|
Manuscript Selection
|
Technical books only
|
|
Kind of Contract
|
Non-exclusive
|
|
Distribution
|
Through their site and major on-line
retailers
|
|
Price Range
|
Paperback
|
$495.00 plus extras (namely cover art setup, you
can get a $100.00 discount if you submit your own
layout).
|
|
Hardcover
|
Not available
|
|
Paperback/hardcover combo
|
Not available
|
|
Color publishing
|
Not available
|
|
Royalties
|
Royalties are 20% on books sold through external
channels, 40% on books sold through their site, but
you don't get paid for the first three copies sold
in each calendar quarter.
|
|
Author's Discount
|
Authors get a 40% discount.
|
|
Breakeven point
|
Less than 200 copies (approximation based on
external sales of an average length book).
|
|
Basic retail price
|
Competitive to expensive depending on the
subject (prices could be described as somewhat
expensive by fiction standards but technical books
tend to be more expensive anyway). $19.99 for a 200
page s book.
|
|
Interior Layout
|
You can submit as a ready to publish PDF, so
your book can actually look like you want it to
(and get a $100.00 discount in the process).
|
|
Graphics & Tables
|
OK, where you want them and how you want
them.
|
|
Cover Options
|
Generic, or you must pay $100.00 extra to submit
your own.
|
|
Choice of Trim Size
|
No
|
|
Pros*
|
You can format your own book, this is useful is
you require too many tables, graphics and special
fonts and in addition to that you get a
discount.
|
|
You get a good contract.
|
|
Good royalties.
|
|
Reasonable setup fee.
|
|
You get good distribution.
|
|
The fact that it is a specialized publisher
minimizes the vanity press stigma as much as
possible.
|
|
You can supply your own cover.
|
|
Cons*
|
They have a single book size available (5.5x8.5
in.), and while this is a standard paperback size,
the fact is that technical books sometimes require
more flexibility than that.
|
|
There is an administrative fee in the form of
all royalties for the first three copies sold in
any given quarter. Could be an issue for a book
with a very limited audience.
|
|
Additional Comments*
|
This is an interesting option, it enables
authors to publish books technical books that have
a limited audience. It allows authors to format
their own books, and, since it is a specialized
publisher, it reduces the vanity press stigma.
|
|
Take Me To Universal
Publishers' homepage
|
Take me to the Universal
Publishers' Forum
|