Posts Tagged ‘Libraries’

by Bill Ruesch

In the details, that’s where.

We all have to start somewhere. All over the Internet, you can find advice for self-publishers. Why? Because self-publishing has become big business, really big business.

The problem is that they, the advisers that is, don’t want you to be too self-sufficient. Most of them have something to sell. The strategy is to give up a little bit of information, just enough to whet your appetite, but not enough to go it alone. You see, the big secret of self-publishing is that it is simultaneously much easier and more difficult than you can imagine.

“The devil is in the details,” is truer for self-publishers than for just about anybody.

Are you surprised? Did you think it would be easy? Maybe you believed that printing a book would be like going to the quick printer for lost dog fliers.

Actually it can be just about that simple if your audience is family and friends, but if you want to sell your book there are other considerations that go way beyond ink on paper. For example do you know about ISBN’s?

ISBN is like a social security number for books.

The ISBN

1. What is it? It stands for International Standard Book Number.
2. Why does my book need one? Over 750,000 books were published in the US last year alone. This numbering system provides a method to track, account, and organize them. Libraries, bookstores, and even the Library of Congress require the numbers.
3. What does an ISBN cost? It depends on how many you buy. A block of 10 from Bowker will run $275.00 plus $25.00 for each bar code you order. A single ISBN can  be purchased from other retailers for $125.00 each plus the $25.00 each for bar codes. Here’s a note of caution, if someone is attempting to sell you a number for more than $125.00, run the other way. There are sad stories out there of gullible people paying up to $1,000.00 for one.
4. Who is Bowker? Bowker has the exclusive US rights to assign ISBN’s.
   
5. Why would I need more than one ISBN? The code does more than identify the title of the book it also tells the library, bookstore, or others what the format is. For example, is the book hardcover? Is it a paperback, audio-book, eBook, or some other media? Can you imagine the returns coming back because they thought they were getting a hardcover book and received audio-books instead?
6. Can I publish my book without an ISBN? Of course you can. You probably won’t get any bookstore distribution, or be picked up by libraries, but it is your choice. Remember publishing is not just a synonym for printing. Publishing includes distribution and sales.
   

The Red Hen Association is just a hatchling at this point. Whether it becomes the voice for independent, alternative, or self-publishers will depend on how we grow.  I’ve stated the goals of the association in the manifesto, but I think they bear further examination.

1. The association is intended to create common ground for all self-publishing authors to mingle, share their experiences, and assist one another. This is a place where the successful can pay it forward and the novice is assured of safe, reliable guidance.
2. The association intends to provide educational opportunities to help writers achieve their goals more surely and quickly. These educational opportunities will include:
   1. White Papers, Books, and Free Blogs.
   2. Seminars, Trade Shows, and Conventions.
   3. Self-study audio and video tapes.
   4. Publishing news and opportunities.
3. The association hopes to support authors in developing credibility in the marketplace, by:
   1. Developing standards and helping self-publishers abide by the standards to create increased pride and professionalism.
   2. Establishing a Red Hen trademark and allow self-publishers whose products meet tough standards to use the mark on their books and other marketing materials.
   3. Work toward equal access to booksellers shelves.
   4. Carry on the cause of self-publishing through speeches, blogs, and seminars.
   5. Create public relations and marketing opportunities for member authors such as: Creating a book review section on both blog and newsletter.
   6. Publishing co-op catalogs to send to libraries and book stores.
   7. Sponsoring events such as book fairs, to highlight Red Hen authors.
   8. Explore and advise writers on opportunities that may be available elsewhere.
4. Protect authors from the Wolves and Knaves that prey on new writers by:
   1. Developing standards for would be services such as printing, editing, graphic design and allowing the approved to carry The Red Hen Association trademark.
   2. Surveying members who use unapproved vendors to gather information that could be valuable to ranking them for service, quality, and costs.
   3. Keeping an eye on lawsuits, and court cases involving shady services to advise members to steer clear of them.

   Whew, this is a long ambitious list and not complete. There is much to do before this hatchling can fly. I won’t be able to accomplish these tasks alone, so if there are writers out there in cyberspace who can see a way to assist these efforts please let me know who you are and how you can help. Thank you.

If you have a book ready to market, are just finishing writing a book, or have plans, it isn’t too early to learn how to implement the practices you’ll need to make your book sell. Social networks are big and getting bigger. You can use them as a beginning point to developing international credibility. I learned a great deal from The Author Platform, check into it and see if they can help you on your way. Just click here for more information.