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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 4:49:18 GMT
Someone is going to review the book before I can even order a proof copy...
That is really good to know Alain. I expect that as they generally charge for uploading a book that is the extra service they give. Still I would like it if with the coupon code thay also gave a free ISBN number but they don't.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 6:50:29 GMT
Yes, they definitely do not spoonfeed you. They are used to working with bigger publishers who have a team working with them. It will become second nature. And the wait for approval from their staff, annoying at first, but ultimately you'll be grateful. They catch things you might have missed. And if you take any cover shortcuts, they will block you. All for the best in the end. There is one thing I am aware of that does not fit specs 100% on the cover, see attached image of the cover tempate (I blurred author and ISBN and made safe/bleed areas shine through): That is the line of the "Hollywood hills" that runs outside the pink "safe area" into the blue "bleed area" (spots marked red by me).  On the right I guess it is OK, except that one might possibly prefer the line to go out all the way. On the left it is potentially more problematic. I guess from the point of view of the printer, if the spine is slightly misaligned, a bit of the line will be visible on the spine and customers might complain about a badly printed book, but I will see... Would not be so easy to find a good solution on the left side, but still feasible if necessary, I guess. Inside the book, page 15 to 249 are all identical, I guess that will be noticed, but I presume no show-stopper for ordering a proof copy. Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 6:50:48 GMT
Someone is going to review the book before I can even order a proof copy...
That is really good to know Alain. I expect that as they generally charge for uploading a book that is the extra service they give. Still I would like it if with the coupon code thay also gave a free ISBN number but they don't. Maybe that is, besides their business model, also a way to prevent someone from uploading thousands of books at once, which could even be done automatically, but that is pure speculation on my side. But I would guess they prefer that people think first before they upload several books, especially since each one will be reviewed by a real person. I don't know how exactly it is in other countries, but in Switzerland where I bought a set of 100 ISBNs that includes the obligation to send a copy of each published book to the Swiss National Library and they are then by law obliged to keep and preserve that copy, so far indefinitely. I also provided them with PDFs for my books, which they also keep, and it is possible to indicate whether the PDF will be available publicly or only if you visit the library in person at a workstation there. Since what I publish may (in my view) be of some value for posteriority, that was appealing to me. But there are also other ways, for example, I provided some of my books (the ones which essentially collect the freely available content of one of my web sites as a book) also as PDFs to web.archive.org. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 8:18:05 GMT
Hmn, I just looked at the link to the blog by Paul from Lulu mentioned in another thread. blog.lulu.com/2020/04/26/lulu-site-update-big-changes-still-lulu/In that blog post there is also a link to "Sell Around the World" / "retail-distribution": www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionIt says "Sell your self-published book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Ingram Network, and more. Lulu's Global distribution service reaches over 40,000 retailers and schools around the world." Wouldn't that mean that I get the same effect as with IngramSpark? Or what would be the difference(s)?And, yes, the classic pocket book format 4.25" x 6.875" is listed there as "eligible book product"  Hey... By the time my book will be eventually written, I am sure Lulu.com will be usable again... (unless they would go bankrupt, which I hope will not happen in any case). By the way, does anybody know if the name "Lulu" was inspired by Wedekind's "monster tragedy" (Erdgeist / Die Büchse der Pandora / Lulu) that had caused quite a few scandals in the past? How much in book publishing is art/boheme, how much is industry/bourgeoisie? |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 12:42:32 GMT
Hmn, I just looked at the link to the blog by Paul from Lulu mentioned in another thread. blog.lulu.com/2020/04/26/lulu-site-update-big-changes-still-lulu/In that blog post there is also a link to "Sell Around the World" / "retail-distribution": www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionIt says "Sell your self-published book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Ingram Network, and more. Lulu's Global distribution service reaches over 40,000 retailers and schools around the world." Wouldn't that mean that I get the same effect as with IngramSpark? Or what would be the difference(s)?And, yes, the classic pocket book format 4.25" x 6.875" is listed there as "eligible book product" Hey... By the time my book will be eventually written, I am sure Lulu.com will be usable again... (unless they would go bankrupt, which I hope will not happen in any case). By the way, does anybody know if the name "Lulu" was inspired by Wedekind's "monster tragedy" (Erdgeist / Die Büchse der Pandora / Lulu) that had caused quite a few scandals in the past? How much in book publishing is art/boheme, how much is industry/bourgeoisie? You would get the same effect, with the exception of Espresso distribution, and libraries and bookstores, which expect 55% discount and return option. Has lulu added those since the update? |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 12:45:37 GMT
