This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for December 2014. It is of course the last one this year. It reflects some review updates and author feedback over the past eight weeks. The most significant change is that Amazon KDP has slipped to third and also reflects the growing discontent self-published authors have with the introduction of Amazon Unlimited and recent communications regarding the new VAT law in Europe for 2015. We also have five new providers entering the Index this month.
TIPM continues to receive regular feedback on services through comments under our reviews, via our TIPM Facebook page, and directly to us. Your comments are always welcome and every comment and experience of a publishing service—positive or negative—is always reflected in every new index published through TIPM.
DEC POS | OCT POS | COMPANY/SERVICE PROVIDER | PRIMARY COMPANY BASEMARKET | SERVICE CLASS | DEC INDEX VALUE | INDEX POS MOVE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | CreateSpace | USA | DIY/ASP | 616.58 | UP |
2 | 3 | IngramSpark | GLOBAL | PRT/FUL | 610.7 | UP |
3 | 1 | Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) | GLOBAL | DIY | 603.74 | DOWN |
4 | 5 | Smashwords | USA | DIY | 525.2 | UP |
5 | 4 | Lightning Source (Direct) | GLOBAL | PRT/FUL | 524.62 | DOWN |
6 | 6 | Matador | UK | ASP | 460.22 | SAME |
7 | 7 | Mill City Press | USA | PUB/ASP | 431.03 | SAME |
8 | 8 | Lulu | GLOBAL | DIY/ASP | 404.8 | SAME |
9 | 10 | Blurb | GLOBAL | DIY | 397.09 | UP |
10 | 9 | SilverWood Books | USA | ASP | 395.89 | DOWN |
11 | 11 | BookLocker | USA | ASP | 371.3 | SAME |
12 | 13 | Bookbaby | USA | DIY/ASP | 345.8 | UP |
13 | 15 | Kobo Writing Life | GLOBAL | DIY | 344.1 | UP |
14 | 14 | Selfpublishing.com | USA | PRT/FUL | 338.16 | SAME |
15 | 16 | Publish Green | GLOBAL | ASP | 327.46 | UP |
16 | 17 | Dog Ear Publishing | USA | ASP | 327.41 | UP |
17 | 18 | York Publishing Services | UK | PRT/FULL | 320.07 | UP |
18 | 81 | Unbound | UK | PUB/CRW | 318.7 | UP |
19 | 19 | John Hunt Publishing | GLOBAL | PUB/ASP | 307.26 | SAME |
20 | 20 | Wingspan | USA | ASP | 302 | SAME |
21 | 21 | CPI UK Antony Rowe | EUROPE | PRT | 301.7 | SAME |
22 | 23 | Thomson-Shore | USA | PRT/ASP | 300.06 | UP |
23 | 24 | Mijn Bestseller | EUROPE | DIY | 298 | UP |
24 | 22 | Aventine | USA | ASP | 297.88 | DOWN |
25 | NEW | eBookIT | 296.1 | NEW | ||
26 | 26 | Book Country | GLOBAL | ASP | 292.94 | SAME |
27 | 25 | Checkpoint Press | IRELAND | PUB/ASP | 291.34 | DOWN |
28 | 27 | VirtualBookVorm | USA | ASP | 290.89 | DOWN |
29 | 28 | SelfPublishBooks/Lettertec | IRELAND | ASP | 287.43 | DOWN |
30 | 31 | Infinity Publishing | USA | ASP | 287.01 | UP |
31 | 29 | Acorn Independent Press | UK | ASP | 285.75 | DOWN |
32 | NEW | Wheatmark Publishing | USA | ASP | 284.87 | NEW |
33 | 32 | Apex Publishing | UK | PUB/ASP | 284.38 | DOWN |
34 | 30 | Grosvenor House Publishing | UK | ASP | 283.23 | DOWN |
35 | 34 | Wasteland Press | USA | ASP | 283.23 | DOWN |
36 | 33 | iUniverse | USA | ASP | 282.99 | DOWN |
37 | 35 | Outskirts Press | USA | ASP | 282.1 | DOWN |
38 | 37 | The Choir Press | UK/USA | ASP | 281.23 | DOWN |
39 | 36 | Cold River Studio | USA | ASP | 278.63 | DOWN |
40 | 40 | Tate Publishing | USA | PUB/ASP | 276.67 | SAME |
41 | 38 | Xulon Press | USA | ASP | 276.08 | DOWN |
42 | 41 | Americas Press | USA | PRT | 276.01 | DOWN |
43 | 42 | Pumbo | EUROPE | DIY | 274.68 | DOWN |
44 | 39 | FastPencil | USA | DIY | 273.25 | DOWN |
45 | 43 | PubliBook | EUROPE | DIY | 272.78 | DOWN |
46 | NEW | Telemachus Press | USA | ASP | 272.42 | NEW |
47 | 45 | Janus Publishing | UK | ASP | 269.32 | DOWN |
