The Art of Self Publishing

Today we have illustrator and author J.D. Holiday sharing some tips on self publishing children's books. I know many of you may want to traditionally get your books published, but for those who are adventurous or are open to self publishing, you'll find these tips very helpful.

My Tips on Self-Publishing

                                             By J.D. Holiday

I know of two ways to self-publish and I've done them both ways. One way is to use publishing services. There are many publishing services out there and some are not perfect to say the least. Some offer packages of different levels of services to pick from, others give you a set fee and they do all the work. They can cost from $500 to $1500, even higher to get your books in print. Most of them will take your files and design your book or you can upload your files and work out the design yourself. I know authors who have had good luck with some of these services and it seems simple enough if you have the money. I was not one of the lucky ones going this way and decided I had to learn what there was to know to have my books printed.

The second way I know of is to learn about getting a book made from beginning to end. This is sometimes called, independent publishing. Doing it this way, you have to hire the printer, the book designer and pros for anything else you find you can't do yourself; including the marketing and more. But there is satisfaction that comes from doing it all yourself.

For independent publishing, you will need to find information about every step you'll have to take. If your books need illustrations and you are not an artist, you should start right here. You will need to find an illustrator and pay them for the pictures or split the money made on each book you make with them. Though you can consider the two of you sharing the whole cost of producing the book together. In addition, you can buy stock photos for your book. (Research stock photos to find out more about it.)

If you do consider going the independent publishing route, you will need to find out about:

1. Computer software or book design
2. Starting your publishing business (Not all printers will work with anyone who isn't a publishing company.)
3. Coming up with a budget
4. Coming up with the money
5. Buy your own ISBN numbers
6. Decide if you will do POD (Print on Demand) or do offset printing
7. Find a printer. (For picture books that may be overseas for 4-color printing and lower cost though you will have to order maybe one or two thousand copies and find a warehouser or a place you can store the books away from too much heat and humidity. There are also POD printers in the USA that do 4-color printing AND the cost is low.)
8. Book consultants and packagers
9. Galleys
10. Returned books (You will need to know about this early on.)
11. Marketing help and/or plan
12. Website and SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
13. Writing letters
14. Business cards

AND much, much more!

The publishing business is not an easy one. I advise you to do your own research. The internet can help you find the information you will need. There are sites for just about everything on publishing. Research people who can do the jobs you can't do yourself and READ everything you can on publishing.

                                                                                                            ~JD Holiday

Some Books to Read:

PRINT-ON-DEMAND BOOK PUBLISHING by Morris Rosenthal. I can't say enough about this book. He covers the latest information about POD, the publishing business, and marketing your books while saying it in everyday language. His detailed information on Search Engine Optimization was a great help.

THE PUBLISHING GAME, PUBLISH a Book in 30 Days by Fern Reiss. Though I don't think anyone should undertake publishing a book in 30 days, this book has a good plan to follow. It goes through what to do and when to do it. You will define you goal, write the cover copy, understand book pricing, learn about software, book layout, and galleys. It has a list of PRINTERS, learn about listing your book with bookstores, and know how to ship books, (and YES) returns.

The Self-Publishing Manual, How to Write, Print and Sell your Own Books by Dan Poynter. This is a reference book for authors self-publishing with nothing left out and resources for everything.

WEBSITES

http://www.fonerbooks.com/selfpublishing/  Morris Rosenthal's site.

http://www.gropenassoc.com/index.htm   This is a Reference Desk with everything at a click. Marketing/price setting/ design info/ editing/finance/ management/ technical info in publishing and links to everything self-publishers need.

www.publishinggame.com   Fern Reiss' site, like her book, keeps writers and publishers informed and up to date.

http://wexfordpress.com/index.html   John Cullenton's site offers do-it-yourself find out about indexing, book coaching, shepards, packagers, book design, and typesetting. See his lists of specialists.

http://www.newselfpublishing.com   Aaron Shepard's site. This site has tips for young and older authors. Aaron Shepard's Bulletin is helpful with info on self-publishing, software for creating your books, printers info. I read his newsletter each month.

www.aeonix.com   Pete Masterson's site. BOOK Printer's list and what they print, info on POD and Digital companies, Vanity press info, page layout, Book design, and software.

Copyright attorney, Lloyd L. Rich's site http://www.publaw.com/

Copyright attorney, Ivan Hoffman www.ivanhoffman.comwww.ivanhoffman.com  

Copyright information. www.copyright.gov

ISBN#'s   http://www.bowker.com/http://www.bowker.com/  

 

J.D. Holiday is the author and illustrator of four children's books. Picture books: JANOOSE THE GOOSE, THE SPY GAME, and Matt Shelley's Halloween Misadventure with Award-winning author, Christy Condoleo, and the chapter book for 6 to 8 year olds, THE GREAT SNOWBALL ESCAPADE. J.D. Holiday is a co-host on It's Story Time, Gather 'Round with Christy Condoleo on Blog Talk Radio's World Of Ink Network:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork

You can find out more about J.D. Holiday, her books and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/bzwlprd

Follow J.D. Holiday at

The Book Garden http://www.thebookgarden.net

J.D’s Writers Blog http://jdswritersblog.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @JDHoliday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDspage

Facebook Fan: www.facebook.com/BooksByJDHoliday

Publisher Website: http://www.thebookgarden.net