Platforms to create and sell your own books

Create and publish a book, magazine or ebook with Blurb's self-publishing platform. Sell & distribute globally with print on demand or offset printing.
1) Select a format
2) Design your book
3) Order your book for print
4) Sell your book - on blurb or amazon
5) Formats- trade book, magazines, photo books,
6) Book types- food and cookbooks, photography, memoirs, children’t books, portfolios, business books, novels and poetry
7) Photobooks- yearbooks, wedding, baby, family, travel, coffee table, Instagram
8) Self publishing- creation and layout tools, volume pricing, printing, sell on blurb and/or amazon, ingram distribution, warehousing and fulfilment
9) Professional services

About blurb: Blurb® is a self-publishing and marketing platform that unleashes the creative genius inside everyone. Blurb’s platform makes it easy to design, publish, promote, and sell professional-quality printed books and ebooks.

Blurb was founded by Eileen Gittins in 2005, and includes a team of design, Internet and media veterans who share a passion for helping people bring their stories to life. Blurb authors have created millions of books using our full suite of free book-making tools, and today a new book is created every minute. Blurb is based in San Francisco with offices in London.

CreateSpace provides free and paid tools to help you self-publish and distribute your books, DVDs, CDs, and video downloads on-demand on Amazon.com and other channels.

Free tools

• Interior Reviewer
• Cover Creator
• Preview
• Image Gallery

Paid Services

• Microsoft Editing without contact with editor: $160 up to 10,000 words, $.016/word above 10k words
• Microsoft Line Editing with letter from editor using The Chicago Manual of Style $210 for 10k words, $.021/word for each word above
• 2 rounds of editing- first structure, plot, character and tone; then grammar, punctuation, spelling $300 for up to 10,000 words, $.03/word above
• Custom Cover=- one image without manipulation, cover layout and background colors, typography, one round of revisions (not to image), one design presented $399
• Adjust interior PDF to submission requirements for Amazon $149 with phone support
• Text only simple interior of one of ten pre-designed interior templates for Kindle $249
• Custom interior of footnotes, endnotes, lists, quotations, excerpted text; chapters and sections, up to 10 author supplied interior images, enhances text for reader friendly fonts $349
• Supported cover takes your PDF and ensures meets with Amazon submission requirements $99
• Simple kindle conversion $79
• Marketing copy: tagline, BISAC category, 5 keywords, book description, back cover text, author bio $249
• 1 Kirkus indie review- $425 in 7-9 weeks or $575 in 4-6 weeks
• Library of Congress database $25

Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a fast, easy and free way for authors and publishers to keep control and publish their books worldwide on the Kindle and Kindle reading apps.

Rather than charging you to create for kindle, they create and sell on kindle and pay you back a "toyalty" or percentage of the sale.

35% royalty options (which means your cost is 65% of sales price) is for

• less than 3 megabytes with list price of $.99-$200
• 3 or more megabytes under 10 megabyte with list price of $1.99-$200
• 10 megabytes of greater with list price of $2.99- $9.99

70% royalty option (your cost is 30% of list price)

• list price $2.99- $9.99
• The 70% royalty option applies only to purchases of qualifying Digital Books by customers in certain territories. For example: UK Pounds with VAT price of $1.99, file size 1MB
• Promotional List Price in US dollars of $5.99, $1.99, 1 MB size, only sold on Amazon
• Must set and adjust list price so it's at least 20% below the list price in any sales channel for any physical edition of the digital book. This appears to be highly limited- so count on your cost with the kindle program of being 65% of list price.

Whether you're a teacher, photographer or hobbyist, share your expertise. Create & self publish your book today

Whether you're a teacher, photographer or hobbyist, share your expertise. Create & self publish your book today.

• Types of books: hardcovers, paperback, ebooks, calendars.
• Options: size, binding, interior print, standard paperback, premium paperback, professional hardcover, photo books, calendars.
• Professional services starting at $999.
• Sell via lulu, amazon, kindle, Barnes and Noble, iBooks.

Lulu.com's mission -- making content creation and consumption a simpler and more rewarding experience for people around the world.
Since introducing self-publishing in 2002, Lulu.com has empowered creators in more than 225 countries and territories to produce nearly two million publications. 

Providing self-published authors with customized book publishing services, 100% royalties, one-on-one support, expert book design, editing and marketing.

