ot: Published my own book

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Posted By: john/z28jd

Last year I wrote a long story called "A Card's Life" and left it up on the vintage site for almost a year for anyone to read. Basically it's the story of two Old Judge baseball cards from their creation to modern day as told by them. I finally wanted to have the words in print so I didn't have to go online anytime I wanted to show someone who asked,so using Adam Warshaw's suggestion I went to lulu.com and self-published the story. Here's the thread from last year just so anyone can look thru it to see if they're interested.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/thread/1198089234


and here is the link to the book.


http://www.lulu.com/content/4632006




I kept it as basic as possible to keep the cost down but I did put a lot of time and effort into it when I wrote it. Feel free to buy as many as you want,I need about 400 sold to buy a VG Old Judge common and a little less than a million sold to retire(and when I do that I'll write some free stories for everyone and post them on the board,scouts honor) Thanks to Leon for letting me post my off-topic thread for the year

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Posted By: Tim Sanders

The link seems to be off. Shows up as file not found.

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Posted By: john/z28jd

Thanks Tim. I think it's fixed now

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Posted By: Zinn

John:

Is going through Lulu the only way to get a copy? It seems like a nuisance giving them all that info before you even get to the checkout page.

Is it possible just to pay you direct with paypal and have a copy sent?

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Posted By: john/z28jd

I think the only way I could do that is buy a copy myself and then send it to you once I get it. Going thru them eliminates any up front cost which is probably what was keeping me from publishing it in the first place all this time. Unless I'm missing something I don't get a complimentary copy, I just get a discount because they don't get a % when I buy.

If enough people asked I could buy them that way. If I bought 10 of them it would probably cost everyone about $10 each to get them,which now that I check is actually a savings over the $10.85 they charge by media mail,it would just take about a week longer.I would also lose my $.56 per copy.... I think I could survive

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Posted By: Bob

John- You just need to sell 399 more now
I used Paypal, it was no problem.
tbob

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Posted By: Zinn

I'm convinced. If they take paypal I'll go back through.

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Posted By: Zinn

398

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Posted By: john/z28jd

Thanks Bob,now all you have to do is show up at the next Philly show(wherever and whenever that is) and I'll autograph your copy for free with the purchase of admission to the show. I'll be sitting at Ted's table...he just doesnt know that yet.

On a serious note,when are you going to show up at one of these Philly shows?

Also does anyone have an idea how much it would cost to send a 65 page paperback book standard mail? I almost emailed tbob because I know hes sold books on ebay. I'm looking into maybe buying about 50 copies to see how much it would save anyone who wanted it if they bought it from me directly. Lulu.com charges $3.85 for one book so I'm thinking its gotta be less than that and I already have plenty of envelopes big enough to mail it. Looks like it might be about $1.50 savings if I buy at least 51 copies


PS Thanks Zinn. You can have an autograph too

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

I'm thinking novella or short story, but a rose by any other name...

so, my idea of the better course of action was to wait until the publication of the Old Judge book so you could ride the wave of your contributions there, but what do I know?

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Posted By: john/z28jd

You mean Joe,Jay and Richard's book?

I probably would've waited if I wasn't sitting here bored today waiting for the world series to come on.

PS You spell pretty good for someone whos been out all night

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Posted By: johnny!!

JOHNNY!!

mark a few more sold!!!

keep it up

johnny

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Posted By: doug goodman

You're 1 closer to retirement...

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

I bought 1 hoping my son will enjoy reading it.  He has to read 30 minutes every night and hates it, unless its something fun... I am always searching for books he will enjoy! 

 

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Posted By: john/z28jd

Thanks to everyone who has bought one so far. The cool thing about that site is they keep track of your book sales for you so I'll know the exact moment I can retire

Seriously though,if anyone else is thinking of writing something on their own,that site makes it so easy to publish and there is no up front cost,plus you set your own price. Like I said,I kept mine almost as cheap as they allow,I actually just rounded up to the next dollar,but if anyone wants to do something real big without the fear of it not selling enough,this is the way to do it. Even if it sold one copy the only thing you lose is the time you put into it. If it really sold alot and you put a price on it that works for you,you could actually make a nice amount doing something on the side(I should get some stock or something in this company for this plug)

The only thing I don't like about it is the fact you don't even get one free copy for your self(there goes my shares of stock),other than that its great because you have a say in everything that goes into the book from front cover to back