The good news is that my trusty proof-reader has been working like a Trojan, and has already fired back a list of minor errors to the text of THE PORTABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME book that need correcting. He has promised that he will send another list once he has had the opportunity to check through the text for a second time, and with luck the relevant files will be ready to upload to Lulu.com well before Christmas.
The bad news is that Lulu.com has informed its users that due to very high demand, the time it will take for books to be printed will be longer than normal. The corollary to this is that the publication of THE PORTABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME book will be delayed, possibly until early January. This is because I have to have a proof copy printed before I can release the book for publication, and if the printing of the proof copy is going to be delayed, it means that I cannot approve the book. Rather than rush the process and make mistakes, I'd rather take a bit of time and have the book published in January rather than December.
As compensation for the delay, here are a few more of the photographs I have used to illustrate my book.
The bad news is that Lulu.com has informed its users that due to very high demand, the time it will take for books to be printed will be longer than normal. The corollary to this is that the publication of THE PORTABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME book will be delayed, possibly until early January. This is because I have to have a proof copy printed before I can release the book for publication, and if the printing of the proof copy is going to be delayed, it means that I cannot approve the book. Rather than rush the process and make mistakes, I'd rather take a bit of time and have the book published in January rather than December.
As compensation for the delay, here are a few more of the photographs I have used to illustrate my book.
I should n't worry about the possible delay in publication. January is usually a pretty grim month so it will nice to have something pleasant to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteDavid Bradley,
DeleteIt would have been nice to have published the book before Christmas, but I'd rather get it right rather than rush to meet an artificial - and self-imposed - deadline.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI know that you were using 'LULU' for your Publications...just a Question: If I had a Book for sale through 'LULU' at say $30 to the Customer at the Bookshop...how much would I possibly make from the Sale as a reward? Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson,
DeleteMy answer is going to appear to be rather vague because you - as the seller - decide how much profit you want to make per book sale.
At almost the last stage of the publication process, Lulu.com will - having taken into account the size, length, and type of binding selected - tell you how much each book will cost to produce and suggest a selling price.
Most of my paperbacks cost between £2.50 and £3.00 each to produce, and I try to set a selling price of about £5.00 to £6.00. Lulu.com then tell me how much profit from each book I sell I will receive from the various online retailers (Lulu.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.) after they have taken their commission. It usually works out at about £1.00 per book. I get the greatest return from Lulu.com and the least from Amazon.
I could make a lot more profit from each book I sell if I increased the selling price, but I am not trying to make a living as being a writer ... although the extra income is welcome! What I am trying to do is to interest people in things like THE PORTABLE WARGAME system, and I'd rather sell more books and make less money than sell a few books for what might be a bit more income.
I hope that my answer helps a little.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteThank you for the information reply about LULU- most helpful...I have often thought about producing another book - my fist and only Hobby book was done some 32 years ago...I paid a Local Printer and then proceeded to sell the books myself to Shops in our metro area- the bulk of the books then went to Athena Books in the UK- then owned by Terrence Wise...I made a substantial Profit out of it all and was well pleased. It seems now that our Commercial Printers require an awful amount of up front funding...which at present is beyond my means...your LULU seems a most fair system. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson,
DeleteSince the advent of Lulu.com and other 'on demand' printers, the cost of publishing has come down quite dramatically, and the process has become much easier.
All the best,
Bob
I'm just in the process of painting up some 1/72 Napoleonics in anticipation of this release. I'm both happy to have more time to finish all the miniatures and terrain and disappointed that I'll have to wait for the ebook.
ReplyDeleteMy plan is to use plastic tile spacers painted green to mark on the grid rather than make a dedicated grid. I did this with rock piles for my Sudan gridded game and it worked well.
Chamberlain Skeksil,
DeleteI'm pleased that you have been inspired enough by my rules start a Napoleonic wargaming project.
I like the idea of using green-painted plastic tile spacers to mark the corners of your grid. Very simple, cheap, and effective!
All the best,
Bob