GCU Forum - Lulu, anyone?

Angela_134247 Gold Member artist Posts: 761	Lulu, anyone? Mar 18^th, 2011, 9:48am I'm working on putting together a collection of short stories and I'm considering Lulu for a publisher. Has anyone else published a book with Lulu? Is the process fairly simple? How was the quality?
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Peggy_137160 Gold Member artist Posts: 760	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #1 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:02am I haven't done a book, but their calendars are excellent quality! http://lulu.com/dogbreedz
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Steve_134004 Full Member artist Posts: 222	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #2 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:20am Well, The quality is great. I'm having a book signing this evening at my independent book store here in town. It's my second book. Sold hundreds of copies, the first one. yeah, I'd recommend them. http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=3044334 Cheers, Steve
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judith_134088 Senior Member artist Posts: 352	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #3 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:26am Hey Steve...how many books do you have to sell before you are cover for LuLu?
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Steve_134004

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Posts: 222

Re: Lulu, anyone?
Reply #4 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:37am

Well, Judith, They only charge you for design services, if you want them. I did my own cause have a commercial/graphic designer background. You buy one copy for proofing purposes. Next I bought five copies (at an author discount) to go with press releases.
The only other thing I did was file a copywrite for the books with a fee. So no it didn't cost me a thing - just my time to layout - upload etc. I already had the work done since this is what I do for a living.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Steve

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Cathy_151407 Junior Member artist Posts: 61	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #5 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:41am I've seen LuLu books, they look great! Before you decide check out CreateSpace, they do a great job too!
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Angela_134247 Gold Member artist Posts: 761	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #6 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 10:55am Could you all give me links to your Lulu stores? I'd really like to see how your creations came out. And Steve, where those sales mostly to family and friends or strangers online?
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Doreen_137017 Gold Member artist Posts: 5273	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #7 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 11:56am Good luck on your book Angela! I have not done anything on Lulu but a close competitor is Blurb.com and their quality is amazing. I only have the one book and the proceeds go to my local Humane Society http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/568094
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Steve_134004 Full Member artist Posts: 222	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #8 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 11:56am Angela, Sales of my books went to family and friends at a previous signing and hundred online and the bookstore. here's a link: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=3044334 Cheers, Steve
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Angela_134247

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Posts: 761

Re: Lulu, anyone?
Reply #9 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 12:06pm

Your book looks great, Steve!
I'm not really looking tell sell tons of copies, I've just wanted to publish a "real" book for years and the submission process is so difficult, especially for first time authors. I've had several poems and short stories published in magazines, but this will be my first whole book. Lulu looks like it has a good marketing system, though, and the fact you can offer your book on Amazon and as an e-book seems like a really nice plus.

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Steve_134004 Full Member artist Posts: 222	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #10 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 12:13pm Angela, Thanks for the compliments. Good luck with your book. Have you ever thought about putting those previously pub. stories/poems into a book? Just a thought. Cheers, Steve
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Angela_134247 Gold Member artist Posts: 761	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #11 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 12:28pm That's actually partially what I am doing. Some will be previously published and some I've just had family and friends read. They are a wild range of subjects written in sort of an "O. Henry" style. I figured it would be easier to try to publish short stories I already have ready then an entire novel.
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Websprinter_148078 Senior Member artist Posts: 374	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #12 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 12:49pm Hi Angela, Angela Hey has done research on book pods, ebooks etc. that you can review and decide. http://www.writersweekly.com/ Good luck wit it!
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Steve_134004 Full Member artist Posts: 222	Re: Lulu, anyone? Reply #13 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 1:06pm Hey Websprinter, Nice article on POD's. However I paid none of setup fees or anything else. I did all my own work, layouts etc. Still a nice article. Just be careful with what you do. The more you make your book file ready the less you'll pay. Cheers, Steve
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Websprinter_148078

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Posts: 374

Re: Lulu, anyone?
Reply #14 - Mar 18^th, 2011, 1:16pm

Hi Steve,

I'm designing graphics now, not writing. I used to keep a journal on LuLu long ago. A friend told me that the prices were high there, however, that had not been the case before. I'm a bit out of touch and Angela Hey is the only one who sends me updates anymore.

Translation, if you have any further information how to publish on LuLu, please pass it along to Angela so she can get the inside track. Wink

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