Self-Publishing FAQs
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- What is meant by "book packaging" or "book producing"?
- Is a book-packaging service the same as a vanity press?
- What about scams?
- So, why not just take my book to a printer?
- How much will it cost to produce my book?
- What are "imprints and credentials"?
- What is the difference between "POD" and "regular" book printing?
- Will my book sell?
What meant by "book packaging" or "book producing"?
"Self-publishing is the fastest-growing segment of the publishing industry . . . authors may find it worthwhile to farm out production to a pro." U.S. News & World Report.
Tabby House is a production pro! Our experienced staff will see that your book has a quality cover, the necessary credentials, is professionally typeset, and that it is well edited and proofread for book style. Our staff will discuss with you the marketing potential, press run, type of cover, etc. Some books need considerable editing and rewriting; others very little. We will give you our best advice on what we feel will make your book sell, and we will work with you to achieve that goal.
Tip: Do not let editors, illustrators or designers charge you by the hour. Work with fair, agreed-upon-in-advance charges for the entire project. This will help you keep your costs under control. One of our objectives is to help you adjust the size of your press run to your own level of marketing energy, and then price your book so that you can recover your investment by the time you sell half your books. Then you can start putting money in the bank.
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Is a book-packaging service the same as a vanity press?
No! "[Book packagers] are different from vanity publishers. Book [packagers] work for a pre-set fee; profits are yours. Vanity publishers offer only a royalty after charging you to produce the book; complaints about quality and marketing are legion." U.S. News & World Report.
Vanity (subsidy) publishers and many e-publishers usually apply their ISBN (International Standard Book Number) to your work, and sometimes take the copyright, too. You, the author, typically receive only a few copies of your book and are told you can buy more "at cost," even though you have already paid for the entire publication. Promises are made about "marketing" that rarely result in sales or the recovery of your investment.
Some subsidy "publishers," including e-publishers, are simply printers. These presses print your pages exactly as you submit them, without proper page design or editing. This process is not only expensive, but can often result in an inferior product.
With Tabby House you will retain all the rights to your book, receive your entire press run, and get continuing marketing assistance. Tabby House prides itself on its reputation for honesty, quality, and author assistance during and after book production. Our productions have received many review accolades and national awards.
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What about scams?
Scammers are everywhere. From “editors,” who have excessive hourly charges and no credentials, to printers claiming to be publishers and trying to convince writers that they are being “published” without editing or professional cover design. Or “publishers” appeal to the author’s vanity by saying they are being “published” by XYZ company that will “market” the book to national audiences. Do your homework, and be cautious by claims and costs. Read Smart Self-Publishing for more information.
References are available and gladly given.
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So, why not just take my book to my local printer?
You can, but keep in mind that printing is only part of the publishing process. A printer is not a publisher or a book packager, although some will offer to typeset your book or design your cover. Printers usually do not have an editor on staff, who is knowledgeable about book style, and they are not familiar with accepted cover design standards. If you have your book printed without the necessary credentials, or with a cover that is less than professional, the end result may not be marketable.
Tip: Be careful to work only with a reputable, experienced packager. Ask to see samples of his or her work and compare those samples to mainstream books at your local bookstore.
At Tabby House, your book will receive the careful attention it deserves from our talented editors, artists and typesetters, and it will be printed and bound by quality book manufacturers. We want you to be proud of your finished product.
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How much will it cost to produce my book?
The cost to produce a book varies widely, depending on the difficulty of the project. Call (540) 895-9093 or e-mail us with specific information about your project: number of double-spaced manuscript pages, type of book (novel, children’s book, poetry), illustrations if applicable, number of copies anticipated) or, better yet, send us about 25 sample pages along with the above information. We will provide you with a ballpark estimate for the job. If the proposal is to your liking, we will work up a contract, take a deposit, and get going with your project.
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What are "imprints and credentials"?
Your imprint is the name and logo that you have selected to identify your publishing business. It is an important advertising tool and should be selected after careful thought. We can help you pick a name that will speak to your market. Your book must have credentials to be sold in most bookstores or through distributors or wholesalers—ISBN, Library of Congress Catalog Control Number, copyright, and bar code.
