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Silver Spring, MD
United States

888-577-9342

Stories To Tell is a full service book publishing company for independent authors. We provide editing, design, publishing, and marketing of fiction and non-fiction. We specialize in sophisticated, unique illustrated book design.

Stories To Tell Books BLOG

Self-Publish a Memoir or Family History

Nan Barnes

People seeking to write memoirs or personal histories often wonder how they will get their works published. Self-publishing has been an option for writers since the first books were printed. Modern print-on-demand technology has, however, simplified the process of self-publishing and dramatically reduced its cost.

Today there are commercial printing presses that operate just like your home computer’s printer – send them a file and they print out your book – just one book or as many copies as you wish - at a high level of quality we could only dream of a few years ago. Print-on-demand means that your book project is affordable. It is possible to print a single copy of a quality, hardcover book illustrated with photographs for as little as $35-$50 dollars. Without set-up fees and considering that you are only buying the number of books you really need, you can save a great deal of money. Print-on-demand also allows you to order additional copies of your book at any time for the same low cost.

Self-publishing using print-on-demand technology is ideal if you want to create a memoir, personal or family history which will have a limited distribution. There are many on-demand printers and publishers to choose from. However, their prices and terms vary widely. Many package their printing services together with marketing services for authors attempting to sell books. These fees are unnecessary for those authors who are self publishing for family and friends.

When choosing a print-on-demand service, be sure to ask these questions:

  • Are you being charged extra fees for editing, proofreading, custom design, or book marketing?

  • Do you retain all rights to your book, including the files you submit and the ISBN?

  • If your book is to be sold from their online bookstore, do you get all the proceeds, or do they charge a royalty?