Xlibris
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Xlibris

Xulon Press
Xlibris
Manuscript screening: No
Kind of contract: Non-Exclusive
2+2=5 While they do describe their contract as non-exclusive, it is not available online.
Distribution: Through their site and online retailers mostly
Basic fees: Paperback publishing Basic paperback fee is $449.00.
Hardcover publishing Not available
Combo publishing Basic combo fee is $1,099.00.
Color publishing Basic color publishing fee is $449.00.
eBook publishing eBook publishing is bundled into their packages except their least expensive one (this is probably not a good thing).
Royalties are unclear though they may be 50% of net receipts.
Royalties: Royalties are 10% of retail price on external sales, 25% of retail price on direct sales.
Author's discount: Basic discount is 40% on paperbacks and 35% on hardcovers.
Break-even point: Between 200 and 300 copies (approximation based on external sales of an average length book through external channels using their least expensive package).
Basic retail price: Very expensive ($19.99 for a 200-page book).
Layout: Your choice of two templates for a paperback and eighteen templates for a combo.
Graphics: Avaliable only as an extra for a paperback, up to 25 graphics for a combo (more can be purchased as an extra)
Cover options: Your choice of two templates for a paperback or nineteen templates for a combo.
Trim size: They have a single trim size available.
Additional options: There are a number of additional packages with set-up fees as high as $14,999.00.

They also offer a series of add-ons such as layout services, custom cover, footnotes and so on. One that is worth mentioning

The next price level, which adds eBook distribution is $649.00.
Pros*: *Good distribution.
Cons*: *With the exception of their basic, and very bare-bones, 'Advantage' package, their setup fees range from slightly expensive to very expensive depending on package choice.
*Very high retail prices that will probably have a significant impact on book sales.
*Their site is not particularly informative.
*With one exception, which is a little too bare bones for comfort, eBook publishing is bundled into their print packages.
*eBook publishing deal is not particularly favorable (with a couple of exceptions this is true of all POD publishers).
Comments*: This is one of several large publishers that were bought by Author Solutions (the others being AuthorHouse, iUniverse and Trafford).
The Bottom Line*:

Even though their set-up fee seems to be a reasonable one, their basic package is too bare-bones to be truly viable. In addition to that an expensive retail price combined with low royalties, undisclosed terms and (in their more expensive pckages) a bundled eBook publishing package that is far from favorable make this a company you may want to avoid.

Visit the publisher's site
Last updated: 06-26-2011

* These represent my personal opinion based on what I've seen in the publisher's site.

Before you choose a publisher you may want to read:
Purchase "The Clearly Confusing World of Self-Publishing and POD"



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