Authors Blog

Buying and giving copies of your own book

Every author needs to have copies of her or his own book, to distribute to potential reviewers, to give to family and friends, to keep around the house—or maybe even to sell.

Most of my recent p-books have been printed and distributed by Amazon ("KDP").

While working on a new book, I make many revisions. I make most of the changes while viewing the books on my PC screen, but I also like to get physical copies to carry around and mark up for fixing.

I can order a "proof copy" of my latest masterpiece for $6.05, plus $3.59 for shipping, with delivery in about ten days.

Alternatively, I can place a regular order from Amazon. The price is $15.95 plus $1.01 for sales tax, and I get next-day delivery. (The books are printed a few miles from my home in Connecticut.) I'll earn a royalty on each of the books that are sold to me, lowering my final cost—and improving my sales ranking on Amazon!

Where I am now sitting, I see a stack of nine "not ready for prime time" versions of my newest book, Aging & Ending: A first-year baby boomer looks back and ahead.

They're not good enough to sell or to submit to reviewers. I won't throw them away because book destruction has always seemed sinful to me. (I'm a Jew, part of "the people of the book.)

These rejects are good enough to not embarrass me if read by family, friends and business associates. 

So. I print up Avery#6464 labels which I stick on the inside of the front covers.  Try it.