Bete: Why did you decide to use Xlibris
versus a more traditional publisher?
Rearick: Although I had been writing columns for years and had other publication credits as well, I had never published a book. My chances of getting a date with Brad Pitt were a whole lot better than my chances of a major publisher interested in my work. A friend and colleague had recently signed on with Xlibris and was happy with them, so I wrote Xlibris for more information.
Bete: Did you compare Xlibris to other similar services? If so, what made you
pick Xlibris?
Rearick: I got a quote from a local publisher and his price was exorbitant. When Xlibris sent me their quote, I was ecstatic. There was a difference of about $10,000! It made Xlibris look like a hands down winner.
Bete: What was the cost to you and what did you receive for it?
Rearick: I opted for the $1,100 package which included a $350 marketing package consisting of printed bookmarks, postcards, business cards, a copy of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, and five posters. I invested approximately $3,500 more when I bought 250 books to sell myself. Then there was an additional charge of about $200 for a new manuscript galley because I found errors the second time around that I didn't catch the first time. I figure I've got approximately $5,000 invested.
Bete: What would you say are the pros and cons of using such a service?
Rearick: First the pros:
The price was one I could afford and I retained control of the book and all rights. In addition, Xlibris put out a quality product. Very professional. I'm very proud of the way the book turned out. The on-line exposure is good. Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble and of course Xlibris' own on-line book store.
Now the cons:
The process from beginning to end took MUCH longer than originally indicated. I would rush like a mad woman to get corrections done and sent back then wait weeks before I heard from them again. I would say that it took four to five months longer than it should have taken.
I had to do my own editing. There were things I missed, nothing terrible, but certainly things a good editor would have picked up in a New York minute (pun intended).
My biggest and most important complaint is their pricing structure. It is completely out of sync with the industry and it doesn't need to be. I have spoken to several other Xlibris authors and they all say the same thing.
During the process, I kept asking my representative how much the book would sell for, but I never received a concrete answer until it was finished. That's when I was told that the hard cover would retail for $31.95 and the soft cover for $21.95. I nearly fainted! How could I expect any decent sales at that inflated price when best sellers were going for $24.95?
My author's price for the hard cover with 228 pages was around $14.00, so I elected to buy 250 books in order to sell them myself at the $25 level. That investment was costly. Added to the amount I had already invested, I am able to make approximately $2.00 per book profit if I sell through a local book store.
Although self published books are on the rise and the finished product is much more professional looking than in years gone by, unless you are a celebrity, you will have a difficult time being reviewed by newspapers. Even local ones. The media needs to be educated if they are to catch up with how many authors are now choosing to sell their work.
Bete: Are you happy with the service you received?
Rearick: The service was fine. My representative seemed very interested in my project and was very bright and helpful. My guess is that it is company policy NOT to divulge the price structure to the author before publication.
Bete: What have you done to promote your book? How is it selling?
Rearick: I've had several local book signings and have spoken to library leagues in both Georgia and South Carolina. A restaurant here connected with a local book store to sponsor a "Read and Feed Night." I was invited to be their first author and it was a huge success. The book store manager said they sold more books that night than at any other signing for a new author. In addition, it was a hoot.
I also invested in a Web site designer who did a beautiful job of creating a spot for Simply Southern for me. I've sold a few books because of the Web site, but not as many as I'd hoped. But it's still early in the game!
Most of my sales have come from my personal e-mail address book and word of mouth. Simply Southern came out just before Christmas and I marketed it as a perfect holiday gift. Since Christmas, the sales have fallen off, but I expected it to do just that.
Bete: Do you have any advice for humor writers who might be considering Xlibris or a similar service?
Rearick: There are many POD publishers out there now. Shop around. I did not do that and I wish now I had. The bottom line (for me) is the price that the publisher puts on the book because that will determine the price you can sell if for even if you're operating out of the trunk of your car. Book sellers tell me that buyers do not want to plunk down more than $25 for one book, even if it is written by a well known author.
I consider Simply Southern to be a launching pad, so I don't expect to "make" money on it. I am still hoping to break even, however. The book establishes me as more than a weekly columnist and that is a good thing. I hope my work will be taken more seriously now, so that novel buried in my bottom desk drawer can one day see the light of day.
(c) 2003, University of Dayton
