On the topic of measuring, I have proof that I can't measure on a computer worth anything (no matter how many guidelines I use). I've now upload 4 different versions of the book jacket. Unfortunately, CreateSpace.com takes about 24 hours to review the jacket and interior before I can see if I've got it the way I want it, so it's taken 5 days. The book back has been fine since upload #2, but the front has been "a little off" every time and I keep hoping that this next one will do it. In this case, I've measured 4 times, and haven't cut a thing. (For the record, it's possible I'm taking the hard route, making my book jacket rather than having it done by the site, but I purchased a beautiful book cover for the ebook and I want it on the paperback exactly that way.)
With the release due on 2/10, I don't think the paperback is going to quite make it, but I'm not losing heart... the ebook is out everywhere as a pre-order already! So the release will happen. I'm just sorry the paperback may not be available the same day.
A quick review of CreateSpace.com for creating a paperback. First, the service is print-on-demand, meaning that when someone orders the book, that's when it's printed. No warehousing and no indie author purchasing a hundred copies to sit in their basement for however long it takes to sell them. A pretty great model! The author can also purchase copies at a "member" price plus shipping and handling (no royalties for those, of course), so you could fill your basement, if you wanted.
The process of creating the book, with the exception of the trouble with the cover, which is my fault, has been simple and fast. Once I chose the size of the book, they provided a template for the interior. I pasted in my manuscript, made a few tweaks with the templates styles so my chapters looked just right, and uploaded it. All told, the interior took about an hour. Had my manuscript been shorter, I doubt it would have taken that long and the interior has been perfect since the first upload (though I caught a typo and had to do one more).
They also provide everything you need to put together your cover. You can even choose a style from their pre-made layouts without extra cost. I looked at this method and you can use your own images and so on. I chose to make my own because I wanted something very specific and their layouts didn't match my vision. But, the layouts were very nice and extremely professional.
If you want someone to do all the work for you, you can pay for it. I didn't even consider it, so I didn't shop around and I can't say whether or not the pricing is competitive... but the products are fantastic. Check it out, if you're interested.
On many issues, CreateSpace is very flexible. The range of book sizes is tremendous and they do tell you about the industry standards, very important for a first-time publisher. You can use your own ISBN or get one from them for free, I chose their free one. In order to sell on-line, you need to provide information to Amazon about your book. They have a creation step that walks you through it and they provide answers to your questions as you go.
You have a pretty wide choice for distribution, though they are owned by Amazon, so that's the major retailer at which the book is available (not Barnes & Noble). They do provide options for expanded distribution, including libraries and independent booksellers, but the cost does go up (hey, everybody needs to get their cut, so I understand). One of the creation steps is dedicated to pricing and they provide help with that too.
Unless you don't want to work with Amazon, I definitely recommend CreateSpace for indie publishers.
A word about pricing and my book... due to the length of my book, the cost to have it printed is pretty high, so I decided to stick with just Amazon distribution as my paperback portal for now. This way, I can keep the price lower. While I'm always going to hope for some paperback sales, the truth is I expect far more from the cheaper ebook.
So, why publish a paperback at all? Since CreateSpace doesn't really charge me for the service (I guess that their cut is in the orders), I really didn't see a drawback to having a physical book. I figure you never know who might hear about it and want a physical copy. I know I still like to read that way. And then I thought about having a copy sitting on the my bookshelf that I could see and touch. That's worth it's weight in gold.
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