48 | 46 | Diadem Books | UK/USA | ASP | 267.95 | DOWN |
49 | NEW | Kbuuk | USA | DIY | 267.9 | NEW |
50 | 48 | Llumina Press | USA | PUB/ASP | 266.64 | DOWN |
51 | 49 | Open Book Editions | USA | ASP | 266 | DOWN |
52 | 50 | Direct POD | UK | PRT | 265.55 | DOWN |
53 | 47 | Abbott Press | USA | PUB/ASP | 265.51 | DOWN |
54 | 51 | Book Guild Publishing | UK | ASP | 265.21 | DOWN |
55 | NEW | Pyjama Press | UK/EUROPE | ASP | 265.03 | NEW |
56 | 44 | AuthorHouse | GLOBAL | ASS | 264.95 | DOWN |
57 | 52 | A.H. Stockwell | UK | ASP | 264.02 | DOWN |
58 | 54 | Eprint Ireland | IRELAND | PRT | 263.24 | DOWN |
59 | 53 | Original Writing | IRELAND | ASP | 261.6 | DOWN |
60 | 56 | True Directions | USA | PUB/ASP | 261.24 | DOWN |
61 | 57 | The Book Producers | IRELAND | ASP | 260.46 | DOWN |
62 | 58 | Pomegranate Press | UK/USA | ASP | 260.29 | DOWN |
63 | 60 | UKUnpublished | UK | ASP | 256.59 | DOWN |
64 | 61 | Better Book Company | UK | ASP | 256.15 | DOWN |
65 | 55 | Austin MacAuley | UK | ASP | 254.72 | DOWN |
66 | 62 | Turning Stone Press | USA | ASP | 253.72 | DOWN |
67 | 63 | Archway Publishing | GLOBAL | PUB/ASP | 253.51 | DOWN |
68 | 59 | Xlibris | GLOBAL | ASP | 253.1 | DOWN |
69 | 64 | Balboa Press | GLOBAL | PUB/ASP | 249.83 | DOWN |
70 | 66 | Arima | UK | ASP | 248.42 | DOWN |
71 | 67 | Trafford Publishing | USA | ASP | 247.79 | DOWN |
72 | 65 | WestBow Press | USA | PUB/ASP | 247.63 | DOWN |
73 | 68 | Gemini International | IRELAND | PRT | 246.22 | DOWN |
74 | 69 | Epic Press | UK | ASP | 242.2 | DOWN |
75 | 70 | Chandler Book Design | UK | PRT | 241.87 | DOWN |
76 | 71 | Choice Publishing | IRELAND | ASP | 240.75 | DOWN |
77 | 72 | Dolman Scott/Oak Press | UK | ASP | 238.66 | DOWN |
78 | NEW | Spire Publishing | UK/USA | ASP | 238.66 | NEW |
79 | 73 | DellArte Press | USA | PUB/ASP | 238.52 | DOWN |
80 | NEW | Dorrance Press | USA | ASP | 232.85 | NEW |
81 | 74 | ShopMyBook (Unibook) | GLOBAL | PRT | 228.23 | DOWN |
82 | 75 | Spiderwize | UK | ASP | 221.42 | DOWN |
83 | 76 | Olympia Publishers | UK | PUB/ASP | 211.12 | DOWN |
84 | 77 | Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie | UK | PUB/ASP | 210.01 | DOWN |
85 | 78 | PublishAmerica/America Star Books | USA | ASP | 209.93 | DOWN |
86 | 79 | Melrose Books | UK | ASP | 206.69 | DOWN |
87 | 80 | Dom Tom Publishing | UK/USA | ASP | 204.02 | DOWN |
88 | 82 | Raider International Pub./Green Shore | GLOBAL | ASP | 105.71 | DOWN |
89 | 12 | Authors On Line | UK | ASP | 102 | DOWN |
(KEY)
- DIY – Do-it-yourself bespoke services
- ASP – Author Solutions Services (Packages) – May also include Partnership publishing programs
- PUB – Also offers Mainstream Contracts or is a service imprint of a traditional publishing house
- PRT – Printer (primarily a printer with some additional but limited services)
- FULL – Fulfilment Services provided for distribution logistics, warehousing of stock (including supply to wholesaler and retailers)
- CRW – Crowdsource
The most asked question we get at The Independent Publishing Magazine is often along the lines of; ‘What self-publishing service should I go with?‘; ‘Is so and so a good service to go with?‘; or ‘Is so and so a scam?‘
In some cases, that is an easy question to answer, cut and dry, but in other circumstances, the answer is entirely arbitrary. We are not here to review and run down a company’s name, nor are we here to endorse a company’s services. If we were only to review companies according to every point on an ideal dream list of what an author wants/should get, we would have very few reviews to share with you. In truth, no company has ever attained a 10/10, and only a few have recorded more than 08/10.
