By Joanne Gail Johnson
PORT-OF-SPAIN: In the Caribbean, we struggle, like other people around the globe, for increased media autonomy and international participation on our own terms. A long, long, long time ago, before I was a published author, when my childhood love of books was being nourished in Trinidad on the imported imaginings of Dr. Seuss rhyme and Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, I knew that I would one day publish children’s books that reflect life in the Caribbean. With the advent of the internet, and increasing market acceptance of print-on-demand, that dream is now an accessible reality. As a consequence, this year I decided to launch an independent imprint, Meaningful Books.
Meaningful Books leverages the opportunity that print-on-demand offers to take risks in our still grossly under published market. Using picture books as care-giving tools intended to open doors to more meaningful conversations between children and their guardians, the imprint is partnered in Trinidad with a Non-Governmental Organization, Creative Parenting for the New Era.
The inaugural title is Pink Carnival!, about a child known only as Small Man (the precocious street name given to young boys here), who goes on a walkabout around the Queen’s Park Savannah on his Dad’s shoulders. Inspired by the natural beauty of the pink pouii (also called “rain tree”) blossoms, Small Man asks to purchase a pink hat at a vendor’s stall. Dad says, “No, Pink is for girls!” Or is it? Pointing to every manner of pink Small Man can I-Spy during the carnival street parade, his Dad is soon convinced that pink is for everything and anyone, even Mummy’s hair!—as she joins them in her carnival regalia.
Prior to launching Meaningful Books I spent many months researching publishing options locally and online before I settled on the POD services of Xlibris Corporation, in large part because of their affiliation with the name Random House, which I knew and trusted all my reading life. I requested a sample picture book and print version of their promotional brochures, which they promised would reflect the quality of their publications. I was delighted with what I received. And, as it turned out, the picture book of elephants they sent was photo illustrated, just as my inaugural title Pink Carnival! would be. Then Xlibris offered a two-for-one deal that I could not refuse. I jumped!
In September 2008 I submitted the final picture and text manuscript files for Pink Carnival! In November I received, as anticipated, beautifully printed hard and soft cover samples of the full color picture book.
My sales plan, at the time, was to have the book on the shelves of retail outlets either before, during or shortly after our seasonal, annual carnival in February 2009. Next, I would present Pink Carnival! to the media from April through June. This timing was crucial, as our indigenous pink pouii trees, which feature prominently in the book, would soon be blossoming around our island country. With the books available in stores and then in our community libraries, I would embark on a reading tour
Before promoting plans for Pink Carnival!, I sent Xlibris a list of three simple corrections:
1. The credits were not placed how and where I had stipulated.
2. The page numbers were no longer centered in the corner of the pages as they had been in the files I submitted.
3. I wanted the text on the last page changed from pink to white. This was the only correction that reflected a change of mind on my part.
I went on to receive official purchase orders from the National Association of Libraries and Information Services of Trinidad and Tobago for 50 copies; another for 10 copies from an indigenous gifts outlet; and a commitment from a chain of local retail bookstores to carry the book on consignment, including the option of a dedicated shelf space with promotional signage.
However, to date of this writing, November 2, I cannot capitalize on this demand for my book: On receipt of my second set of author review copies, I quickly discovered that not only were my original items of complaint uncorrected, but other, more obvious defects were added. This began a painful process of six (and counting) review copies issued to me: one with a blank white page inserted between pages 14 and 15; another with Dad’s face in a garish (not at all skin-like) red tone, cropped borders with Dad’s shoes falling off the page, Small Man’s neck now visible where his chin should be cropped, soft cover laminates mottled so as to inflict a skin disease on the child pictured, and a clear gray sky that, until now, I had never before seen. Meanwhile, two of the three original items I requested were not corrected until round four!
Needless to say, my original confidence in Xlibris dissolved.
If Xlibris cannot get out a single author’s review copy, produced to standard professional quality, how will they provide consistent quality for an order of 100 copies? If and when we ever get to that stage, I will now have to check each and every one to ensure its “sellable” quality to my booksellers and readers. And what of the copies that will be issued, unchecked by me, via their online store?
Other legitimate questions have arisen as well: Why is it that when I require any changes I must pay a US$50 base fee each time just to get started, but when Xlibris creates errors there is no real compensation? And why do I now feel like I am working unpaid for Xlibris, helping them with quality control?
I had asked for and received a full-color children’s picture book sample which was, indeed, beautiful. But I was never told to expect some “acceptable variation”—an excuse that cropped up somewhere between round four and six of my author’s review copies.
