![]() ![]() They might be able to demand a premium based on their software and other support services, but pricing in this field is well established.Īfter talking to Eileen, I think Blurb is on exactly the right track. Pricing–I haven’t seen the final pricing for print on demand production, but if Blurb really wants to become an option for lots of indie authors–particularly those used to publishing black and white, text-based books–they will need to be competitive with CreateSpace and Ingram Spark.And you can set your discount book by book, unlike some vendors, where you have to pick one discount and use it for all your books. But authors who know how to manage, promote, and sell their own books can make a lot more profit with a short discount (one below the usual lowest retail discount of 40%).īlurb will offer authors a choice of discounts: 25%, 36%, or 55% on these trade books for POD distribution. When Ingram launched Spark and closed Lightning Source to new self-publishers, they also pretty much killed “short-discount POD” publishing. ![]() Short discounts–Here’s one wrinkle that could be useful to some publishers. In addition to Bookwright, they have an excellent Adobe InDesign plugin that puts Blurb’s book templates right on your own PC, where you can lay your book out and experiment as much as you like. Software–One of the best reasons to use Blurb, in fact, is their software. Everything will be consolidated in your Blurb dashboard. Streamlining–You won’t need separate accounts at Blurb and Ingram to use the print on demand service, either. RTF import–Bookwright will now support direct RTF file import from your favorite word processor. Since this is a new service, it’s currently available at no charge. Trim sizes–These books (Blurb refers to them as “trade books”) will be offered in three trim sizes to start: 5″ x 8″, 6″ x 9″, and 8″ x 10″, all industry-standard sizes, in both hardcover and softcover.Įbook conversion–Right now, for authors using Blurb’s excellent Bookwright layout software, they will provide conversion to reflowable (Kindle) ebook format directly from the same file. Printing–Blurb’s new offerings use Ingram’s existing capabilities for book production, so we already know what these books will look like (see more on Ingram’s color capabilities below).Eileen emphasized that our culture is becoming increasingly visual, and publishers need to respond. I spoke yesterday with Eileen Gittins, founder and chief executive of Blurb, about this new initiative. “Authors can publish in print and ebook formats from a single file, output to Amazon Kindle, sell on, and via the new Ingram partnership, have a presence in over 39,000 locations worldwide at retail and online stores.”–from Blurb’s press release today Now, Blurb has entered into an agreement with Ingram to produce lower-cost color books that you can put directly into Ingram’s world-best book distribution system. Uploading your files to Blurb, you can create prototypes you can use for sales and marketing, and get them in a few days. When you send a book overseas for offset printing to take advantage of lower prices, you’re going to end up waiting 8 to 10 weeks before the finished books arrive back to go into distribution. I’ve often used these books as prototypes for client’s books. , Partnering with Ingram, Moves into Color PODįor years, has produced beautiful, high-quality color books in quantities as low as 1 copy, by using the best equipment and materials. But since these were printed on high-speed equipment and less than optimal paper, the color quality was really only suitable for the most basic instructional books or business books with color charts and graphs.īut recent–and brand new–developments look to finally change this situation. Although there were digital “presses” capable of turning out gorgeous color books, the prices were way too high to allow you to discount them for retail sales and still make a profit.Įventually Lightning Source, the Ingram print on demand vendor, introduced color books. That’s just something we can’t do you, unless you’re willing to either give up all your profit or, worse, subsidize every copy of your book that you sell.” ![]() Until quite recently, when authors would bring me these kinds of projects, I had to tell them, “Sorry. No, I’m talking about authors who want to publish books with lots of full color photos or illustrations, and who want to take advantage of the reduced risk and convenience of digital printing and print on demand distribution. ![]() I’m not talking about the usual ups and downs of indie publishing. For many years self-publishers have been frustrated. ![]()
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