PUBLISH YOUR SPIRITUAL BOOK HERE
Sunday 14 December 2008

    Have you written a spiritual book?
    The major publishers are not interested in publishing your book because you are NOT a well known author. They can not risk the potential loss as only one out of ten books become best sellers and and profitable.
    From time to time I have printed and published books for myself. And also for other authors.
    Some of my books have been financial winners, Some have not. However I did put them into print because I knew they had value.
    Other authors have approached me to print and/or publish their books.
    From time to time I have invested my money to publish books by another author. And my experience with a few that did not keep their contract with me did cost me financial loss.
    So now I shy away from printing and publishing for other authors.
    Instead if they have a manuscript that I believe should be in print, I ask them how much they can afford to lose to put their book into print?
    I can work out a quote for them. And if they will agree to do their part, I will do my part and put their book into print for a given price.
    At times those books and/or publications have proven to be real financial winners for those authors. Sometimes not.
    Once the contract is made, I tell the author how we can move ahead to win financially for their book. I can suggest what has worked successfully for other authors from my direct experience.
    I point out that some unpleasant surprises can take place that are called author's alterations. After the manuscript to given to me and the type is set... the author can make revision after revision that can increase the cost of typesetting as much as five times the original estimate!
    Therefore I insist that the author is responsible for submitting to me their manuscript on a 3.5" disk that I can read on my typesetting software. And they supply me a hard copy on 8-1/2" x 11" paper from that disk. And they check for spelling errors, and all other errors before they submit their manuscript for typesetting and publication.
    I convert their 3.5" disk copy with my software to typesetting for printing on 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" less trim with black ink on white 20 lb. bond. And the cover will be on 12 point coated stock, full colour, one side. The author is responsible for the art for the cover. And I can supply the typesetting for the front and back cover, and the spine.
    As soon as I have the manuscript in typeset form, I supply the copy to the author for author's alterations. If the alterations are few, no charge. If there are many alterations, there can be additional time charges. The point here is for the author to avoid such charges by doing their author's alterations on their original manuscript, and before their 3.5" disk and hard copy is submitted to me.
    The cash flow from the author to me can take place in several steps as work is completed. First a deposit is to cover the typesetting. When that is done, deposit #2 before printing. Then deposit #3 before finishing (binding).  Deposit #4 has to do with the shipping of the books to the author.
    I strongly suggest that the author invite positive comments from me as regards copyright, title, sub-title, back cover, and front cover, etc. However, the final decision belongs to the author.
    And the right to sell and distribute belongs to the copyright owner, the author.
    And two copies of the book I will mail to the Copyright Registration Office in Ottawa, Ontario, as required by law within two weeks of publication.
    And the author is responsible for filling out the copyright registration form and paying the fee to the proper Canadian government office.
    Also I can advise on how you can get your own ISBN. That is International Standard Book Number. It is a unique number that identifies the author and specific book for libraries around the world.
    At times in the past I have printed and or published one new book a month!
    And I have the know-how and equipment to print and publish books now.
    Having your own book in print can be very satisfying. And it can also be profitable. Or not.
    I can produce as little as 50 copies of your perfect bound book! This order costs more because the typesetting must be figured as part of the cost.
    However, the running charge for the next 50 copies is usually the same as the running charge for the first 50 copies. And the same for the next 50 copies.
    If you sell all of those, you very likely have a winner, and can project just how many copies you might sell within a reasonable period of time. When you do that, I likely can give you a better price.
    And if you need huge quantities, and you have the cash up front, I can do that too at reasonable prices.
    For myself, for my own books, I prefer to market the books by mail. And of course I know how to select the mailing lists and test them. Out of ten different mailing lists, one can be a real winner. I found that to be true with one of my series of books in that I could mail out the same advertisement month after month to the same list and get the same profitable percent of returns each month!
    You can waste a lot of money in advertising that does not work. So be wise.
    If you book is listed to sell for $24.95 you need to understand the resell discounts that can apply.
    For example, about 20% to 40% for the printer/publisher. About 10% for the author. About 10% for advertising. About 20% or more for a book distributor. And about 20% to 40% for the retail book store. These percentages can add up to more than 100%, so they need to be adjusted. So if you market your own book, you can acquire the percentages of the book distributor and the books stores. Also the cash flow from the books stores can be slow.
    It has been my experience that the cover sells the book. And the content is essential in getting referrals and repeat sales.
    And if you have a winner, then very large publishers can express interest and arrange with you to pay your advance royality against sales. This has happened a number of times with books and publications I did for authors.
    I use a combination of production methods depending upon quantity. You might say that I am creative that way.
    The bottom line is if you are interested, please advise me the proposed title of your book, sub-title, subject of book, estimated number of words, your budget, your name and address, phone number, email address, etc.
    I use magicJack.com so I can phone you free of charge anywhere in Canada and/or the U.S.A.
    I deal directly with authors that are the copyright owners, and no other, and no agents.
    The mailing address for your 3.5" disk and manuscript when ready for me is:
Pastor William T. Metzger
P. O. Box 193
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 6Y8
CANADA

Email: wtm@adacan.com