Yes, they definitely do not spoonfeed you. They are used to working with bigger publishers who have a team working with them. It will become second nature. And the wait for approval from their staff, annoying at first, but ultimately you'll be grateful. They catch things you might have missed. And if you take any cover shortcuts, they will block you. All for the best in the end. There is one thing I am aware of that does not fit specs 100% on the cover, see attached image of the cover tempate (I blurred author and ISBN and made safe/bleed areas shine through): That is the line of the "Hollywood hills" that runs outside the pink "safe area" into the blue "bleed area" (spots marked red by me). On the right I guess it is OK, except that one might possibly prefer the line to go out all the way. On the left it is potentially more problematic. I guess from the point of view of the printer, if the spine is slightly misaligned, a bit of the line will be visible on the spine and customers might complain about a badly printed book, but I will see... Would not be so easy to find a good solution on the left side, but still feasible if necessary, I guess. Inside the book, page 15 to 249 are all identical, I guess that will be noticed, but I presume no show-stopper for ordering a proof copy. Yes. Put a white background layer under cover, reduce size of front cover so lines do not do over the blues guidelines. Reduce size of title on spine. Too close. Logo also too close. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 13:16:31 GMT
You would get the same effect, with the exception of Espresso distribution, and libraries and bookstores, which expect 55% discount and return option. Has lulu added those since the update? Thanks for the info, and good question... Anybody knows? |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 22, 2020 13:25:24 GMT
Hmn, I just looked at the link to the blog by Paul from Lulu mentioned in another thread. blog.lulu.com/2020/04/26/lulu-site-update-big-changes-still-lulu/In that blog post there is also a link to "Sell Around the World" / "retail-distribution": www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionIt says "Sell your self-published book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Ingram Network, and more. Lulu's Global distribution service reaches over 40,000 retailers and schools around the world." Wouldn't that mean that I get the same effect as with IngramSpark? Or what would be the difference(s)?And, yes, the classic pocket book format 4.25" x 6.875" is listed there as "eligible book product" Hey... By the time my book will be eventually written, I am sure Lulu.com will be usable again... (unless they would go bankrupt, which I hope will not happen in any case). By the way, does anybody know if the name "Lulu" was inspired by Wedekind's "monster tragedy" (Erdgeist / Die Büchse der Pandora / Lulu) that had caused quite a few scandals in the past? How much in book publishing is art/boheme, how much is industry/bourgeoisie? Using Lulu Press to go through Ingram isn't quite the same as going through Ingramspark. As Miss Maggie pointed out the 55% discount and return policy retailers and institutions need as well as the Espresso thangs. If memory serves the retail discount Lulu Press did away with only applied to books purchased at its bookstore.
Another difference is that going through Lulu Press to distribute through Ingram only adds cost to the price of your book, because every set of hands your book passes through means someone extra wants to get paid. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 13:25:31 GMT
Yes. Put a white background layer under cover, reduce size of front cover so lines do not do over the blues guidelines. Reduce size of title on spine. Too close. Logo also too close. "Yes. Put a white background layer under cover" It was white as submitted, I was just showing the areas for the post here... "Reduce size of title on spine. Too close. Logo also too close." Any particular reason(s) why you would recommend to do that? They are both formally in the allowed regions. "reduce size of front cover so lines do not do over the blues guidelines" Well, nah... Sure, that would be easiest way to formally fulfill the requirements, but... All in all, the slightly different book size already messed up the balance already, too bad, getting a design right is also quite a bit of luck/fate, but will see... |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:12:01 GMT
Using Lulu Press to go through Ingram isn't quite the same as going through Ingramspark. As Miss Maggie pointed out the 55% discount and return policy retailers and institutions need as well as the Espresso thangs. If memory serves the retail discount Lulu Press did away with only applied to books purchased at its bookstore.
Another difference is that going through Lulu Press to distribute through Ingram only adds cost to the price of your book, because every set of hands your book passes through means someone extra wants to get paid. OK, I guess that's most likely how it still is; too bad Ingramspark is not offering more book sizes it is certainly able to print... For other book projects I guess I will simply use US Trade 6" x 9" so I can take it anywhere, when needed... But not this one. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 22, 2020 14:29:36 GMT
Using Lulu Press to go through Ingram isn't quite the same as going through Ingramspark. As Miss Maggie pointed out the 55% discount and return policy retailers and institutions need as well as the Espresso thangs. If memory serves the retail discount Lulu Press did away with only applied to books purchased at its bookstore.
Another difference is that going through Lulu Press to distribute through Ingram only adds cost to the price of your book, because every set of hands your book passes through means someone extra wants to get paid. OK, I guess that's most likely how it still is; too bad Ingramspark is not offering more book sizes it is certainly able to print... For other book projects I guess I will simply use US Trade 6" x 9" so I can take it anywhere, when needed... But not this one. The Pocketbook versus Trade size question depends on where you expect the book to be sold.
The Pocketbook size does well in supermarkets, truck stops, airports, and other venues where space is at a premium. It's also a crossover size in book stores that also do the Trade size, since you can cram a lot more titles in the same amount of space Trade size would occupy.
The Trade size is the cheaper alternative of a 6x9 hardback.
You can actually have one title in more than one size, using different ISBNs. I dropped the idea of a Pocketbook size for two of my books through Lulu Press since the print cost was almost the same as a 6x9, and while it was supposed to have "Global Reach" the only other place it would appear [apart from the Lulu Press book store] was Amazon.