Print Publishing Base Plan-$799

• Online access to PubSmart
• Customer support M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT
• Manuscript cleanup and preparation
• Custom interior layout design
• ISBN, LCCN, and barcode
• Physical and electronic proofs of your book
• $50 credit toward complimentary copies
• Amazon Look Inside! submission
• Google Books submission
• 100% rights and royalties

Manuscript Evaluation $599

• A detailed summary of editing, packaging, and marketing solutions to maximize your book’s commercial potential
• A suggested editing level based on the developmental and grammatical concerns outlined in the evaluation
• A summary of any potential liability concerns
• Feedback on your proposed title/subtitle based on comparable books on the market
• A discussion of your book and evaluation during an in-house staff meeting. These meetings are designed to better prepare the staff for your publishing project, based on the needs of the manuscript described in the evaluation.

Cover Design $399

• Two front cover concepts
• Up to five rounds of revisions on your chosen cover concept
• Full, print-ready cover, which includes the spine and back cover
• One round of revisions to the full cover

Enhanced Formatting $199

• Tables
• More images than text
• Recipes
• Poetry
• Text borders
• Shaded boxes
• Sidebars
• Call-out quotes
• Numbered or bulleted lists
• Equations

Distribution

• Expanded distribution includes marketing plan, book buyer representation $1,199
• Print on Demand $399 using Ingram or CreateSpace for Amazon, BN.com, Lighting Source and Create Space sales reports, (Lightening Source representative can assist with printing, shipping and other distribution)
• Print on Demand with returns $599
• Annual book Ordering Program

Marketing

• Marketing Consultation $199
• Amazon Exposure $299
• Amazon Keyword Listing (ebook only) $99
• Facebook Fan Page $299
• Facebook Advertising Campaign $499
• Twitter Profile $299
• Goodreads Profile $399
• Goodreads Advertising Campaign $399
• Digital Book Reviewer $399
• Author Branding Package $1,699 - Facebook page, twitter profile, hootsuite, goodreads page, goodreads ad campaign, amazon exposure program
• Author Website $799
• Website Media Kit $99
• Bookstore Sell Sheet $99
• Press Release $199

Make children's storybooks online for free. Get your book published to share with family. Read stories in our free online children's book library.

Geared first toward teachers, the books have a three step process of learning

• Learning and educate including lesson plans and how to incorporate my storybook into the classroom
• Build your storybook - Add characters, pictures, drawings, and writing.
• Buy a high quality, printable eBook for $5 or share your story online for free.

SAVE up to 50% on hardcover photo books made by Shutterfly. Create a photo book to preserve your favorite digital memories in a beautiful, long-lasting way.

How to make:
Customize your photobook the way your want

• Add, move and resize pictures and text anywhere
• Extensive collection of new backgrounds, layouts & embellishments
• 1-30 pictures per page (up to 1000 pictures)
• Six sizes starting From $15.99

** Simple Path- they place your photos in your book**

• Pictures arranged for you. Then easily rearrange or add captions
• More than 40 styles with preset backgrounds and layouts
• 1-30 pictures per page (up to 1000 pictures)
• Six sizes starting From $15.99

Make My Book- Professional Designers will make photos book for you including curating your photos

• Choose your size and style 8 cover types, upto 111 pages, layflat option. Photo sources from shutterfuly account, your computer, share sites, Facebook, Instagram
• Upload your photos, we’ll even curate them
• Your book will be ready for review in 3 days
• Free to get started. Service fee applied only when you order

Examples of options and prices

• Customize Layout (move and resize photos and add text)
• Styles: 20 with designer, 40 with simple path, 200+ with custom path
• Pre-designed Idea Pages
• New Spanish Character customization
• Stylish Embellishments
• Choose font type, size and color
• Premium books with layflat pages (about 440- $70 extra)
• Choose from 6 sizes- 7x9, 8x8, (from $29.99) 8x11 (from $39.99) , 10x10 (from $49.99) , 12x12 (from $44.99), 11x14 (from $74.99)
• Select backgrounds
• Mini photo book to transform Instagram or VSCO photos
• Cover types with 20 pages included: soft cover, ($15.99- 429.99) Photo (Hard photo cover $29.99-$74.99), hard photo cover with matte finish ($34.99-$89.99) , padded ($34.99- $89.99) , cloth with die-cut window ($34.99- $89.99) , linen with die cut window ($44.99- 499.99), leather with die cut window ($44.99- $99.99) , premium leather, crushed silk (in layflat pages- $109.99- $219.99)
• Pages included with price- 20. Each additional page .65 cents -$2.20 up to 111 pages.
• Photo sources: Shutterfly account, your computer, share sites, Facebook, Instagram
• Photo editing tools: Rotate, crop, red-eye, effects, image resolution check
• Shipping prices: economy (1 book $4.99 - $11.99), standard ($10.99 - $14.99), expedited ($14.99- $19.99) Rush ($21.99 - $29.99), Canada ($6.99- $29.99), International ($13.99 - $15.99 plus taxes, duties and customs- price goes down per number of books sent of same book

