Any writer considering self-publishing a book should definitely read The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts and Services of 48 Self-Publishing Companies — Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed, by writer and attorney Mark Levine.
Levine writes, “If you decided to buy a television or a car, you might read Consumer Reports to find the best price and highest quality. Spending hard-earned money to publish your book should be approached with the same careful attitude.” Levine procedes through the rest of the book, published in July 2006, laying out in detail the financial and legal aspects of self-publishing, along with extraordinarily candid analysis of the leading publishers.
For example, Levine examines the range of costs, anywhere from $500 to $6500, and services offered by different POD publishers leading to publication of a book of about 250 pages. He reveals the per-page cost of printing and the actual printer who does most of the work. He tells you about the importance of book cover design and offers recommendations about where to go for a reasonably priced design [about $200]. He underscores the importance of paying for an editor to go over the manuscript and describes the various levels of editorial assistance. He covers as well the steps involved in obtaining a copyright, ISBN and Library of Congress numbers, and EAN Bar Code. He discloses the inner core of book distribution. He talks about the details of contracts and what to look out for. And finally he identifies 13 “outstanding” POD publishers, with full description of the services each provides. He also covers the other prominent publishers to give a comprehensive view of the field.
At the time of this post, sixteen people had posted reviews at the Amazon site, yielding a solid FIVE STAR ranking. I myself also give it a top rating. At this time, I know of no other source that provides such a clear view of the POD world.
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