SquarePeg Books

Getting an LCCN is a bit confusing. You need it to make it easier for libraries in the US to find you, but it is not a requirement. If you get an LCCN, You have to submit a hardcopy book to the Library of Congress. Which I have to do anyway for the copyright. I’m not sure if shipping the hardcopy to copyright counts as also sending it in for the LCCN, since they are both different divisions of the Library of Congress. I’m still fuzzy on that one.

Another part of the confusion is how do I list the pseudonym–I have to tell all the distributors and government agencies my real name as a legal requirement, but the listing for the book needs to have the pseudonym. I put the pseudonym under “contributor,” so we’ll see how that works out for the LCCN, Amazon, D2D, and Ingram Spark

I learned that if you have bought your own ISBN, and you are print publishing through Ingram Spark or Amazon, you do not have to pay Bowker for a barcode. Ingram Spark and Amazon will provide one, based on your ISBN, at no additional cost when you use their cover template generator.

That was a $25 lesson.

I also learned one does NOT need to buy a new ISBN for a new book price. I guess you just go in and adjust it on the bowker listing?

Yes, I know that IS, D2D and Amazon all provide free ISBN’s. So why did I buy my own? IS and D2D recommend providing your own, so you are the publisher of record. It’s a loophole subject, and everyone has their own opinion about it. I believe I have established my paranoia and control issues in other posts, so I won’t rehash it again.

It’s good that I know a little bit about Art and Design. I emphasize a “little bit.” I am reasonably certain that my cover art will be painful obvious to a professional cover art designer, but again, we are back to “pricey.” I’m hoping my work will be good enough for the average audience. I had to redo the cover because the directions provided by IS are different than Amazon, but both are written in a way that I did not read well the first time around.

I’m glad that I designed my cover prior to getting the template generated by Ingram spark. True, re-doing it is a bit of a headache, but not impossible.

Uploading a print book direct to Amazon is a different process than uploading to Ingram Spark.

I have not even looked at Marketing, really. I want to get a few more books out there before I go down this route, this way there’s something more to offer than just the only book.

With my brain not functioning within optimal parameters (not sure how long this is going to last), it’s a good thing that I gave myself 8 weeks to get it all sorted and uploaded, instead of the 4 I was originally planning.

Supposedly, the book goes live on June 30!