

2020-11-05T05:03:49+02:00July 11th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

Dog Ear Publishing Review

Dog Ear Publishing is a US author solutions service located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Formed in 2004 by co-owners, Ray Robinson, Miles Nelson and Alan Harris, all three have had varied careers in the book world, from Waldenbooks, Pearson Education Publishers, as well as backgrounds in book packaging and the graphic design and print industries. This mix of both production and publication certainly provides the kind of firm foundation for an author solutions service many other companies do not possess.

“All too often, authors are lured by a low up front cost – but, it’s not the publishing fees that ruin

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2017-02-12T09:03:37+02:00July 11th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

BookLocker Review

BookLocker is run by Angela and Richard Hoy and they take a highly writer centered approach to POD publishing. Angela also runs Writersweekly, a marketing magazine for authors, and is also a former TV reporter and successful self-published writer.

Most POD publishers have little or no manuscript screening process, but BookLocker does, and their aim is to continue to publish quality books at a low cost-efficient price to every author who signs a contract with them. BookLocker is highly driven by book sales and a glance at the homepage below directs traffic to 30+ advertised titles. Author services are only […]

2017-02-12T09:03:03+02:00July 11th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

Pedernales Publishing: Vanity Publishing Without the Vanity

This is the way it should be done. Truth be told I haven’t used the service, but this is the future of self-publishing. Basically it’s an Author Solutions company (Author House, iUniverse, etc.) but without the royalty percentage and the huge mark-up on book prices.

I’ve long advocated Author Solutions for a certain kind of writer – someone who wants to be totally hands off and have someone else do the work. Though it’s not the best way to self-publish, it’s at least understandable. Pedernales provides the same services of an Author Solutions – cover design, interior design, distribution […]

2012-02-16T10:19:02+02:00June 27th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|

Lightning Source Review

Lightning Source has become synonymous with authors pursuing what is described as ‘true self-publishing—whereby an author sets up their own imprint, purchases a block of ISBN’s and uses Lightning Source’s global print and fulfilment services to publish and make their books available for distribution.

Lightning Source US

Lightning Source UK

Lightning Source, an Ingram Content Group company, is the leader in providing a comprehensive suite of inventory-free on-demand print and distribution services for books to the publishing industry. Lightning Source gives the publishing community options to print books in any quantity, one to 10,000 (POD or offset print runs), and

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2017-02-12T09:02:40+02:00June 16th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|

Chandler Book Design Review

Amazon Titles – N/A (Bespoke Book Designer & Printer)

Chandler Book Design is based in Norfolk, England. Their core business is book design, but they offer authors intending to self-publish several different book service solutions. They do not support an on line bookstore of their own, but their main homepage does feature some of their recently published titles. However, these featured titles have no links to outside on line retailers like Amazon and emphasis that Chandler’s business expertise is book design and not book sales.

“Chandler Book Design is a book production services company offering typesetting and cover design to

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2017-02-12T09:08:33+02:00June 14th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: , |

Arima Publishing Review

Amazon.com Titles – 103

Amazon .co.uk Titles – 338

Arima Publishing services are based in Suffolk, England and are very much a UK self publishing service provider. They offer authors ‘global publishing services’. Arima follow the business strategy which most UK based companies take; call it as it is. Arima, to be fair, make no pretensions about being a grandiose publishing company.

“However, whilst print-on-demand has many advantages it does not necessarily suit all types of book. Currently, the process available does not allow for internal colour; pictures and diagrams are limited to black and grey scale. Also, because all

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2017-02-12T09:08:29+02:00June 14th, 2011|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |
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