If you decide to produce a print edition of your book, you need to think about two issues: how to have them printed and how to get the print editions into the hands of readers (a process called distribution). If you want your book to be able to order from all good bookshops, you also need to see if the distribution system you choose is used by Gardners, the main UK book wholesaler.
Print on Demand with Createspace
Createspace offers many advantages. The system is user-friendly and, provided you create your own files, it’s completely free with no set-up charges or fees for making changes. This makes it the ideal place to get started with publishing print books as your mistakes won’t cost you anything other than wasted time. Another big plus with this system is that your books are automatically listed as in stock on all Amazon sites.
On the minus side for UK authors, Createspace is based in the US. Although books sold from amazon.co.uk are printed in the UK or Europe, any books you order for yourself come from the US which means they are subject to time delays and high delivery costs. In addition, Createspace’s Expanded Distribution system only works in the US. I’ve heard that it’s a good solution for US authors, but it’s not much use to UK authors trying to sell this side of the Atlantic.
Ingram Spark
Ingram Spark is the self-publishing arm of the major POD supplier, Lightning Source. Although it’s a US company, it has a UK branch so you can get pricing in pounds and phone a UK number when you have a problem. They offer global distribution, and any copies you order yourself are printed in the UK with discounts for larger numbers and reasonable delivery costs. You choose the discount you offer retailers, and you decide whether to accept returns or not.
In my experience, the service offered by Ingram Spark is steadily improving. Their staff are friendly and helpful, delivery is prompt and the quality of books is good. They handle the whole process from taking the order to delivering the books so you don’t have to do anything, and Gardners are willing to order through them.
The downside is that the price per copy is a little higher than with Createspace, although there are discounts for large orders. There are also set up fees and fees to make changes so mistakes can be costly. But Ingram Spark is a good way to get worldwide distribution at low cost, especially when paired with using Createspace to supply Amazon.
Other Printers
There are many other printers around the country who can produce a print run for you. Clays are the only one I have I have found so far who will handle distribution but there may be others. If you are in a good position to sell direct to readers and specialist outlets and you are happy to store and distribute the books yourself, this can work well. It all depends how much of a business person you are, how well placed you are to handle orders and how much time you can spare from your writing to deal with them.
There are also other companies that offer print-on-demand, including lulu.com. I haven’t used Lulu myself but, judging by the sample prices on their website, the price per book is higher than with Createspace and Ingram Spark. Also, like Createspace, they are a US company and don’t appear to provide distribution to UK bookshops.
Combining methods
It’s possible to combine using Createspace to supply Amazon with using Ingram Spark or Clays to supply bookshops and still have a supply of books at home that you can sell at events. It’s what I do, and I find it works well. However, if you want to use more than one printing method, you need to have your own ISBN. The free ISBN supplied by Createspace can only be used on their system.
Diana Kimpton