February 17, 2009 4:05 PM PST
The Real Deal 149: Self-publishing
We welcome self-published author David Carnoy to talk about publishing a book yourself using print on demand as well as e-publishing.
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BookSurge? - http://www.booksurge.com/ CreateSpace? - https://www.createspace.com/ Lulu.com - http://www.lulu.com/ Blurb - http://www.blurb.com/ PodioBooks? - http://www.podiobooks.com/ Knife Music by David Carnoy http://www.amazon.com/Knife-Music-David-Carnoy/dp/0615243258/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234915241&sr=8-1 Boiling Point by Tom Merritt http://www.amazon.com/Boiling-Point-Tom-Merritt/dp/0615157904/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234915262&sr=1-2 Rafe's Pro PR Tips (coming soon as a book?) http://proprtips.com/ Comment on shortcuts show Rafe: There is an Alt/Tab alternative on a Mac (sort of). I switched from a PC to a Mac about a year ago and (like yourself) had a lot of trouble with the keyboard shortcuts, especially Alt/Tab. But I discovered that Apple/Tab does almost the same thing. The problem is it allows you to toggle through the programs that are running but not all the open windows. So you can switch from Firefox to Word but you can't switch between multiple documents within Word or multiple windows within Firefox. This is an error I make to this day (in fact, I made it two minutes ago flipping among spreadsheets in Excel). Patrick (The Unknown Penguin) in Hollywood Comments on Mac/PC Hey Guys- I heard Rafe on Buzz the other day, wishing for an automatic updater. I thought I'd let you know that VersionTracker Pro (uh, owned by CNet) is that. It is a paid service, that is supposed to update your software for you. I heard that recently the service has been sketchy (since CNet), but I don't have it so that's unconfirmed. I thought this might be an interesting topic, i.e, 'Helpful programs that run in the background and make computing easier but aren't flashy'. I recently discovered Growl, which adds services to lots of other little Mac programs- adding notes and notifications. Sheala, GA ** Aloha, I heard that you guys were having problems remembering keyboard shortcuts for the Mac. I use KeyCue? 4.3. All you do is hold the control key and it'll tell you all the shortcuts you can perform depending on the current program you are in. Hawaiian Insomniac Next Episode: Road Test realdeal@cnet.com forums.cnet.com 877-600-CNET
Tom Merritt appears on CNET TV and loves to dive into technology and help consumers fight fear, uncertainty, and doubt with technology.
Rafe Needleman is editor of Webware.com, CNET's blog about Web applications. He lives to discover great new online apps – and to rip apart bad ones.
(1) Amazon does NOT alway keep a high percentage of the selling price. One of my books has a $19.95 list price. Amazon sells it for $17.95, and gets to keep about two bucks -- 10%. After I pay for printing and shipping, I keep over 50% of the cover price. That's much better than a royalty from any traditional publisher, and the money comes in much faster.
(2) Using Lulu or other "author service companies" is NOT self-publishing. Lulu, not the author, is the publisher. After being unhappy with the results of my books being published by several traditional publishers, I formed my own publishing company last year. When necessary I hire editors and artists, and I pick the (POD) printer. That's real self-publishing. When done this way, books can be published faster, look better, and make more money for the writer.
BTW, one of the worst-looking, most-poorly-edited, overpriced, inflated books I've ever seen was "self-published" through Lulu. Ironically it's a book that purports to advise self-publishers.
More about writing, editing, publishing at http://bookmakingblog.blogspot.com/