Let’s face it: Big publishing houses are difficult to crack. Your odds of acceptance/success are only 1-2%. That’s pitiful. They require long wait times, long production times, low advances, if any, and no guarantee of success than your efforts to publish and market.
Indie publishing or self-publishing is also difficult. But you have choices.
TWO CHOICES FOR SELF-PUBLISHING:
- Publish yourself using services provided by a company like us. Costs vary based on your needs.
- Have a company like us publish you at no cost to you and royalty share (we share 50/50).
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE – BEWARE!
You CAN do it all yourself. I have. But why would you? I am proficient in Photoshop/Illustrator, design layout programs like InDesign, as well as editing and proofing. I also buy ISBNs in groups of 10, which lowers my cost dramatically. I’ve done this for over ten years and have helped a variety of authors either get published or self-publish. See TESTIMONIALS.
Without having these skills yourself, an indie publishing company might work for you. They do the work and share the royalties with you, often in their favor. But is it that simple? Do they market beyond Facebook? Are you required to buy copies? Do they have you locked in a contract for three years, auto-renewing, unless you cancel 90 days in advance in writing? They promise the world but rarely deliver. And your book gets lost in their stable of authors, none of whom have garnered any recognition or decent sales.
It is difficult enough for a well-represented author to make sales. I will be honest with you and say that if you believe you will make a living from your writing, you are likely wrong. Very few authors find that kind of success, and those that do have written twenty or thirty books, receiving small amounts from each book that combined might bring in enough.
“The average author is lucky to sell a few hundred copies a year.”
Why? Because there are a million books out there, and yours gets lost, even with an indie publisher. Everybody and their grandmother have a book out there. AI has books out there. It is an endless field, not unlike cutting up an old phone book, name by name and tossing them in the air and expecting to find YOUR NAME. There is so much more to success than that.
About B&P Books and William Gensburger
I am a bestselling author. I also publish Books & Pieces Magazine and B&P Books, LLC, and own the B&P Books Shop. I also know how to market books. I can help you either with selected services or by having my company, B&P Books, LLC, act as your publisher, at no upfront cost to you (we will share royalties 50/50).
I want to help you get your book publishable and tell you what to do to achieve this goal. This means read, consult, edit, and proof, cover design, ISBN, blurbs, and ready-to-upload formats in print, epub, and PDF formats that YOU can upload to your accounts on Amazon’s Kindle and other outlets, or that we handle for you.
Or you might need me for just A FEW SERVICES. That’s also good. Ask about my LOW PER ITEM RATES! I customize pricing to meet your needs. I know that most authors do not have large budgets.
You do not have to buy copies of your book from me. Once the job is done, it is all yours. You own it all. It will be hosted on your account if you self-publish (on B&P Books if I publish you), with YOU in full control. I’m also available as an advisor if you need it.
I will even share the best ways to market your book, and trust me, you have to be creative in order to stand out. Forget about small store book signings—great for ego but a lot of work for a little payoff, although it feels good. However, sometimes you need that feel-good feeling to motivate you.
I’ve worked with many authors and have many TESTIMONIALS. They are ALL POSITIVE. Why? Because I tell it like it is. NO LIES, no pussyfooting around. If your book is not ready, I will tell you. NO CHARGE! If things need to change, I will tell you. I will work with you and be your sounding board. No gimmicks. No false flattery. I do not want to waste your time. Or mine.
You can see the kinds of work I have done in the past, and still do, HERE. This will help you to understand that I do know what I’m talking about and I’m not trying to make a quick buck. In fact, I’m often told that I don’t charge enough.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
CHOICE 1: If you want services but also want to publish yourself on your account, I charge a flat-rate fee for the whole package listed above. You can pay as you go (ie: Cover design/Editing & Proofing/ Layouts and files) because the process will take a month or two—rushing means mistakes.
Or you can order à la carte. Only pick the services YOU NEED (isn’t there an insurance company that uses that slogan?) That way you can control the costs directly and still get professional service.
CHOICE 2: B&P Books can handle it all from consulting, edits/proofing to formatting layout, cover design, ISBN, uploading to Amazon, Ingram and other print/distributors, as well as your EBook needs. And more. We can market your book, including on our website, magazine, bookshop, as well as in our advertising and promotions. Since we have a vested interest in your success, we will do everything we can to help you succeed. Check our testimonials to see the experience of other authors.
For this option, there is no charge, as we will share royalties 50/50 with monthly reports. But be warned, we are very picky about whom we publish and expect your work to be of a high standard and your efforts to complete any revisions we may suggest. This includes being certain you submit a properly formatted manuscript. (Google it if you are unsure.) Don’t be scared by this. If you consider yourself a good writer, always take a chance on your work.
But that is all. No gimmicks, no hidden fees. You will have everything you need.
Compare this to hiring out for services individually:
Cover $300+
Editing $0.02 per word (so an 80,000 word novel would cost $1600)
Proofing $4 per page (a 350 page novel would cost $1400)
ISBN $250 (if you buy one yourself)
Layout $3.50 pg (a 350 page novel $1225)
TOTAL: $4475 or more you would expect from an outside vendor. Or worse, an indie publisher/vanity press that will do it all but lock you into a three-year contract, offer you a 20% royalty, and not really perform well! Ask yourself why you’d want to limit yourself. Take a moment and calculate how many sales you would need to break even. When we talk we will explain our contract, what happens if and after you cancel. No secrets. No surprises.
I will QUOTE you a price depending on the work involved. But as an example: Cover design (front and back) should run you around $150. Editing and proofing, I would quote you a FLAT RATE regardless of the time it might take. YOU CAN AFFORD THIS!
So how can I afford to do this at my prices? Easy. B&P Books is a small company, and I enjoy working with and helping authors (I know that money is tight because I have experienced the same issues.) But I know you can afford $600 or less. And if you pick only the services you need it costs you even less. And you can pay it over time—I will work with you. Zero interest. That’s it. You get QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL WORK, and you learn how to market yourself. NO PRESSURE.
If you are interested in taking me on, then email me at B&P Books and tell me about your book and what you hope to achieve. We will probably have a chat (text, video, or phone) so I can answer any immediate questions. Then you decide. There is NO COST for this. If you wish to proceed, everything will be spelled out in my contract. My contract is straightforward. It lists my work, what I charge, and that YOU RETAIN ALL RIGHTS. Says it in bold type. Your work. Your choices.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with many authors over the years. I enjoy seeing their successes. But let’s be realistic; this isn’t a get-rich industry and you need to pace your costs because recouping your investment and making a profit is not easy. But it can be done. I know many authors who have managed to do that and there is no magic involved. Do it right. Look professional. Have a great story to tell and learn to promote yourself.
You could be the next Daniel Silva or Michael Crichton. It happens.
Contact me HERE when you are ready to discuss the options above.
My best,
William Gensburger