As book producers, we help you establish yourself as a publishing company so you will have your own imprint and ISBN and will control the rights to reprint your book.
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What is the difference between "POD" and "regular" book printing?
Regular book printing (offset printing) is done either by a sheet-fed press or a web press.
Sheet-fed presses use a stack of large sheets of paper that will later be folded and trimmed to make a "signature." Signatures are groups of pages that books are made of. Each signature has a certain number of pages, always divisible by 8. The number of pages in a signature depends on the size of the book. Smaller books may be printed in signatures of 32 pages, larger books as few as 8 pages. Sheet-fed presses use printing plates and ink, and are best suited to medium-sized press runs, 500 to 750 copies.
Web presses also use plates and ink but the paper comes off huge rolls and is cut to sheet size after being printed. Then the sheets are folded and trimmed as sheet-fed output is. Web presses are very fast and are best suited to long press runs, more than 750 copies.
POD as it is incorrectly termed, is really better called "digital press." Digital press is best suited for short-run work. The initial set up work with digital press is less expensive than offset because there are no printing plates and no ink. The material is supplied to the printer as a digital (computer) file, which is downloaded into the digital press. The books are printed by a machine that is somewhat like a copy machine, using small sheets of paper and toner rather than ink. Because the digital press does not "mass-produce" books, the process, overall, is more expensive per copy than offset. Digital press production for 600 copies will cost about as much as 1,000 copies done by offset.
Now, since books are produced individually by digital press, many titles can be in the queue at any given time, each with a different number of copies to be printed. This ability gives rise to the Print on Demand (POD) feature that allows a bookstore to order a single copy of a listed book for a customer request. Publishers whose books are stored electronically in digital press data banks are able to order the number of books they want (PQN—print quantity needed) for any upcoming event or sales promotion. They can also stock their titles with wholesalers or distributors just as they would have had they had a larger, offset press run. Publishers cannot order single copies, only publisher short runs.
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Will my book sell?
There are no guarantees. A book is like any other product—it should be created with a market in mind, and it takes a lot of faith and persistent effort to succeed. The salability of any book is enhanced by a professional cover, the right title, the proper credentials, and an author/publisher who will work tirelessly for sales.
You must be prepared to generate the demand for your book. Tabby House will help you get started on the basics of publicity, booksignings, and speaking engagements. We can put you in touch with wholesalers and distributors, provide you with contacts for talk shows, and offer suggestions for direct mailings and sources of reviews. There are a number of individuals and organizations that specialize in assisting self-publishing authors and independent presses with their marketing.
It is worth noting that a number of self-published books have been sold to book clubs or national publishers after establishing a strong sales record, or after having attracted reviewer or talk-show interest. However, we strongly recommend considering your regional market rather than relying on national sales. Ultimately, author effort is the key to the success of any self-publishing project. If you aren’t willing to work hard to sell your book, you will end up with boxes in your garage.
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“I did a lot of research before choosing someone that I was willing to invest my money, time and book with in this business. Becoming an author isn't just about writing a book. Linda and Jim Salisbury are competent and dedicated to what they do. Linda explained how to apply for an ISBN number and then I got to do it myself. The same with registering with the Library of Congress. This method allowed me to learn as we worked together.” Carol Joyce, author of Beads if Change, published by Hoffman Mills Press
“I enthusiastically endorse Tabby House as editorial and design consultants and packagers for self-published books. They were extremely helpful, understanding and competent in every phase of the project and they earned my wholehearted respect and gratitude.” William Earle Cameron, author of The Transformational Quest, published by Bill’s Quill.
"I love the way you did everything!" Dolores Thome Cooper, Storms and Storms: Poems of Love, Longing and Life, Poems for Little People, and Hands are Not for Hitting, published by Strathmoor Books
"The cover is beyond wonderful . . . thanks again for everything-we are so excited! Sue and Mike Tiller, Breastfeeding 101: A Step-by-step Guide to Successfully Nursing Your Baby. TLC Publishing
One of three books packaged by Tabby House and published by MonteMe by Michael Evans. Other titles include Son of a Snitch and The Bastard.
