I plan to publish in the Summer. I'm not going through a publisher, I am self-publishing. I've looked into a few companies, talked to a few people and a few customers. I know one boy who went through Authorhouse. He likes them, but everyone else on the internet is complaining. I have looked into Pedernales as well. I just want to make sure my money isn't going toward a scam. =(

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Out of any and every self-publisher I've ever read or heard about, Lulu and Xilbris (uhh, spelling?) are the only two with any credibility. There may be others but ones you definitely want to stay away from are Author House and Publish America.

None of them will promote a book. Since the idea of writing is to have the money flow toward the writer, I stay away from all of them unless you are publishing a cookbook for your church or something.

You can self publish your book instantly! You will more than likely have to market your book in order to get buyers! Check out these self publishing websites: 1. Blurb 2. Lulu Enterprises 3. CreateSpace 4. XLibris 5. AsukaBook 6. iUniverse 7. Outskirts Press 8. Infinity Publishing 9. Llumina Press 10. Bookstand Publishing 11. Wheatmark Inc. 12. Fultus Corporation 13. Aventine Press To find more companies that specialize in this, just Google search the words "self publishing print on demand". Also, do your research and make sure the company is reputable before giving out your personal information! Go to the "Better Business Bureau" website to see if the company is an accredited business. Google search the company name and the following key words to find out what others are saying: Company Name Reviews Company Name Complaints Company Name Scam Company Name Fraud Company Name Rip Off Company Name Better Business Bureau HOW PRINT ON DEMAND WORKS: You upload your content to the company's website and format it. The company will create and ship the book to your customers. When someone buys your book, the company will pay you and of course the company gets some of the profit as well. There is no risk involved for these companies because they do not make numerous copies of your book and store it in a warehouse waiting for someone to buy it. They only store your book as a computer file and when someone wants to buy it, thats when they will print and make it, which is why it is called print on demand (POD). COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK: You should ALWAYS register your artwork and literary works with the copyright office BEFORE you give any publishing company copies of your book. Registered works provide substantial proof of ownership and more protection in the court of law, especially if someone steals or uses your work without permission. It is not required to register your work with the Copyright Office because the creator of the work is the official copyright owner, BUT if I'm not mistaken, if you want to sue for damages when someone violates the copyright laws, your work must be registered. Check out the "U.S. Copyright Office" website for more information! Also, if you have a word, phrase, symbol, or design that will be identifying you as the author or characters in your book, you may want to register it as a trademark. Registered trademarks provides more protection and benefits, such as allowing you to sue for damages in court if someone steals or uses your trademark without permission. Check out the "United States Patent And Trademark Office" website for more information!

I have personally used Createspace.com for self publishing my books. I also recommend LuLu.com but it tends to be more expensive. Basically I was able to publish without any upfront costs because I did most everything myself. But, I do recommend using book designers for the interior and book cover if you really want to be successful. I already have a platform through my speaking and my website and didn't have a big budget, so the DIY approach worked for me. The reasons I like Createspace.com? Here are just a few... # Publish your book with no upfront costs (if you do everything yourself, like I did). # Open an account for free - no hidden costs. # Add a new book title to your projects and fill in all the book information yourself, which gives you complete control. # Upload your PDF interior (book template) and exterior files (book cover) by the click of a button. # Get an ISBN number and barcode for free. However you can buy your own if you want, it's up to you. # Use their free cover creator software to create professionally looking covers (although I still recommend getting a professional book cover designed if your budget allows. # Quick turn around allows you to publish your books fast. I have published my books from start to finish in as little as one week! # No revision fees. # Set up your own personalized store front at Createspace for free to sell your books online. # Set the selling price of your book. # Sell your books 24/7 (literally, while you sleep) and Creatspace handles all the order processing and shipping for you! # Choose direct deposit or a mailed check of your monthly royalties from online sales. I like direct deposit because I get instant access to my earnings. # Get paid your royalties once your sales reach greater than $20 (direct deposit), $28 (check) and $45 (wire transfer). I end up getting paid just about every month! # Order books at your cost to sell in person. In fact, they'll let you order up to 100 copies at a time and ship them to your home, all at cost price! # Upgrade to the Pro plan for only $39 the first year and then $5 each year after that. This allows you to buy books at an even deeper discount! In fact, I haven't found a cheaper price anywhere. If you have, please let me know. If you order a lot of your books to sell at events like I do, upgrading to the Pro plan is definitely worth it. # Set up special discount codes for certain sales or groups. # Have your book listed on Amazon.com for free. # Sell your books on Amazon.com - these orders are eligible for super saver shipping (with $25 minimum purchase, restrictions apply), one-day shipping and 1-click ordering. The disadvantages? # To sell with Createspace, you need a US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Therefore, if you live overseas, this step may delay your publishing date. # If you're looking to print a hardcover book, you will need to look elsewhere (Lulu.com prints hardcover). Currently Createspace only prints softcover books. # If you want a very small booklet or a full color book, the cost might be better with other publishers. Shop around first. # And finally, keep in mind that Createspace is a Print on Demand publisher and may not be the right fit for you. You may want to start your own publishing company instead or take the time to apply to a traditional publishing company. I actually offer the templates I used (Word and Photoshop) as a free download at my website: http://www.Self-Publishing-Coach.com Good luck! I think either Createspace or Lulu would be a great fit for you! Shelley