Frequently Asked Questions

Q.

Whose name will appear as the book’s author?

A.

 It’s up to you. I can work as a ghost writer and my name will not appear anywhere.

Or, I can work as a collaborative writer like this: 

“Your Name with My Name” or “Your Name as told to My Name.”

The choice is yours.

A.

Q.

No. My role is strictly “work for hire.” That means that you retain all intellectual property rights. All revenue from the sale of your book flows directly to you. 

Will I have to pay royalties to you, or to anyone else, when my book is being sold?

Q.

How much money can I make from the sale of my book?

A.

If you’re like most clients, revenue from the sale of your book will not be enough to cover the cost of producing it. Like them, you will discover that the benefits of recording your life story may be measured in other meaningful ways. Many clients opt to donate their book’s revenue to a favorite charity. 

A.

Q.

After our initial meeting, I will estimate the amount of time I will need to invest to complete the project. Naturally, the more content you provide at the outset, the lower my fee. 

How do you determine your fees?

Q.

Does your fee cover the production and distribution of my book?

A.

No. My work is complete once we have delivered a “publication-ready” set of PDF files to a P.O.D. or conventional book production provider.

I will guide you through this process. 

A.

Q.

That depends on the method chosen. If we opt for P.O.D., then the cost of producing a single copy is minimal. You will need to pay a per copy charge that is typically about 30% of the retail price.  The cost will also depend on the book’s length and the options you select such as: Hardbound vs. Paperback. Color vs. Black & White pages. Page size and paper quality, etc. Example: A softcover 6 in. x 9 in. 250 page book with color only on the cover will cost about $5.50 per copy from a P.O.D. provider like Lulu.com. 

 How much will the actual production of my book cost?

Q.

How will my book be distributed?

A.

Once your book has received its ISBN barcode through Bowker, it will be available for sale at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Booksamillion.com and other online venues at a retail price you select. It will also be available at bricks & mortar bookstores through retail channel providers such as Ingram Books Wholesale.  That means that any bookstore in the world will be able to stock or special order your book easily. 

A.

Q.

Yes. If you use a P.O.D. provider, you simply provide the name and mailing address of the recipient. You will be charged your “author’s price” plus shipping. 

Will I be able to send complimentary copies to my friends and family?

Q.

Don’t I risk offending some of the people I write about or upsetting their families?

A.

This risk can be avoided thanks to the use of Literary License. You are free to assign fictitious names to conceal the actual identities of people whom you feel may react negatively to being included in your story. It's also a good idea to run sensitive material by the people involved, or their heirs, in advance of publication. 

Q.

What’s next?

A.

Some clients have produced eBooks and audiobook versions of their books. Some have had their books translated into foreign languages.  Others, after a few years, have opted to produce a second edition with additional content. A few have successfully sold the rights to their books to a commercial publishing house or to a motion picture producer. 

A.

Q.

Not at all. Humble, modest people like Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King all wrote their memoirs. Not to feed their egos, but to inspire others. 

Won’t people think I‘m an egomaniac boasting about myself?