| This article contains information for those who | | | | to friends or new lovers of your work. |
| decide to self publish their own book. There are | | | | Seventh: Can bookstores return your books if |
| certain things that should be included in the | | | | they do not sell? Almost every self-publishing |
| package offered. It is the second of three articles. | | | | company will say that your book will be available |
| We discussed four things in the previous article to | | | | for sale at any bookstore. While this is |
| look for in a self-publishing package. This article | | | | theoretically true, it does mean the store will |
| continues that train of thought. | | | | choose to carry your book. You may feel that |
| Fifth: Does the publisher offer an International | | | | everyone will be clamoring to pick up your book |
| Standard Book Number (ISBN) or European Article | | | | at the nearest store. The fact of the matter, |
| Number (EAN)? Most publishers now offer the | | | | however, is that you will need to work hard to |
| EAN, which includes the ISBN embedded within it. | | | | get stores to offer it. If you do your job |
| This is comprised of a series of numbers and a | | | | promoting it as you should, however, you might |
| bar code, normally on the back or inside front | | | | be able to work out a deal with your local |
| cover of the book. These numbers enable the | | | | independent store or chain. They will be much |
| seller of the book to identify the book, the | | | | more likely to carry the book if it is returnable. If |
| publisher, and even the price within its database. | | | | they cannot, they will rarely take the risk. Beware |
| You should have the ISBN number at the least. | | | | at this point: some publishers offer this valuable |
| Some publishers will include this assignment with | | | | feature with your package; others may charge |
| the book-publishing package; others may require | | | | you hundreds of dollars a year for this. Unless you |
| that you go through the effort to secure it. It is | | | | sale a thousand copies in bookstores, you do not |
| easier to choose a package that includes it | | | | want to pay extra. On the other hand, this |
| already for you. You do not want to publish your | | | | feature cannot be overlooked either. |
| book without it. It also helps to track your book's | | | | Eighth: What is the retail price of your book going |
| sales, as well as inventory and availability. | | | | to be with the publisher you choose? While you |
| Sixth: How much are the author discounts? Do | | | | may have a worthwhile book, if the price is set |
| they make it easy for you to buy your own | | | | too high, when compared to similar books (page |
| books to sell yourself? A 50 percent discount | | | | count and content), you are setting yourself up |
| should be the minimum offered. Most packages | | | | for failure. Some publishers artificially inflate the |
| provide a number of "free" books as well. | | | | price in order to brag about their large royalties. |
| However, assuming you do your homework--and | | | | However, if your book does not sale because it is |
| footwork--hopefully you will need to order more | | | | too expensive, it really does not matter how large |
| books. The discount allows you to make a nice | | | | the potential royalty. |
| profit on those books you sell yourself. In most | | | | In the next article, we will conclude our discussion |
| cases, you should be able to double your profit | | | | of things to look for in a self-publishing package. |
| per book--at least--when you sell them yourself | | | | |