I am working on a huge book launch (I’m also a launch coach) and am making another Camp NaNoWriMo attempt, but I’m in 🙂

I entered the publishing business with a pretty similar mentality. From experience, it isn’t sustainable.

When publishing even an eBook, there are still many costs involved.

You still have to pay for your editor. I also use a proofreader on my books. There is a cover that must be created, plus the cost of any materials and software to create it. Someone has to typeset / format the book to be published. Then there is the time to get it up on all of the distributor websites and your own (which also must be maintained).

Beyond that is the actual launch of the book, promotion costs, and administrative fees of just being in business. On top of that, I end up with authors who believe that their book should sell itself, don’t lift a finger to promote it, and then wonder why they don’t make any money.

Even though I do most of the work, I honestly don’t get paid the effort that I put in and hardly ever recoup my investment.

This is why I am a HUGE proponent of self-publishing. Instead of me being the person assuming all of the risk, the authors are the ones who must make the decision on whether or not to help themselves.

And since I love working with people who are motivated and want to be successful, it is a huge WIN for me 🙂

So if you are looking to help other authors get their work out there into the world and have them help you at the same time, I would recommend some sort of Indie co-op or a cartel.

Good luck today!

Cool! I answered the question 🙂

I don’t need any help, but wanted to say thanks! You rock 🙂

“Vanity” publishing does have a negative connotation, but from the description of what you’d like to offer (packages for people to publish their book through your publishing house) it is exactly what you are offering.

Self-publishers differ in that they contract the services from various places or buy packages from service providers, but then they publish either under their own name or their own publishing house.

If you just want to provide services to people who want to publish their books, you aren’t a publisher — you are a publishing specialist 🙂

If the author pays the costs to publish the book, they are considered a “vanity” publisher.

Most of the houses that I have experience with assume these costs to produce the book, which is why they are selective. A book not making money means they have made a bad investment.

By Indie Co-op, I mean a group of independent authors that work together and pool resources to help each other be successful. They may buy into this group or swap services, using any residual income to promote the works of the group.

After reading your response to Joe, you are essentially setting yourself up as a vanity publisher. If that is what you want to do, groovy. It isn’t something that I would do, personally, but then again with my current setup, I’m not exactly rolling in the dough here either.

I love how the generosity is flowing in this group!

James, I have some questions with regard to platform and launch that I’ll send you directly via email 🙂

I also vote for #1!