I had to do my first Kindles [because Lulu Press wasn't "distributing" there back then] so I do believe I can do my own Amazon print versions now so the people who love to shop on Amazon get a good deal. I'll also do the Ingramspark thing so businesses and institutions can get the kind of deal that will make my titles more attractive to them.
Whatever business strategy you choose is up to you, but good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:53:49 GMT
The Pocketbook versus Trade size question depends on where you expect the book to be sold.
The Pocketbook size does well in supermarkets, truck stops, airports, and other venues where space is at a premium. It's also a crossover size in book stores that also do the Trade size, since you can cram a lot more titles in the same amount of space Trade size would occupy.
The Trade size is the cheaper alternative of a 6x9 hardback.
You can actually have one title in more than one size, using different ISBNs. I dropped the idea of a Pocketbook size for two of my books through Lulu Press since the print cost was almost the same as a 6x9, and while it was supposed to have "Global Reach" the only other place it would appear [apart from the Lulu Press book store] was Amazon.
I had to do my first Kindles [because Lulu Press wasn't "distributing" there back then] so I do believe I can do my own Amazon print versions now so the people who love to shop on Amazon get a good deal. I'll also do the Ingramspark thing so businesses and institutions can get the kind of deal that will make my titles more attractive to them.
Whatever business strategy you choose is up to you, but good luck with whatever you decide to do.
"I dropped the idea of a Pocketbook size for two of my books through Lulu Press since the print cost was almost the same as a 6x9, and while it was supposed to have "Global Reach" the only other place it would appear [apart from the Lulu Press book store] was Amazon." That is also how I remembered it. The new page www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionmakes it sound as if pocket books could be distributed more generally now, but maybe that is just marketing and you would be told of the limitations later on when already in the process... |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:55:06 GMT
Regarding retail discount on the Lulu bookstore I found this at whatsnew.lulu.com (no word about a wholesale discount for bookstores etc.): Retail Price Discounts RemovedPreviously, authors could set a percent-off discount for their books sold on the Lulu bookstore. With the updates to our bookstore and payment options, we've removed this feature. REQUIRED ACTIONS: We recommend reviewing the retail price for all projects on the Lulu Bookstore and making any adjustments to the list price as needed. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 22, 2020 15:14:38 GMT
"I dropped the idea of a Pocketbook size for two of my books through Lulu Press since the print cost was almost the same as a 6x9, and while it was supposed to have "Global Reach" the only other place it would appear [apart from the Lulu Press book store] was Amazon." That is also how I remembered it. The new page www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionmakes it sound as if pocket books could be distributed more generally now, but maybe that is just marketing and you would be told of the limitations later on when already in the process... Perhaps Lulu Press has lifted some restriction in that area, which still leaves the fact Lulu Press will add cost to your book without offering the Wholesale Discount and Return that businesses and institutions want. Meanwhile Ingram adds cost because Lulu Press goes through it for distribution to book stores and such.
I've already read the "What's New" page. For my purposes, adjusting my print retail pricse on Lulu, as buggy as their system currently is on top of the competitive marketplace disadvantage there, is it's easier for me to retire my prints, wait until I can buy a nice block of ISBNs, then take them elsewhere like Amazon and Ingramspark.
I can also pay for a review, possibly three which will add a bit more legitimacy to my work. Regarding the money I paid for "Global Reach" years ago it's simply the cost of learning about the publishing business, and I have been learning.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:19:34 GMT
That is also how I remembered it. The new page www.lulu.com/sell/retail-distributionmakes it sound as if pocket books could be distributed more generally now, but maybe that is just marketing and you would be told of the limitations later on when already in the process... Perhaps Lulu Press has lifted some restriction in that area, which still leaves the fact Lulu Press will add cost to your book without offering the Wholesale Discount and Return that businesses and institutions want. Meanwhile Ingram adds cost because Lulu Press goes through it for distribution to book stores and such.
I've already read the "What's New" page. For my purposes, adjusting my print retail pricse on Lulu, as buggy as their system currently is on top of the competitive marketplace disadvantage there, is it's easier for me to retire my prints, wait until I can buy a nice block of ISBNs, then take them elsewhere like Amazon and Ingramspark.
I can also pay for a review, possibly three which will add a bit more legitimacy to my work. Regarding the money I paid for "Global Reach" years ago it's simply the cost of learning about the publishing business, and I have been learning.
You lose nothing by keeping your books on Lulu. Just create another version elsewhere, and learn. So far, Ingram Spark is the jet the takes you everywhere., and doesn't price your book out of market. Gives you the same benefits as traditional publishers.
But they take about 7 days to answer your support tickets, charge when you do not have a coupon code. Still, if I had to do it over, I would not be so afraid and intimidated to use Ingram Spark. It's almost a fail wish self-publishers have. Why wouldn't one take the mass distribution at the very top?
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