tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post5685936147237856511..comments2023-10-09T04:41:15.843-06:00Comments on Chantel Rhondeau: How much do you pay to 'self-publish' your book?Chantel Rhondeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-63646519664307417892012-11-26T11:58:10.802-07:002012-11-26T11:58:10.802-07:00Thanks, Kimberly, for reading and commenting. Ther...Thanks, Kimberly, for reading and commenting. There is a lot to watch out for, and a lot to be done in SP. But, I also am having a fun time with it all! Just want to be sure everyone knows what to be wary of, too. Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-13527752563146884882012-11-26T00:24:09.440-07:002012-11-26T00:24:09.440-07:00Great post, Chantel. Thanks for sharing your exper...Great post, Chantel. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm still new to the whole self-publishing world, so this is useful information to file away. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-949077231065378412012-11-24T20:24:16.579-07:002012-11-24T20:24:16.579-07:00Thanks for this information, Carol. That's gre...Thanks for this information, Carol. That's great to know. Right now, my budget is too small for this ;-) so the on-demand publishing works, but it is always nice to know all the options. Thanks for sharing! Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-52022245823922652302012-11-24T14:49:20.453-07:002012-11-24T14:49:20.453-07:00An important post, Chantel. A third option for get...An important post, Chantel. A third option for getting a print version of your book is to find a printer yourself. Getting print bids is easy through printindustry.com That's where I found my printer. This approach does require you to print a large enough quantity to make the economics work. 500 at least. The per copy numbers get better at 1,000 and up.Carol Bodensteinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07453461142694963564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-72785581677119560152012-11-23T09:13:03.110-07:002012-11-23T09:13:03.110-07:00Thanks, Eamon, for the comment and support. Feel f...Thanks, Eamon, for the comment and support. Feel free to share. I had no clue about this until recently, so the more people aware, the better.Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-69620717597608885102012-11-23T09:12:05.081-07:002012-11-23T09:12:05.081-07:00Oh - fantastic! I didn't know about this web s...Oh - fantastic! I didn't know about this web site. Thanks so much for sharing, JKA! Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-36022739188655231302012-11-23T09:11:30.620-07:002012-11-23T09:11:30.620-07:00Thanks, Melisse for your comments and help! I real...Thanks, Melisse for your comments and help! I really hope it does too!Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-69514529663111179222012-11-23T04:38:08.483-07:002012-11-23T04:38:08.483-07:00A timely blog. There are way too many shady operat...A timely blog. There are way too many shady operators out there taking advantage of pressured writers. If you don't mind, I'll share this with two writing groups who I know will appreciate it. Keep up the good work. ;-)Eamon O Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537703307998301271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-17157522180652179262012-11-22T23:26:11.616-07:002012-11-22T23:26:11.616-07:00I've always loved Preditors & Editors for ...I've always loved Preditors & Editors for exposing scams: http://pred-ed.com/<br /><br />JKAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06803670271920839776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-3995631501745079182012-11-22T15:41:11.704-07:002012-11-22T15:41:11.704-07:00I do most of my own cover art so covers are usuall...I do most of my own cover art so covers are usually under $25. You tube tutorials are free! <br /><br />Most of my titles are back list and out of contract so had already been edited, but I do have an editing deal worked out for new writing that is not expensive, so even with editing I can put a book out for under $100. It does pay to make friends on the internet and I am grateful for my small e-pub experiences for that. <br /><br />I have learned formatting by the blunder and error method, lol.<br /><br />I hope this blog reaches writers who are at risk of falling for scammers!Melisse Aireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478569639424075550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-18205111977299613012012-11-22T10:38:59.688-07:002012-11-22T10:38:59.688-07:00I know nothing about Authorhouse - it was a differ...I know nothing about Authorhouse - it was a different company who sent me the offer. I know there are many out there. I'm so glad you found Critique Circle though. That is where I learned a lot as well. Great people over there. Sounds like you are on the right track. Happy writing, Nadine!Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-9017672772068456222012-11-22T10:37:31.322-07:002012-11-22T10:37:31.322-07:00Hi John! Thanks for the comment. I looked at the p...Hi John! Thanks for the comment. I looked at the place you are talking about. I think they provide editing and cover art services, but don't be your publisher and lay a claim to your royalties, right? I know there are companies out there like this that provide services for independent authors, and this isn't what I'm talking about. I'm warning about publishers who are taking royalties from you while doing none of the work. <br /><br />Just for everyone else, I know nothing about this company John mentions or what their quality is. Just make sure to read everything carefully before you do anything. Be aware of what, exactly, you are getting yourself into. Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-24857099645479175742012-11-22T04:29:46.163-07:002012-11-22T04:29:46.163-07:00Nice post. I've been thinking about this recen...Nice post. I've been thinking about this recently. I remember before I met other self-pubbed authors I was considering publishing with Authorhouse (yes, I mentioned a name). Since I had no idea what I was doing, it seemed like the only available choice. They make a tasty website! However, their terms and conditions just didn't convince me... Too much shadiness in my opinion. Plus the fees were incredible.<br /><br />That was about a year ago, and I'm so thankful to the people at Critique Circle for everything they've taught me! Goodbye sneaky publishers! This girl now knows what she wants!