Types of books- Have over 80 photo book ideas for inspiration

• Memory book
• Recipe book
• Portfolio of children's' art
• Seasonal photo album
• Birthday book for kids
• School Memory Book for Teens

Cover Examples

• Hard photo cover with glossy finish
• Hard photo cover with matte finish
• Die-cut Cover with Cloth or Leather
• Premium Leather Cover
• Premium Crushed Silk Cover

Other product formats other than books with photos:

• Cards and stationary
• Prints
• Calendars

Personalized Gifts Examples

• Paperweights
• Ceramic Tiles
• Decanters
• Growlers
• Pilsner Glasses
• Memory Games
• Wine Glasses & Mason JarsDesktop plaques
• Personalized Frames
• Ceramic Tiles

• Art Prints

• Framed Pints

• Ceramic Mugs
• Jewelry

Home Decor Examples

• Wall Art
• Bedding
• Pillows
• Fleece Photo Blankets
• Glass Prints
• Photo Quilts
• Photo Cubes
• Candles
• Shower Curtains (about $79.99)
• Magnets
• Woven Photo Blankets
• Outdoor Pillows
• Serving Trays
• Shams
• Table Runners
• Plates
• Cups
• Placemats
• Wine Glasses & Mason Jars
• Glass Plates
• Coasters

Design Studio

• Inspiration
• Trends and tastemakers
• Styling Ideas and Tips
• DIY and Downloadables
• Home Decor Tips for non book products
• Events with celebrities and celebrity stylists

Shutterfly brands

• Shutterfly
• Tinyprints
• Wedding Paper Divas
• Groovebook
• My publisher
• BL

Business Solutions

• Multi channel
• Electronic and print medium
• 5- 5 million in each
• Can create 1-1 targeted communications
• order management portal
• automated content tool
• 4-color print production, digital asset management, call center support, electronic marketing, design
• e-commerce/ e-transactions -Shutterfly teams create the websites, social media, direct-to-consumer
• case study: Starwood Hotels: Thank you gift for their preferred guest members- coffee table starwood book or a customizable photo memory collection (on demand production of high quality photo books where members placed order on a weekly basis and books shipped same week.)
• Case Study: Sharper Agent: real estate marketing for realtors to give better service to clients. Using Sharper Agent's tools, agents can create customized collateral and marketing campaigns to promote properties. Created options for direct mail and collateral available in digital print space.

The easiest way to make your own book - try us out - it's free and very easy to create a book account. Add text, photos and illustrations.

Maxi - largest book

• 8 x 11 inches
• Hard cover (28-100 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $43
• Soft cover (24-100 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $26
• Spiral binding (4-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $8.50
• Staple binding (8-36 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $8.50
• Paperback (24-500 pages, minimum 10 books/order) Note! black/white inlay, full color cover
• From $9.19/book (24 pages)
• 10-99 pcs: $9.89/book
• 100 pcs or more: $9.19/book

Classic - the original

• 5.3 x 8.3 inches
• Hard cover (28-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $39.85
• Soft cover (24-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $24.50
• Spiral binding (4-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $7
• Staple binding (8-36 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $7
• Paperback (24-500 pages, minimum 10 books/order) Note! b/w inlay, full color cover
• From $8.86/book (24 pages)
• 10-99 pcs: $9.59/book
• 100 pcs or more: $8.86/book

Square

• 7 x 7 inches
• Hard cover (28-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $43
• Soft cover (24-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $26
• Spiral binding (4-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $8.50
• Staple binding (8-36 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $8.50
• Paperback (24-500 pages, minimum 10 books/order) Note! b/w inlay, full color cover
• From $9.19/book (24 pages)
• 10-99 pcs: $9.89/book
• 100 pcs or more: $9.19/book

Panorama - photo book

• 8.3 x 5.3 inches
• Hard cover (28-100 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $39.85
• Soft cover (24-100 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $24.50
• Spiral binding (4-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $7
• Staple binding (8-36 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $7
• Paperback (24-500 pages, minimum 10 books/order) Note! b/w inlay, full color cover
• From $8.86/book (24 pages)
• 10-99 pcs: $9.59/book
• 100 pcs or more: $8.86/book

Maxi Panorama

• 11 x 8 inches
• Hardcover (28-100 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $49.85
• Spiral binding (4-300 pages) Cover and inlay in full colour
• From $18.50

Flat rate shipping $8.50 for one book

Create ebooks using the EPub platform. Convert a PDF to EPub in MS Windows only. It says it has the ability to sell your ebooks and other digital assets, but have not found information on what's included (membership was mentioned once, but does not seem to be a membership platform. Content hubs were mentioned, but again can not find the functionality of how they define creating a content hub.)

Theme Circle is another Wordpress theme marketplace with over 4000 curated themes for Download.