[ashleyc8705]

I've finished my first book but have no clue on where to start on publishing it? Has anyone self-published before?

[Mom2DavidandAaron]

I've finished my first book but have no clue on where to start on publishing it? Has anyone self-published before?[/b]

Never self-published, but I can recommend this book

http://www.amazon.com/Hermans-Publishers-E...3814&sr=1-1

Sharon

[Gaby&Emmy'sMama]

congratulations on finishing your work!

[ashleyc8705]

Thanks girls! Self-publishing was quite difficult. But I am excited now that it's done.

[xniceguy]

Who did you use Ashley? I self published and am very unsatisfied with my publisher; I'm definitely not using them again. However, because of contract, I can't publically defame their name.

Traditional publishing isn't the way to go though. I prefer the freedom of self publishing, but like with any first book, don't expect to quit your day job lol.

I am thrilled to have accomplished enough to get a book published when I was 20, and never did I expect or desire it's publication for the sake of making some money; I'm happy enough with the achievement, but am still allowed to have some discontent with the monetary credit I'm getting for it.

What percentage of commission do you receive off your work?

Also, I hear i-Universe.com is good, but risky. It works, and sometimes it doesn't. The marketting put into your book depends on the quality, I suppose. I've been lazy and haven't done any marketting whatsoever haha.

[^RaineDrop^]

Perfect thread! I was going to ask this too

I'm awaiting your response to xNiceGuy

[xniceguy]

Perfect thread! I was going to ask this too

I'm awaiting your response to xNiceGuy[/b]

I am too.

[ashleyc8705]

I haven't been on in awhile!

I use LuLu.com. So far I don't have many complaints. I didn't make my book for money, so that is why I chose to self-publish. The percentage they take out for each sale is quite low.

I am a bit disappointed in the options I get to choose for my cover art. Also, I wanted to start making childrens books, but the process of getting colored art into the book is a pain.

[xniceguy]

I haven't been on in awhile!

I use LuLu.com. So far I don't have many complaints. I didn't make my book for money, so that is why I chose to self-publish. The percentage they take out for each sale is quite low.

I am a bit disappointed in the options I get to choose for my cover art. Also, I wanted to start making childrens books, but the process of getting colored art into the book is a pain.[/b]

I was able to either submit my own cover art (which I did) or pay them $200 for their artist to do one for me. I paid a 16 year old in Canada $100 for my cover art (below) and am incredibly satisfied.

[ashleyc8705]

Wow! He did a fantastic job on your cover!

What were some problems you experienced with LuLu?

[xniceguy]

Oh I didn't use LuLu. My only real problems were the prolonged publishing process (How long did yours take?) and getting 65% of the book sales taken away.

[ashleyc8705]

The longest part was editing and revising on my own. Then I uploaded all my files, made sure the words were on the correct pages, and ta-da!

[xniceguy]

Mine took about three months. There was a bunch of formatting differences to be corrected, and it's still not formatted the way I wanted, which I wasn't able to see until I had the first copy (for review) in my hand. Making any changes at that time would've cost me another $200, so I said screw it since nobody but me knows what it was supposed to be like anyway.

[ashleyc8705]

Wow that's crazy! I will be sure not to use the company you used lol! No offense of course. You might want to try LuLu next time around. It wouldn't hurt to try it, right?

What sites are you promoting your book?

[xniceguy]

Yeah. I'm not using them again. I'm very unsatisfied.

As far as "promoting" it's all on my hands, and frankly I've been too lazy to really do some serious marketting. The majority of my sales have come from another forum my S/O and I attend; I dedicated the book to the website since had it not been for the community there I would never have finished it. I make the majority of my sales there and all of the people who purchased have sent excellent feedback.

I did realize a fatal flaw in my market group: they're all teenagers without credit cards, money, or jobs. Haha. So I've had to convince a couple of them to convince their parents to buy it for them. I mean, hell, if I told my mom I wanted a book instead of sitting infront of the computer screen or playing video games for 8+ hours a day, she'd be thrilled. So, as a result, I have a BUNCH of "I really want to read this!" "I will buy it" and "I'm gonna get it soon" kinds of comments.

I do love reaching kids though.

[ashleyc8705]

Haha! What is your book about?

[xniceguy]

Haha! What is your book about?[/b]

It's about people and the faces they wear when interacting with different people; the main character so much so that he is unable to identify who his true self is, or if it's better to be himself than one of the better, more moral selfs he's constructed.

"Is it better to be yourself, or better to be a good person?"

The second half of the book is a dialectic (philosophical conversation between two people) and concludes what it means to be a good person and how to do it. The conclusion is the best part of the book (as it should be).

Yours? Have you read it? I've never read my own book; I gave a copy to a friend the other day and was flipping through it and remembered that I put two essays in there (one about metaphysics the other titled "morals in the absence of religion") that I no longer think are that great and some of the notes I wasn't able to include in the book in a section called "Writer's Journal."

[ashleyc8705]

That sounds pretty interesting. Yes I have read my own book. I'd rather not talk about it out in the forums because if may raise some eyebrows.

[xniceguy]

That sounds pretty interesting. Yes I have read my own book. I'd rather not talk about it out in the forums because if may raise some eyebrows.[/b]

Sounds juicy Message me perhaps?

[ashleyc8705]

Actually it's not all that great lol! It is a journal for woman who have made a choice in there life. It has stories from woman I have interviewed who have made that choice.