<br /><br />I'm almost ready to self-publish my first novel, and I know exactly what I'm willing to pay for:<br /><br />1) Cover art<br />2) Editing services<br />3) Book formatting(if I can't manage to do it myself)nadinuccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17473832893585155491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-74967507437700017292012-11-21T18:32:16.289-07:002012-11-21T18:32:16.289-07:00Nice post and mostly agree. I'm not sure I agr...Nice post and mostly agree. I'm not sure I agree however with your closing statement that a legitimate publisher should cover all production/marketing costs up front. That landscape has changed considerably. <br />http;//ezypublishing.com offers a straight forward production and marketing service with one-time fees on the home page, no further commissions taken. <br />Certainly there are a lot more avenues for authors these days, and with that a whole lot more questionable content hitting the virtual shelves. I suggest that a mix of professional (paid-for) help along with an entrepreneurial attitude from the author is a good combination for the new era on our doorstep. <br />Thanks for the post, <br />JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941074977263721704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-30193387741900504722012-11-21T17:27:47.200-07:002012-11-21T17:27:47.200-07:00Thanks for the great information, Maggie! Funnily ...Thanks for the great information, Maggie! Funnily enough, this is what my Wednesday post next week will talk about and I am sharing the places I know of to hire for this stuff. I'll e-mail you and see if I can include your resources with next week's post as well. <br /><br />Thanks so much for commenting. I think it is important we share what the normal process should be so people who don't know what to expect can do this with more confidence. Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-88278736285436881172012-11-21T17:25:03.495-07:002012-11-21T17:25:03.495-07:00Thanks, Bonnie. We just all have to be careful. I ...Thanks, Bonnie. We just all have to be careful. I think especially people new to self-publishing who don't have any guides to know what they should expect. It can be scary the first time and easy to get cheated. Happy writing! Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-85455705055965170312012-11-21T17:24:08.566-07:002012-11-21T17:24:08.566-07:00Thanks, Melinda. I just want to make sure my reade...Thanks, Melinda. I just want to make sure my readers aren't getting taken in by things like that. There is always someone willing to make a buck off other's hard work. Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-22244483659901557572012-11-21T17:23:29.958-07:002012-11-21T17:23:29.958-07:00No kidding, right? Thanks for reading! No kidding, right? Thanks for reading! Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-90208609908346413222012-11-21T17:23:12.429-07:002012-11-21T17:23:12.429-07:00Thank you for commenting, Suzy. I'm so glad th...Thank you for commenting, Suzy. I'm so glad this seems useful. I couldn't believe it when I realized this was going on and felt it was worth the warning. Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-71813014840190367492012-11-21T17:22:26.647-07:002012-11-21T17:22:26.647-07:00Sometimes banging head on laptop might make you fe...Sometimes banging head on laptop might make you feel better :-) I always say I'm going to through mine out the window - thus, the reason I pay to have much of this done. But yes, a lot can be done on your own. Thanks for commenting! Chantel Rhondeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796339007150166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-54549699238950033202012-11-21T15:00:25.581-07:002012-11-21T15:00:25.581-07:00There have always been people around to "help...There have always been people around to "help" desperate authors at a price. I agree you can do all this yourself, or you can pay others to it for you WITHOUT giving up royalties. I'm a techy and did all my own formatting for the first three books. Then I found someone who would do it for $50 per book and it is worth it to me to pay them. They format for all vendors from Amazon, to B&N, Kobo, iBooks, etc. <br /><br />Even though I'm a techy and have some ability with graphics programs, I do not have an artistic eye. I've paid up to $300 for a cover artist. However, I've recently found someone who does beautiful covers for $25 ebook, $50 print book. <br /><br />Editing can get costly depending on what you need. If you've NEVER been edited before, you really need someone to be not only a grammar editor but a story structure editor. They run anywhere from $1 to $5 per page. Make sure you get someone with good references. There are a lot of people out there who market themselves as editors because they have a degree in English. This doesn't mean they are good for structure, for genre tropes or for story. Be sure to get references.<br /><br />Finally, blog tours from great hosting companies run between $50-$100 depending on what type of tour you want. <br /><br />Bottom line, Not including editing (which I have other resources for) I can get a book formatted, a great cover, and a wonderful blog tour for around $300 per book. That represents average royalties on 100 books. That means after my first 100 books, I am making money.<br /><br />If you want to know my recommendations, I'm happy to share them. I just didn't want to sound like a commercial here. You can also write me separately at maggie at maggiejaimeson dot com. Do NOT let someone take a portion of your royalties and give you nothing equivalent in return. I call that stealing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-17183271808486132992012-11-21T14:22:17.843-07:002012-11-21T14:22:17.843-07:00I paid for my editing and cover art. My husband an...I paid for my editing and cover art. My husband and I did everything else. Thanks for posting about this. There isn't enough awareness for sneaky publishers out there. 60%, lol for them to virtually do nothing. I agree with you - no thanks!Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01265154793887852606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-23396927660390139952012-11-21T13:39:39.709-07:002012-11-21T13:39:39.709-07:00Great idea to "warn" others of the shark...Great idea to "warn" others of the shark publishing tricks. Great post.Melindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00417911032564980251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-66993930286635224412012-11-21T10:48:53.182-07:002012-11-21T10:48:53.182-07:00So the "publisher" sticks you with all t...So the "publisher" sticks you with all the expense and most of the work in exchange for their taking 60% of the royalties. Such a deal!Mary Maddoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11804303876835029488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122429893154975427.post-65147383916532241062012-11-21T06:49:16.266-07:002012-11-21T06:49:16.266-07:00Great post, Chantel. It might be something I consi...Great post, Chantel. It might be something I consider next year -had no idea there were companies out there offering so little in return for 60%. Sharks! You certainly do need your eyes open.<br /><br />Best,<br />SuzySuzy Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01422821411216220911noreply@blogger.com