I agree with Brenda in that this step does not need to be taken lightly. I am amazed at the number of authors who jump blindly into a contract and pay thousands of dollars thinking because they're paying out more money, they will be getting more from the publisher. Not necessarily true. In fact, most of the things the publisher tells them they are "getting" for the money is something the author could do on their own.

A simple "google" will give you more info than you could possibly want. Asking other authors what they did and their opinions holds a lot of weight as well; HOWEVER...let me say that you are going to hear pros and cons from both sides. I've done both and there's good and bad in each of them. Ultimately it is what works for you and your budget. Publishing is just the first of many steps. Marketing their book is someting most authors think they are getting with their publishing contract. NOTHING....NOTHING could be further from the truth. If your book sells, it will be because YOU did a good job marketing it. If you think the publisher is going to do this, then you better put on your reality cap NOW. It's up to YOU. Period. Yes, they do a little, like sending out press releases, but anybody can do that.

If you keep up with statistics and the news in the world of publishing, you'll read more and more about the big store chains, like Books-A-Million who are losing money because they only accept books done by royalty publishers. Well, it seems that so many authors are going the self-pub route that BAM is having to reassess their policy; and they should!

I don't want to influence you either way, but I feel I need to say that this is your dream come true...this is what you've been struggling to make happen, your baby. Do your homework and get the best advice you can. Research, research, research.

Above all, if a publishing house offers you way more than you expected, and if it seems to good to be true, it is! There are places all over the Internet that warn people about using certain publishing houses and give plenty of info on their scams. Google is our friend.

JJ

Thank you all for your input. I'm looking at POD because I live alone on the 2nd floor of an apt, can barely carry groceries and water upstairs let alone 500 books, and have no storage space for books, especially during hurricane season. I'm limited and it's hard to put out $4-6,000 at once time for books.

Saundra,
I am no expert on this, but a friend just published with LULU after publishing previously with another POD. He is singing the praises of LULU. He says he paid absolutely NOthing upfront.

With Lulu he receives a percent of each book sold, but he had to purchase no specific number of books up front and he doesn't have to store anyuthing either. He opted Not to take the marketing package which he pruchased with another POD and it was a waste which did absolutely nothing to sell his books.

He said he had to do all of the editing himself, but the previous POD promised editing and delivered nothing.

Best of luck with your project.

smile

JJ, you're the best...as always, thanks for your help S :