What indie author means-

For my previous releases, I worked with a traditional publisher who took on the risk of printing and distribution. In that model, I receive royalties based on sales and returns, and I plan to collaborate with them again for future titles.

However, for Route 66 Roadscapes: Stories Through The Lens, I managed the project independently to cover a larger geographic area with complete creative control. I knew this title had to be a hardcover coffee table book. My goal was to keep the size manageable while still delivering a rich, luxurious feel in the hands of the reader.

It's rewarding, but not a cakewalk-

While every bit of effort was worth it, I went through two publishing houses to bring this book to life. The first did an incredible job with the manuscript and cover design, but the print quality didn’t meet my standards. Print-on-demand works for text-based books, but it rarely does justice to photography—which was certainly the case for me!

I ultimately chose a different publishing house to handle printing and distribute to Amazon. The rest is up to me. Producing a high-quality coffee table book isn’t cheap, but I couldn’t in good conscience put out anything less than impressive. The production cost, along with Amazon’s (or other retailers’) cut, influences the retail price. But I found the sweet spot—keeping it consistent with market value while ensuring top-notch quality.

When I ship a personalized copy, I’m the one packing it up and heading to the post office—excited to know my work is finding a place in the homes of my readers.