Company description::
Self-publish your book FREE?
Free-lance writer, Melanie Schurr, is now a book author, thanks to cutting edge technology which now gives hopeful authors yet another publishing option to consider. Schurr, who briefly approached more traditional publishing markets with her first book proposal, became frustrated when she learned the realities about the publishing business. Of the two companies who expressed interest in her manuscript, Schurr says the royalties they offered were insulting. Schurr's next move was to check out the subsidy press and e-book route. She states, "The subsidy presses, otherwise known as vanity presses, will basically publish anything as long as you have the money. However, I wanted my book to stand on its own merit without it costing me an arm and a leg. Being a woman of faith, Schurr says she prayed about the matter, and trusted God to direct her path. That is when she discovered Lulu Press Inc. which was founded in early in 2002. Lulu, based in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, and evolved from a company called Open Mind Publishing, provides individuals, companies, and groups the ability to publish and sell a variety of digital content, including books, photos, images, and music. Authors set their own royalty, and Lulu takes care of the printing, delivery, and customer service. Lulu is an old-fashioned term for a remarkable person, object or idea. According to Melanie Schurr, Lulu advertises their printing service as free, but authors need to understand that paper and printing expenses are later deducted from the sale price once the book is purchased from the consumer. However, it is the consumer, not the author who covers this cost, and this was a sweet draw for Schurr. Lulu exec's admit that this type of business structure isn't for everyone. However, according to Melanie Schurr, it seems to be a natural fit. "If I didn't already have an established reader base from my other Christian-related writing projects I don't think this type of arrangement would work as well since I'd have a book, but no exposure for it to sell."
Schurr, a former newspaper columnist for the Colorado Daily, has spent the last seven years as a weekly contributing writer of Christian inspirations for Daily Wisdom, which is sponsored by The Gospel Communications Network. Gospelcom.net touts itself as being the most popular Christian website in the world. Her book, SON Salutations: A Refreshing Collection of Daily Inspirations, is a compilation of her devotions from 1998-2003.
With LuLu Press by her side, Schurr's second book, Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: A Christian marriage manual and life-guide, immediately followed the January 2004 release, as the author states she has working ardently on the books for the last few years. Both books (8.5x11) are available in hardcopy and electronic download at www.Lulu.com/lotusbooks
The authors mirror web site may be found at members.fortunecity.com/melanieschurr
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