HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

April……..1999.

I made my morning sojourn to the mailbox. As always, I prayed it wouldn't be there. But it was! The pink slip. More mail to collect.
How many was that? Twenty eight? Twenty nine? I'd lost track. This time I had really held out hope. At a publisher's suggestion I had sent my manuscript to their recommended appraisal agent. Their evaluation stated my work was publishable.

'Adventure and mystery. Good descriptive writing. Keeps the reader turning the pages.'

I felt my $420 had been well spent. The reader had also pointed out my grammar and punctuation was a bit rough. I thought publishers had their own editors who took care of those minor details. That was all rectified with the help of a good friend before I sent it back.

Without a favourable appraisal the publisher had made it clear that my work wouldn't be considered. My board of control discreetly busied herself as I entered the house. This latest, and now familiar outcome, was plain for all to see in my countenance. The cats gave me a wide birth as I thumped down into my office chair loudly, and slammed the all to familiar package on my desk. I ripped it open savagely, disgusted by the great unfairness of it all.

They hadn't read it.

Not all of it anyway. I knew, because I had discreetly spot glued selected pages together throughout the manuscript. Just tiny spots that wouldn't interfere with reading or turning of the pages. The glue, like the appraisal, had been a waste of money. The publisher informed me they had two to three years work scheduled.

My work didn't fit in their program.

I considered changing my name by deed poll to someone famous. A mass murderer or serial killer maybe? A great sporting icon? Perhaps jump from a plane and parachute into a palace? That was old hat. I'd probably have to do it without a parachute to make an impression. That didn't appeal.

I knew I had a worthwhile story that people would buy and enjoy reading.
I came to the inescapable conclusion that, as an unknown and previously unpublished author, I was never going to get my book published. I began looking at other options. All the quotes I obtained indicated that few printers were interested in short runs or costs that didn't run into five figures. So I did it myself. I had some problems that I won't bore you with, but by the completion of my third book, I knew I had it right.

Library suppliers brought them, friends and acquaintances brought them, and I'm selling them on the Internet. I have sent them out for reviews and entered competitions. It's not the grand beginning I envisaged but it's the first step along the way. The books on this site have been done the same way. Up loading is free, there is no commission on sales, and customers use the individual order form, mailed direct to the author's address. If you are stuck in the same frustrating situation that I was, I would like to help. Check the prices below and compare them with any others you have obtained.

Be sure to take into consideration all the costs involved. I found some offers that initially looked good, resulted in a very expensive end product when all separately listed costs, e.g. layout, cover design and printing were tallied up.

Finished book size is 200mm x 140mm (approximately A5). Black text on white bond. Full digital colour cover. Prices are for 100 books. 50 pages will equal about 13 -15,000 words.

Up to 100 pages $10.95 each

101 to 150 pages $11.95 each

151 to 200 pages $12.95 each

201 to 250 pages $13.95 each

251 to 300 pages $14.95 each

Cover design and layout $125.00

These prices include typesetting and layout. Books are perfect bound. These costs represent the final finished cost of your book and, as such, should allow you to sell your books at a profit. It also provides you with a finished product to obtain reviews, conduct a launch, lodge with the national and state library as required, lodge with D W Thorpes for listing, enter literary competitions and become a published author.

Please note - they don't include editing or proof reading.

Find a clever friend like I did. Your manuscript needs to be on a disk. Please contact me for other details. You could have your book sooner than you thought possible. It doesn't need to as complicated as some would have you believe.