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This is a free e-mail bulletin for subscribers only, sent from
"U-Publish.com," the web site named for the revolutionary guide
to new methods for publishing and promoting books by Dan Poynter
and Danny O. Snow. Get the new 2002-2003 edition, now available
to order from major bookstores, leading online booksellers, or
at http://www.u-publish.com in paperback.
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*** Great News for Indie Publishers!
On July 23, Wired Magazine reported:
"Before 1998, it was rare for established publishing companies
to bid on self-published fiction. But in the last 18 months,
thanks in great part to authors' ability to use the Internet to
market themselves, more than three dozen self-published novels
have been picked up by major houses."
Full story: http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,53996,00.html
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*** FREE Offer for U-PubDATE Subscribers
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (UPI Senior Business Correspondent) offers
U-Publish.com subscribers a special freebie this month:
"TrendSiters - Trends in e-Publishing and e-Books" - An anthology
of dozens of essays about digital content, e-publishing, and
e-books, is available for free. To request your copy, send an
e-mail to palma@unet.com.mk with "U-Publish Freebie" in the
subject line.
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*** Reminders: Other FREE e-Books
Download "Steal this e-Book!" by Danny O. Snow, with additional
commentary by Richard Eoin Nash, Dan Poynter, Glenn Sanders and
Wade Roush. Read why we think that early e-Book efforts were
disappointing, and why we still believe that e-publishing will
play a big role in the future. Still free:
http://www.u-publish.com/stealme
Dehanna Bailee is pleased to announce the release of her newest
independent work, "A Basic Guide to Fee-Based Print on Demand
Publishing Services." A one-stop compilation of facts and
figures, this 25 page e-Book presents a basic breakdown of more
than 40 web-based "for a fee" print on demand services. Free:
http://www.geocities.com/dehannabailee/a/ebook.htm
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Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a free service that is
available to all publishing professionals on request.
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*** New Site for Indie Publishers
BooksXYZ is a service designed to help self-published authors
and small publishers promote their books, as it simultaneously
encourages our society -- particularly children -- to read,
to learn, and to write. Sponsored by the The Acadiana
Educational Endowment and the American Public School Endowments
who feel that "self-publishing, like the Internet, is an
excellent platform for the dissemination of information; and
that both of them offer a more egalitarian landscape for the
exchange of ideas." Visit:
http://www.booksxyz.com
Announcement courtesy of Jim Barnes at BookPublishing.com
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*** Retraction!
Earlier this year we discussed a way to "save" by mailing books
directly to readers in a cheap envelope. To date, five books
have been lost in the mails as a result. The cost of replacing
the lost books has been much more than the "savings," and we
are now using more costly padded envelopes instead.
The lesson: if you ship books directly to readers, DON'T scrimp
on the packaging! For a book that weighs less than one pound,
the cost of Media Mail postage and a padded envelope is about $2,
plus your time and effort. Priority Mail is about $4.
These facts shed some light on the reasons why many publishers
are happy to pay wholesaler distributors 50% or more of cover price,
or use third-party fulfullment services. For examples of companies
that will process orders and ship books to readers for you, see:
http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/options.htm
We hope that the lesson we learned will save you from making the
same mistake. If you have lessons to share with fellow authors
and publishers, please feel free to notify us. Our readers are
a valued resource, and we appreciate your participation!
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*** Reminder: New Book Review Outlet
Heartland Reviews is a new venture by book veteran Bob Spear.
See http://www.heartlandreviews.com and query by e-mail before
submitting books for possible review: bobspear@lvnworth.com
Poynter & Snow remind readers that book reviews are better than
paid advertising. Advertising is expensive; editorial coverage
is free. Furthermore, book reviews have credibility in the eyes
of the public; advertising does not.
See the new 2002 edition of "U-Publish.com" for an extensive
list of potential book review outlets.
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The fine print:
This is a free e-mail bulletin from U-Publish.com, the web site
named for the book by Dan Poynter and Danny O. Snow.
We do not endorse specific products or services, and we do not
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Please visit http://www.u-publish.com at least once each month,
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Please feel free to forward copies of this message to fellow
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