So, I will admit to having some early reticence about publishing through createspace, because it is owned by Amazon. I did a lot of research and found about half a dozen indie-publishers. aka 'vanity publishers'. Every company I found came with a fee or a contract that included fronting the cost of additional editing, formatting costs etc... The low end for these types of publishing services is $1000. You can also pay them to design a cover or convert to ebook. You can probably pay them to write your next book.
Createspace was the only publisher I found who would let me do everything by myself. By myself, was a lot of work. By myself was also the support of a lot of readers, friends, encouragement and support. Nothing is free. I did purchase Indesign and a few other tools necessary to do it myself.
Now, I am in the same place as any other independent author, paying printing costs and trying to find ways to get my book out there, trying to figure out consignment, trying to figure out who will give me the time of day.
Much to my surprise, support may not come from booksellers who support independent authors. I choose sweat equity and Amazon and the result is that I am alienated from some of the only resources I have to get my book out into the world. I've yet to send my book to reviewers yet, mostly because I have no idea who they are, but I have to wonder how many people will refuse to ever open the cover of my book because at the end of the day, my independent writing project is too corporate.
They funny thing is I still pay for each printed copy. I pay printing and mailing costs. If an independent bookseller sells my book at a 50% split, they make $6. I make $6 - printing and mailing cost, so I make about $2. And Amazon makes $3.
Obviously, I am not going to get rich. I am not even going to break even. It would be nice to get it out there however. Again, thank you Brooklyn. Spoonbill and Sugartown in Williamsburg is the only response from the indie publishing front. Very grateful for that.
Okay, back to my mortar and deckle.
Thom
