| The days of being dependent on regular Publishers | | | | huge industry globally. |
| are fading fast. The internet - or worldwide web - | | | | Print-On-Demand publishing is one of the easiest |
| has made it possible to get your book published | | | | ways to get your book published on the Internet. |
| immediately and bring it instantly to the attention | | | | There are a number of good companies offering |
| of readers. | | | | this service. They work with you and turn your |
| There are two basic ways of getting published on | | | | manuscript into a beautiful physical book. You pay |
| the internet. | | | | the costs up-front, which are far less expensive |
| - Publishing "Real" books on the Internet. | | | | than normal printing and, because they are not |
| - Publishing digital books on the Internet. | | | | investing money in your project, they will print |
| Placing an advertisement for your book on a web | | | | anything you have to offer (within reason, of |
| site is the first step. This could be your own | | | | course). |
| website, the website of an online publisher or | | | | The difference between P.O.D. and regular |
| bookseller, or some other website. It would | | | | publishers is that they do not actually print your |
| include an offer to sell your book, a colour picture | | | | book. They simply prepare it for printing. |
| of its cover, contact details and possibly a credit | | | | Technology has advanced to such a degree that |
| card facility for online payments. | | | | they are able to print one complete book at a |
| The advantages of paperback or hardcover | | | | time, as needed. The quality is excellent. |
| books are that people like to take a "real" book | | | | P.O.D. companies not only prepare your book for |
| to bed with them for a good read. Electronic | | | | printing, they also undertake to advertise it in all |
| reading devices known as Ebook Readers are | | | | the online booksellers' catalogues, including |
| rapidly becoming popular, however, making it | | | | Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and a host of |
| possible to read digital books in these handheld | | | | others. When orders are received, the books are |
| devices that look and feel like "real" books.> | | | | printed within 24 hours and distributed. They |
| Disadvantages of publishing paperback or | | | | handle all the financial aspects, report back to the |
| hardcover books is that they are expensive to | | | | author and pay a very generous royalty. |
| print, market, distribute and post - especially to | | | | Worldwide rights to your book remain with you. |
| overseas buyers. It is also very difficult to have | | | | Some recommended Print-On-Demand Publishers |
| them included in the catalogues of online | | | | include Booksearch, Create-space, Author House |
| booksellers if they are not readily available for | | | | and Lulu, among others. |
| distribution overseas. | | | | Why not consider publishing your book |
| There is an exciting way around this, known as | | | | electronically and as an ordinary paper-based |
| PRINT-ON-DEMAND publishing and it is becoming a | | | | publication? |