De-bunking Subsidy Publishing Horror Myths

>hours and effort it takes to make this happen. As
De-bunking Subsidy Publishing Horror Mythsa result, my book was published in June of 2003
© 2004 M. LaVora Perryand I'm presently into my 3rd free printing; books
You are free to forward this article in email orare being sold both nationwide and internationally.
reproduce it on on your Web site or in your2.) My fee includes worldwide distribution through
e-zine provided that the author information at theBaker & Taylor--which means something to those
conclusion of the article remains. A notice of suchvendors to whom it means something.
use is appreciated to3.) I don't have to pay for or personally handle
Reproduction in print requires permission from thewarehousing and shipping, or pay additionally for
author.these essentials--no matter how many times my
Subsidy publishing companies are those thatbook is reprinted.
require an author to pay to produce her or his4.) I own the copyright to my work--not the
book. These companies are also known assubsidy publisher.
co-publishers, or pejoratively, "the vanity press."5.) The company's finished products have a
Some of these companies make unreasonableprofessional appearance in terms of paper and
promises about how their services lead to booksbookcover stock and print quality.
becoming instant, phenomenal best-sellers, or6.) I didn't want to wait until a traditional publisher
engage in other unscrupulous business practices.picked up Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart; the
However, legitimate subsidy publishers do exist.story was unconventional enough that I believed I
In this article, I'll explain the 6 factors that led mehad to make substantial sales before traditional
to choose the subsidy publishing company withpublishers realized there was a market for this
which I partnered to publish my children's book,type of book.
Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart.Now that Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart is in
First, let me say that whether one self-publishesprint, my co-publisher has provided me with a
solo or uses a subsidy publisher, the expense ofsignificant additional reason to be glad about my
paying to publish can be high. Publishingdecision to use their services: As I continue to
print-on-demand (POD) is a form of subsidylearn more about the publishing business and
publishing that can greatly reduce this expense.approach them to revisit certain terms of my
However, this article will cover conventionalcontract, they have been flexible about doing so.
subsidy publishing in which a certain number ofI would never tell anyone that they should stay
books are printed in anticipation of orders beingaway from every subsidy publisher, no more than
placed.I would dissuade someone from totally
If you can afford it, and you do your homeworkself-publishing, publishing POD or seeking a
and footwork, partnering with a subsidy publishertraditional publisher. Rather, because I realize that
can have its advantages. In my case, the factorsso much of what I've learned and achieved in
that influenced me to select the company I choserelation to my book is the result of people sharing
were:their expertise with me, my approach to
1.) I pay a one-time, flat fee that includes freedisseminating information is to provide balanced
reprints for the duration of my two-yearassessments of what the reality of publishing is so
contract, and I will not pay for reprints if I renewthat writers can make well-informed decisions
my contract. My intention all along was to produceabout how they want to proceed with their work.
a top-selling book. I invest the book promotion