New member with a handful of questions

[Revanche]

Hi Everyone,
After searching through the Internet over the past few months in search for resources and advice on a new novel I'm undertaking, I thought I would register here and humbly ask for some suggestions from the community. The background for my novel is fairly simple... It's an original story, but what matters most is the way that it is presented to the reader. I decided to pursue the self-publishing option and have contacted a few companies about the project. While they are all willing to take it on, they lack the ability to do what is truly needed to make it successful.

So, before lowering the expectations of the project, I'm hoping someone could offer their thoughts...

1. I'm trying to get a leather-type cover on book, similar to that of the many journals and address books that one would find at major bookstores. Unfortunately, I can't find a self-publisher that will do it. Is this something not to be expected from that route?

2. When you do self-publishing routes that require you to order X amount of books beforehand, is there any good way to manage inventory? With one company taking three weeks to print and deliver additional orders of books, I'd hate to force customers to wait up to four weeks for their purchase. On the other hand, I'd hate to keep money tied up in excess inventory if purchases are slow.

Thanks again!

[Aconite]

Revanche, try the Conventional Self-Publishing forum, under The Book World heading.

[brinkett]

Revanche, you can do whatever you want, as long as you self-publish. It sounds like you're planning to use the services of a "self-publishing company". This is just hand waving by subsidy/vanity publishers. You won't really be self-publishing.

As Aconite said, though, this forum isn't the right forum for self-publishing questions.

[Birol]

Revanche, what about your project made you decide self-publishing was your best option?

[Birol]

The background for my novel is fairly simple... It's an original story, but what matters most is the way that it is presented to the reader.
This is true of any novel or story.

I decided to pursue the self-publishing option and have contacted a few companies about the project. While they are all willing to take it on,
This is how printers and vanity presses make their money. It's unlikely they would turn the project down.

I'm trying to get a leather-type cover on book, similar to that of the many journals and address books that one would find at major bookstores.
Why a leather or faux-leather cover? If you do indeed go the self-publishing route, this would add to the cost of each unit, increasing how much you would need to charge for each book in order to make a profit. Assuming that you do indeed self-publish in the near future, I would encourage you to carefully consider the Return On Investment (ROI) for your project and how this type of decision would effect your ability to make money on the sales of your book.

[brinkett]

I would encourage you to carefully consider the Return On Investment (ROI) for your project and how this type of decision would effect your ability to make money on the sales of your book.
Heed Birol's words. Having leather bound covers could cripple you. You said presentation is important. Consider hiring a decent cover designer rather than having leather covers, which aren't common.