Pricing paperbacks

[Bloom]

Hello people,

Sorry if this is an obvious question - I'm new to all of this.

I've just published my first novel (scifi, aimed at 11 years and over) as an ebook on KDP Select, but it's not selling to anyone other than family and friends as yet, despite advertising.

I have a second book (sequel) written which I aim to publish in September.

I was thinking about publishing paperbacks with Lulu (I need some anyway, for promotion purposes) but my problem is the pricing. It's coming in at just under 200 pages, but I believe this will make it quite expensive.

I don't think, as it's a debut book and the first in a series, people will pay much for it. On KDP it's currently $2.99.

Can you not set the price yourself on Lulu? Say if it's not selling?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

My advice would be to avoid Lulu - they have a bad rep for quality. Lightning Source and createspace are better. I'm on CS with Inish and chose the pricing myself. it's a short book, though, so I managed to get it down to 7.99

 

[Brian G Turner]

Createspace is part of Amazon, and allow for direct distribution with them: CreateSpace: Self Publishing and Free Distribution for Books, CD, DVD

It's Pring On Demand (POD) as well, which means you don't have to invest in printing a set number of books.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I'm thinking of using IngramSpark. The trouble is I can't remember why. I made the decision after a self publishing seminar in Thurso last September. Unfortunately, I came back with the worst dose of flu I'd ever had and I need to revisit the issue. I have a vague feeling it's to do with a mix of print on demand and they do small print runs.

How to Publish a Book | eBook Publishing | Print on Demand Book Printing | IngramSpark

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm thinking of using IngramSpark. The trouble is I can't remember why.

IIRC, Createspace is specifically for Amazon distribution, but IngramSpark may allow for a wider distribution reach - presuming you can persuade people to stock it.

I may have remembered that wrong, though.

Createspace does offer an extended distribution option, but you have to price really high to make that worthwhile.

IMO it may be worth better to worry about extended distribution and being stocked in shops only once the ebook has as a proven enough of an earner to get a paperback/hardback hybrid deal from an existing publisher.

 

[Bloom]

Thanks for the help. The thing I want to know most is, will anyone pay $8-10 for a debut book which is the first in the series, when I can't even sell it cheaply as an ebook? And looking at it more closely, royalties on CS are awful (just 99p per book).

 

[AnyaKimlin]

IIRC, Createspace is specifically for Amazon distribution, but IngramSpark may allow for a wider distribution reach - presuming you can persuade people to stock it.

IMO it may be worth better to worry about extended distribution and being stocked in shops only once the ebook has as a proven enough of an earner to get a paperback/hardback hybrid deal from an existing publisher.

That's the reason I want print copies for local presentations etc I vaguely remember, full of flu, talking to Ben Galley about whether or not it was possible to do both Createspace and IngramSpark. In theory it is possible. But for my business model IngramSpark is more suitable. I'll go and see if I can find his advice on pricing.

Living where we do there are a number of bookshops that may take Black's Nest. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. And Waterstones in Elgin has stocked a fair number of local authors - they're actually better for that than Yeadons who are a beast by all accounts.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

These were the bullet points on pricing from the workshop

• When it comes to print books, there are other factors to consider, such as wholesale discount
• Work backwards from the RRP to gauge how much is left after the unit cost Keep wholesale discounts short if you can.
• Just be aware that this affects the stocking decisions of retailers
• When it comes to different currencies, again do your research

 

[Brian G Turner]

And looking at it more closely, royalties on CS are awful (just 99p per book).

The rates are even worse if you are traditionally published. IIRC, you're looking at around 40p-50p max net, before discounting.

 

[Bloom]

you're looking at around 40p-50p max net

That is appalling.

 

[ratsy]

200 page book on Amazon UK 8.99 gets me 2.25GBP. and 13.99 on US nets over 5US. Or thereabouts.

You can type all the specs in and Create space will give you the royalty breakdowns.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

The rates are even worse if you are traditionally published. IIRC, you're looking at around 40p-50p max net, before discounting.

The traditionally published authors I know quote much less than 40-50p

 

[Jo Zebedee]

That is appalling.

In my experience you will sell relatively few pb but I get as much from a pb self published as I do from the kindle at 2.34. (I have retail distribution though - and get less for that.)

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

In my experience with Lulu the quality of the printing is decent, but between the cut that they take and the retail markup at other distributors the books are too expensive. By the time you have figured in a decent royalty for yourself, the cover price will be too high for readers to be interested. Any of the other companies mentioned will allow you to price your book more competitively. Although you will probably still sell many more ebooks, if you publish your paperbacks POD at least you won't be out any money if they don't sell, and you may pick up a few sales.

But don't expect large royalties on printed books. As others have said, that wouldn't happen with a traditional publisher either. And that's not as unfair as it sounds. The traditional publisher has to meet all the expenses of printing the books (plus the upfront expenses for cover art, editing, etc.). With POD the customer is the one who pays the printing costs, which are high because the books aren't being printed in bulk. The advantage with Create Space is that the retail markup isn't so high at Amazon because CS is their company and they are already taking a cut for printing up the books. So as I understand it, they make more money selling CS books than they do books published through Lulu, LS, or the others, and that means they can still make the same, or better, profit with a lower markup. Which in turn means you can set a lower cover price, make a decent royalty, and maybe even sell a few more books. Maybe. For most self-published writers the real money is in ebooks.

 

[Cathbad]

I price my paperback books as low as possible, and still make about $2 each on Amazon. I'd make $5 from Createspace.com, but have never sold a book from that bookstore.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Hmm. Maybe I am wrong then. Doesn't Amazon also sell CS books through their Amazon bookstores?

 

[Cathbad]

Yes, they sell the Createspace books. Those are what I make $2 on.

Well, from $1.44 to $2.96 each. (my bestseller is the high end.)

 

[Cathbad]

I'm not talking about books I've authored, btw... have barelysold any of those in paperback.

My Classics books sell the most. In total, I have sold an average of about 38 books a month this year. 2/3 of those are paperback, 1/3 Kindle. (Conversely, the books I write sell 2/3 Kindle - what few I sell.)

 

[Keith Taylor]

As others have said, Createspace is an excellent service. It would take a lot to drive me elsewhere.

 

[Bloom]

Thanks for the help, people. Since I posted last I've published paperbacks via Lulu and and am very pleased with how they have come out. They look excellent. I priced them at £6.99 ($8.45 I think), and from that I get around £1. But for me it's not really about making money - I've spent far more on getting the book out (professional cover, website, advertising) than I have got back so far. I just wanted to have a physical copy, and also have some to give to friends/sell at events. I'd certainly recommend Lulu.