Have some book publishing questions?
Here are the answers to the questions we hear most about how to get a book published. Don't see your book publishing question below? Send us an email, and we'll be happy to give you an answer!
General Information
Print-On-Demand publishing is a method of producing books in specific quantities needed to meet ongoing bookstore or book buyer orders. The customer ordering the book creates the demand for a single copy. A single copy of that book is then printed on demand, perfect bound with a full color laminated cover, and shipped to the customer or the bookstore ordering the POD book.
Typically, no. Our services are in place of any services offered by POD publishers, not in addition to. But most POD publishers no longer provide professional design support, only DIY templates. At Publish Pros, we'll work closely with you to design a cover and interior you love. Then, we'll provide your choice of distributor (Amazon, Barnes & Noble Press, IngramSpark, etc.) the files needed to print and distribute your book.
Print-On-Demand (POD) is one method of self-publishing a book. POD shares many similarities to traditional self-publishing like allowing authors to maintain control of the creative process and retain all rights to their work. But with POD, there is no need to stock up on inventory to distribute on your own. Instead, each copy of your book is printed as needed and shipped directly to the purchaser.
No. Publish Pros is a self-publishing “partner.” You are the publisher in this relationship. We are paid for our services, and then, once our work is done, you take 100% ownership of your book and pay us no royalties.
ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) are linked to essential information allowing book-sellers, and readers, to know what book they are buying, what the book is about, and who the author is. You should always buy your own ISBN in order to retain all rights to the distribution of your book. If you are assigned an ISBN, the issuer has legal rights to certain aspects of your distribution. You will need a new ISBN for each format (ie. hardcover, paperback, large print editions, etc.). Numbers can be purchased from Bowker, the official ISBN agency in the United States, by visiting www.myidentifiers.com/get-your-isbn-now.
Yes. You need a separate ISBN for each format (ie. hardback, paperback, large print editions, etc.) to identify them for everyone who might want to find them in directories, catalogs and databases.
Yes. Just as you need a separate ISBN for each printed format, you should acquire an additional ISBN for electronic versions.
No. We will generate a barcode using your ISBN at no additional cost to you.
Manuscript Preparation
No. You should reference images with an insert tag and the file name of the image. For example: Where you want the photo of you at the park to appear in the book, you would type ‹insert - MeAtPark.jpg›
It is preferred that images be provided in CMYK JPEG format at the dimension they should appear in the finished book with a resolution of 300dpi or higher.
Use one font, preferably Times New Roman 12pt. Italic and bold use are allowed, but do not add stylistic elements like boxes or lines. They will not carry over when the file is placed into Adobe InDesign.
Book Production
While there is no standard thickness, we aim to produce books with a spine width at least .5”. As a gauge, that is approximately 80,000 words at 6” x 9” or 65,000 words at 5.5” x 8.5”. At those sizes, a book feels substantial in a reader's hands.
5.5” x 8.5” or 6” x 9” with black and white interior on white paper.
Technically, yes, but it's not an out-of-pocket expense. The person purchasing your book pays the listing price, the portion for printing is then taken from that money, the book is printed and shipped to the purchaser, and you are paid 100% of the remaining profit.
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