Self Publishing In Print: Why I Have Returned To Printing My Books

Last year, I decided to give up on print publishing as an indie author, but I have just received a new copy of Pentecost (now STONE OF FIRE) in print and I wanted to share with you why I have returned to printing.

[2020 – Click here for an updated version of How to Self-Publish a Print Book]

Watch the short video below [~9 mins] or here on YouTube.

Here's my article on why print is vanity publishing and why I went ebook only. I still think authors should consider going ebook first.

Why I am returning to print again

• Book groups, fans, family and friends all want a print copy (plus my ego likes it!)

• Price comparison on Amazon means the ebook looks like a great deal

• I'm not pursuing traditional publication of the ARKANE series anymore (although I am pursuing a deal with another series through my literary agent), so I now want to exploit all rights. I will also be doing audio this year.

• The books are “stable” meaning the ebooks have been through a few iterations and rewrites, typo fixing etc. Plus my own fiction platform and brand is now established at JFPenn.com and I wasn't clear on that when I first published in Feb 2011.

• When I started with print, when I just had one book out, I ended up selling 95% ebooks and very few print anyway. I didn't have a big enough audience and it didn't justify the design costs back then. BUT/ now I have 3 ebooks and the print design is paid for by the ebook sales.

My recommendation

• Go ebook first and then do print once your book and brand have ‘settled down'. Give it at least 6 months so you can see whether you are making enough in sales.

• Use print-on-demand through Createspace.com or LightningSource.com. This is when books are printed and shipped to the customer when they are ordered, and you don't need to buy a huge batch upfront. Printing thousands of books upfront is one of the top mistakes of indie authors. Don't do it unless you are a speaker or have an existing distribution method.

• Use professionals for interior and cover design. I recommend Joel at TheBookDesigner.com, Derek Murphy of CreativeIndie and JDSmith Design.

Find out more about my fiction at JFPenn.com : Ancient Mystery, Modern Thrill.

You can now buy Pentecost in print at Amazon.com here, or at Amazon.co.uk here

What have you learned through doing print? What recommendations do you have?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.