Would it be so hard for Xlibris to advertise honestly; to provide consumers with a list of its picture book limitations, so as to more accurately reflect the Xlibris reality? With this information in the early stages of conception, authors could then design their books to suit Xlibris’ limitations. Even so, Xlibris acknowledged each time that the problems in my situation were unacceptable by their standards, as well as mine.
Ultimately I was offered compensation for my troubles: five free books per each 100 ordered or free shipping on my first order of under 250 copies. (Although they may not in fact be sellable and may mar a hard earned professional reputation). Xlibris says they will guarantee and replace any unacceptable volumes at their own cost.
No one at Xlibris has responded to my request that a guarantee on services and books be published on their web site and extended to their customers, both authors and book buyers alike. I will admit, however, I have received the most polite, “have a nice day” treatment from what sounds like truly sincere individuals. Without exception the Xlibris staff have so far responded to my complaints with an efficient corporate script, but have done little to either ease my concerns or remedy the situation. It is as though the system has lulled everyone into forgetting about the business of printing books. Any manager worth his or her salt would never have allowed book after book after book to be shipped with these printing errors, all proudly displaying the Xlibris logo. The negligence was such that my six year old easily spotted the errors on his own, giving rise to yet another valid question: What do you call “banana republic” standards when they originate in corporations based in the First World?
In Trinidad, a small island country with a relatively high literacy rate, but with a market still very young in exploring its pleasure for culturally relevant books, I enjoy the support and patronage of Moms and market leaders. But for now, this island author is waiting in good faith knowing Carnival will come again next year and the pink pouiis may bloom around Port-of-Spain, but still wondering if and when Xlibris will deliver?
Joanne Gail Johnson has published numerous books for children, including Ibis Stew? Oh, No! and the forthcoming The Donkey and the Racehorse. She is acquisitions editor for the Island Fiction series published by Macmillan Caribbean and has served since 2006 as the founding Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators-Caribbean South.
EMAIL: Joanne Gail Johnson directly.
VIEW: Her website and blog for Macmillan Caribbean’s Island Fiction series.
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Bonus Material: Is Xlibris Profiting More from Selling Publicity than Printing? | Publishing Perspectives
9 months ago
[...] part of the compensation for her troubles with Xlibris (outlined in our feature article), Joanne Gail Johnson was offered what appeared to be a generous marketing plan, including an offer [...]
E.F. Slattery
9 months ago
While I understand Joanne’s exasperation with Xlibris, I think this is more a cautionary tale about Xlibris in particular or about self-publishing, rather than the cautionary tale about POD as a whole that the title makes it out to be. If I had a lousy experience with one kind of pasta brand, I wouldn’t write off pasta entirely.
Self-publishers now have a host of other options than Xlibris, including (for ebooks) Smashwords and Shortcovers, and (for print) FastPencil and CreateSpace.
Theresa M. Moore
9 months ago
Joanne, you should have gone with Lulu for the fast cheap end and Lightning Source (Ingram) for the professional printing/distribution end. When I started self-publishing in 2006 I went with Lulu first, and I have had no problems with getting what I set out to create. I would not recommend Createspace because they are exclusively tied to Amazon, and you would want to have full distribution to the global marketplace. Createspace is also not very good at paying the publishers (you), so Lulu is the best option so far. For ebooks I have Lulu, Smashwords and Digital Text Platform (Kindle). You should never judge the self-publishing experience by one bad publishing service. I have even published a book about self-publishing, “PRINCIPLES OF SELF-PUBLISHING: How to Publish and Market A BOOK On a Shoestring Budget” (in a rev. ed., soon to be published in its 2nd edition in January), so I know what I am talking about.
J.L. Powers
9 months ago
I agree with Theresa M. Moore. For Catalyst Book Press, my non-fiction imprint, I’ve used POD from Bookmobile and also Lightning Source and have been very satisfied with both companies (plus Lightning Source has the added benefit of being associated with Ingram’s and having an agreement with Baker & Taylor, so any bookstore anywhere can order my press’s books). I did have one problem with an order of 100 books from Lightning Source but they replaced the copies free of charge.
Mick
9 months ago
I can only concur with the comment observations above. What puzzled me was that a small imprint would choose to use Xlibris as an author solutions service. If you are serious about self-publishing and creating your own brand and range of books through an imprint, you really must go to print source, and there are several highly reputable ones like Lightning Source, Fastprint Worldwide and Ondemand. Using Xlibris and other companies like AuthorHouse, when you are serious about self-publishing, to the point of considering it a business endeavor,is like introducing a needless middleman operation. It eats into your potential profits in an already tight business model (particularly for picture books) and you are not dealing with the people who actually print the book product.