The reality is that some companies offering publishing services begin in a blaze of glory and we might rate them favourably at the time; others, frankly, are just poor, and they improve (sometimes in response to our reviews) to offer reasonable or better services. We are constantly updating our reviews, but this takes considerable time, and so do the initial reviews.
We get a vast amount of information from authors and the companies selling author solutions services every day – good and bad. We get a great deal of information from monitoring services week by week against the experiences of what authors report back to us. Simply put, and truthfully, we cannot reflect all of this information through the reviews. That is why the comments section under each company we review is so important. It is your recording and dealings with that specific company, and a positive or negative flag to subsequent authors considering using the same company.
So, how do we reflect the changing ups and downs with services?
We believe the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX will help to guide authors to services on the up, and those, gradually on the down. If you like, what we present is a kind of stock exchange for companies supplying publisher services..
The PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX was first launched in June 2010.
Where are Barnes and Noble and Draft2Digital? Also AllRomance eBooks, iBooks, Google Play… “DIY” self publishing isn’t limited to Amazon, CreateSpace, Smashwords, Lulu, and Kobo. Indeed, most of the self-pub people I know use all five I listed but you didn’t. And most find everything after Amazon on your list to be more work than they’re worth.
Different authors have different requirements, Jennifer. The majority of authors entering the self-publishing arena want a lot more handholding than many DIY platforms offer. Equally, some authors don’t want to open multiple accounts with individual ebook distributors and its why Smashwords combined with AMZ KDP remains a popular choice for authors. The self-publishing arena just isn’t a one-size fits all choice for all authors.
There is a review of Draft2Digital coming soon.
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How do you define the DEC value index? And are you looking for what writers DO want, or what they SHOULD want if they’re to sell more books and make more money doing so? Those are rarely similar lists.
Great idea, but useless without transparency about how it is calculated.
Llumina Press is much too high on the list. They stole my money, refusing to publish my book as per our agreement. Unfortunately, I believed their verbal cooperation, not knowing that if it’s not in writing, they won’t honor their agreements, which deviate from usual and customary printing.
Their person who designed the cover sent me two choices, both showing exactly what I emailed that I did Not want. I had to pick one or pay more. That 2 choices stipulation was in the agreement. Nothing said I could or could not give parameters like foliage or people or animals on the cover.
The page spacing, font, indentations etc. were all given by verbal agreements. Live and learn, and with this company, lose the full amount of the payments.
I love that so many of the really dangerous service providers that take full advantage of new writers continue to go down in rank on this list! Now if only all new writers who wish to not go the commercial publishing route could all know the list exists. I let new Authors know about your site (and of course Writer Beware) every chance I get.
