An Incomplete Guide to POD Publishers

An Incomplete Guide to Print On Demand Publishers

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AuthorHouse
Manuscript screening:	No
Kind of contract:	Non-Exclusive
2+2=5	There is a problem with their royalty payment system which is based on a "Book Pricing Agreement" that is not part of the service agreement. As far as loopholes go this is a huge one, especially considering that the contract states that it represents the whole of the contract includes the following: "This agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supercedes all prior agreements or communications between the parties concerning the subjects contained herein". The contract should represent the whole agreement between the parts and one that leaves out such critical element can easily turn out to be a recipe for disaster.
Distribution:	Through their site and online retailers mostly
Basic fees:	Paperback publishing	Basic paperback fee is $698.00 plus a ton of extras.
	Hardcover publishing	Not available
	Combo publishing	Basic combo fee is $1,048.00 plus a ton of extras.
	Color publishing	Basic color publishing fee is $999.00 plus a ton of extras.
Royalties:	Royalties range between 5-15% on external sales and between 10-50% on direct sales (see 2+2=5).
Author's discount:	Discount equals royalties on direct sales.
Break-even point:	Fairly expensive. Between 400 and 500 copies (approximation based on external sales of an average length book using a 10% royalty).
Basic retail price:	Depends on royalties. Price for a 250-page book ranges from $13.50 to $17.50 through external chanels depending on your choice of royalty (10% royalty would result in a $14.95 retail price).
Layout:	They will format your book for you. The retain final discretion as to the layout of your book.
Graphics:	Available as an extra only.
Cover options:	They will design one for you, using one of their templates. They retain final discretion on the style and format of the cover and the rights over such cover should the author terminate the agreement in order to publish elsewhere.
Trim size:	You have a number of trim sizes to choose from.
Additional options:	There are a lot of extras available. In fact you should probably expect to pay considerably more than the basic setup fee.
Pros*:	Good distribution. They offer a wide range of formats (for an additional fee).
Cons*:	Fairly expensive to expensive setup fee (depending on what you choose as your royalties). You have virtually no control over your book's layout and design. There is a serious problem with their contract. Their contract is one of the most convoluted to be found within the context of POD. *There are tons of extras that are likely to drive your publishing costs up significantly.
Comments*:	This publisher used to be known as '1st Books Library', as a rule a publisher reanming itself can be a sign of trouble. Also there is a massive loophole in their contract.
Visit the publisher's site		Visit the publisher's forum
Last updated: 2006-05-13

* These represent my personal opinion based on what I've seen in the publisher's site.

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