One thing not pointed out so far is that Xlibris, like many POD self-publishing operations actually use Lightning Source themselves for the print and fulfillment. Clearly, the errors in the product occurred from the time Xlibris uploaded the PDF file to their system and the corruptions occurred then.
In defense of Xlibris, I would say that POD color book production is not nearly at the developed stage as standard black & white interior text books. In fact, black and white interior quality is within 90% of what litho offset can produce. Only a qualified industry print professional will spot the differences in smell (I kid you not), the rub of a finger across the printed page, and the cover gloss finish.
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9 months ago
[...] A Cautionary Tale about PODThis is bothersome. Xlibris really needs to respond to this, with good answers. [...]
Joanne Johnson
8 months ago
So many helpful responses. The options are developing and changing so fast – when I found Author Solutions I was told they are the same print source. I am not convinced that my experience would be different since they declined to comment when I queried my issues. Also e-books are another option, this is based on the presumption that everyone in the world has a computer at home/ in school etc. IN our domestic market this is changing and growing but just not the case. I do still want the option of a printed book. I wonder if those who have had positive experiences here printed full page photo-illustrated picture books? I also had problems not mentioned in the article with other basic professional services – eg although I signed on for the full professional grade custom package expecting the creatives working on my project to be everything promised I chose to pay additionally and hire someone locally to work with on lay out etc because the quality was in some instances less than student grade. Regardless of whether I am deemed a ’serious’ self-publisher is not so relevant to my story. Is a company promises something then they ought to deliver regardless of the consumer’s level of expertise real or perceived. Print on Demand companies promising to do it all for you with professional grade results should do just that. And to me it is an issue of general POD because for those in the Developing countries there may additional hitches when we hire services outside our country/ region- the $$ conversion rates, the shipping – eg the latest review copy was shipped to me by Xlibris snail mail in August and has not yet arrived here. Despite the woes they refused to break stride with in house systems and use courier service which I offered to pay for to expedite the situation.YET my credit card works just fine and my payments to them go through immediately. My investment and risk is therefor substantially greater and up to now there has been no recourse; no satisfaction. It is very unsettling because if this were the other way around we would have to hear about the Third World Banana republic standards.
cj madigan
8 months ago
One of the things that is often overlooked in POD is the role of a professional book designer. Although services such as XLibris, lulu.com, etc. offer design services, they are often cookie-cutter and, as Joanne discovered, “student grade” or less. Working with a professional book designer well before an author even decides on the printing and distribution service or services, can result in much less agrevation, fewer errors, and ultimately more profit.
Toni Sands
8 months ago
My novel ‘Suddenly You Know’ was published by the YouWriteOn scheme earlier this year. I have no complaints about the quality. I didn’t have time to produce my own cover but so far (long may it continue) I have received nothing but positive feedback from readers. Check out on Amazon for reviews. And please order the book if you’re into romantic comedy with a difference. I think we have to keep an open mind re publishing (in all its forms) these days.
mimi
8 months ago
Sounds like Lulu and Lightning Source are good bets. Howt does the Ingram connection benefit authors using Lightning Source? Will Ingram guarantee that it will distribute all books printed by Lightning Source? If not, what’s the necessary criteria?
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8 months ago
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emma m
5 months ago
I used Xlibris in 2002 and it was ok, needed help getting my covers right colors. I ordered books July 2009 and still have not received them, March 2010. Today I found out another customer rep I was using was gone and the new one did not know anything. They told my last summer they “lost my art files” so I repaid my designer to reproduce them. Then today they told me “No we always had your files here.” OK, I missed an opportunity to do a reading last summer, then could not plan any more because they do not print the books correctly, and I mean cut out of square, dead flesh as the background color, inner pages with paragraphs cut off and so on.
They do have a script to read but today, it was colossal, it was a back room police interrogation technique. I was asked to repeat what the problem was, to the same person, over and over for 45 minutes. I broke and refused, was transferred to customer satisfaction. Also I find lots of copies of my book for sale USED on Amazon and Alibris, more than I ever supposedly sold. If anyone is doing “business” with Xlibris I would be on high alert as to royalties they claim are due, and yes, go ahead and do it all yourself in the future.
It seemed like a good idea at the time I did it because I was ill and could not endure the hunt for an agent like when I was young. Now no one even wants to see the book because it was printed with Xlibris which is considered a Vanity Press.
When I stop crying I might be able to write another novel about a writer who tries to use a POD company and then finds out it outsourced all its employees to a country with no wage or labor laws.