There is another service player I am hearing of from some new writers entering self pub for the first time and that is Page. Don’t see it on the list as yet, any plans for it’s addition Mick?
That really is the key to the publishing index, Christine. The index reflects the performance and feedback about a company’s services. It’s not a snapshot from a single period, but how the company is ranked from the time TIPM first reviews it and floats it into the index. That means a company can improve or under perform over a period of time. My advice to anybody looking a company on the index is to look and see what position that company was in 12 months ago. This will indicate if the index (and the author’s using the services) rate the company as one that is developing and on the up, or in a gradual slump. Ultimately, a good reputable company doesn’t become so overnight, or over a single month. Equally, a period when a company experiences a poor patch combined with poor feedback doesn’t automatically send a company to the basement.
I’m not familiar with Page, Christine. Perhaps you would like to share a link and I can take a look. I would add that I don’t tend to do full reviews of new starter companies or companies that have not been around for at least a year or two.
http://www.pagepublishing.com
Here is the link Mick. I see too that Janice below has commented and mentioned Page. I’ve been hearing new writers say they have been contacted directly by Page, either thru email and/or phone.
Christine, authors contacted directly by service providers via phone or email (when they haven’t provided the company with their contact details) is usually an early red flag for me.
I have been a columnist for over 30 years and am in the process of completing my first book, and have some work completed on two others. I am really struggling as to whether I should use one of the companies in your index to publish, at least, the first book.
Do you have any data on sales results for traditional publishing vs. self-publishing? Are we seeing more books being self-published vs. going the traditional publishing route?
I am receiving follow-up calls from two self-publishing companies, Page Publishing (not on your list), and Xlibris Publishing (ranked 68 on your listing).
I became aware of the Publishing Index today. I have found the review and comments informative. Thank you!
Who compiled this information? Everything marked with ASP is too high on the list.
Regardless of what you write good or bad, pay sites do not offer much more than the freebies. Get your book edited at free lancers and cover design.
Lot less capital then self publish.
After this find sources to promote.
Now if you think you will make best seller list then good luck. Most likely not. However as in my case I am into the multi thousands of readers and that in itself is gratifying.
So…, keep writing.
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This is the first time I studied the Index. It’s quite revealing. Although I have white hair, I am still a young author after a full international career, with two manuscripts completed and ready go to. But where? The Index may be helpful. Create Space checks in with me regularly where I stand and offers its services. Then there is Bookbaby that keeps sending me messages. Both seem genuine. Lately, Koehlerbooks.com a Virginian hybrid (traditional-emerging authors) company, which is not on your list, offered a full package costing about $5,800 (linked with Ingram and Lightning Source). Currently I plan to self-publish my debut book with a small local one-person outfit using Create Space and Ingram just to see how that works. Since I am a foreign (Dutch) writer writing in English, I probably need all the help I can get with my second book (a romantic novel) to get started with a publishing company that offers a complete package (design, editing, printing and distribution/market assistance). I am not optimistic about recovering the cost. Do authors reveal this important aspect to TIPM?
Hi John, good to talk to a Dutch writer. CreateSpace and Bookbaby are reasonably good options for a self-published author, though I tend to advise authors to steer clear of CreateSpace’s premium services. I just feel they are overpriced. Self-published authors should concentrate on using CS as a DIY publishing service rather than availing of its assisted services.
On red flag for me (and one every writer should look out for) is submitting to a publisher under the belief that you are submitting to a traditional publisher. I’ve heard from other writers who submitted to hybrid publishers like Koelher who had no idea they would be asked for a financial contribution. If you intend to pursue a traditional route to publication then you should never be swayed to switch to paid-publishing because a publisher says it will publisher your book and it has merits. My biggest problem with Koelher and other such publishers like this is not being clear and upfront about co-publishing contracts.
If you are going to invest in professional services like editing, design and marketing for a first book – that’s good – but you need to be aware that it is an investment in your book and writing career. Few self-published authors recoup their initial investment in sales. Indeed, many new books published by traditional publishers never earn-out the advance offered to the author.
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