Publishing for Small Press Runs—How to Print and Market from 20 to 200 Copies of Your Book. Second Edition, 2002, ISBN 0-9658380-8-0, 370 pages, 6" x 9", perfect bound soft cover $19.95

Gary Michael Smith

Reviews about this book as posted on Amazon.com

This pioneering book provides valuable and current information on printing books in short press runs using digital methods for both book covers (digital offset press) and text (digital photoreproduction), print on demand with point-of-purchase book manufacturing machines, and electronic or “virtual” publishing and distribution. Publishing for Small Press Runs teaches writers about the importance of appropriate cover design, as well as how to use publishing industry standards for registering and copyrighting their work. Authors learn how to promote books using creative and effective marketing methods to locate the appropriate markets to sell their books directly through bookstores or through online booksellers. With 23 figures and 8 tables, Publishing for Small Press Runs has sold internationally and currently is used as the course text/reference guide at four universities and for various seminars on writing and publishing.

1 The Popularity of Self-Publishing
2 Good Reasons to Self-Publish
3 Drawbacks

Part One addresses the growth of independent publishing as a cost-effective and efficient means for disseminating an author’s works. It also provides insight into the pitfalls and drawbacks of private publishing.

4 Imprints, Logos, and Business Entities
5 Exhibiting Professionalism
6 Developing a Unique Idea
7 Deciding What to Publish
8 Creating Your Writing Environment

Part Two gives advice on developing an imprint and maintaining a sense of professionalism. This section also provides guidance on generating ideas and deciding what to publish, and offers suggestions on building a work environment that offers the most productivity and least distraction for both writing and publishing.

9 Cataloging
10 Identifying Potential Markets
11 Finding Funding

Part Three provides valuable information on properly registering publications with agencies such as R.R. Bowker and the Library of Congress Copyright Office. This section also helps readers identify markets for their books while being aware of funding sources.

12 Writing Your Book
13 Developing Artwork
14 Producing Your Book
15 Printing On Demand

Part Four helps the author-publisher with issues such as writing and revising a book and deciding on the necessity of artwork. Technologies and a variety of processes and procedures are offered with regard to printing and binding production work.

16 Developing Marketing Materials
17 Developing Alternative Marketing Strategies
18 Selling via Mail Order
19 Filling Orders
20 Practicing Good Accounting
21 Distributing Your Book

22 Virtual Publishing

Part Five gives the author-publisher insight into the inner workings of marketing. Traditional as well as more creative marketing methods are covered as is an abundance of information on inexpensive methods for distributing books. Detailed procedures for efficiently filling orders and keeping track of financial accounts are provided, and information on how to get books into readers’ hands is included. In this second edition, more detailed information is included regarding virtual publishing and distribution of electronic books using online sources.

To purchase Publishing for Small Press Runs, use the order form (91KB) on this site. Need to think about it? Download the brochure (272KB).