I want to share a story about expanded book distribution.  I publish tax textbooks though CreateSpace and in 2010, I used their expanded distribution channel, which means that the books became available through LSI, too. I do a new edition every year, and I went into my CreateSpace account on January 31st to retire the old editions. The new editions will be released on March 1st.

I've contacted CreateSpace support 4 times-- by e-mail and by phone, but apparently, the customer service department can't help stop expanded distribution, even though it would probably just take a call to LSI to permanently retire the titles. I've even called LSI, and I was transferred to a dozen different people before someone finally hung up on me. Compared to Createspace, LSI's customer service is even worse.

My big problem is that LSI is still printing and releasing copies of the old edition, and I am powerless to stop it. A few of the books are still available on Amazon as new (not just through third party sellers) which means that copies are still being produced, even though I canceled expanded distribution over two weeks ago.

When I contacted CreateSpace the last time, the operator was sympathetic, but she told me that it would probably take six weeks. That's just not good-- because that means that the old edition will still be selling while the new edition is active.

I'm afraid that customers will buy the old edition by mistake, and in fact it has already happened, because I was contacted by one of my own customers about this very issue.

I'll find out for sure what is happening at the end of the month when the sales from my "expanded distribution" are reported. I think my fears will be confirmed, and I expect to have sales reported for every single title that I have retired.
CreateSpace needs to find a way to manage the expanded distribution channel better.

Since I am the Copyright holder, and I have essentially stopped my permissions for these titles, then no one should be producing any more copies. It's not like they have offset copies lying around-- LSI has to actually produce one every time there's a new order.

This little fiasco has confirmed my fears and this year, I am going to try and use both LSI and CreateSpace-- that will give me better control over my best-selling product
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Question: Do you know anyone who is making a real living using POD?

Answer: Yes! I can give you plenty of examples of writers who are making a fine living self-publishing. I'm making a very good living using POD. I have one Kindle book in print.
 
Here are some other authors that are "making it" with POD or self-publishing on the Kindle:

1. Joe Konrath
2. Zoe Winters
3. Aaron Shepard
4. Dan Poynter
5. Morris Rosenthal
6. Nick Russell (Founder of the Gypsy Journal and my co-Author on the Step By Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit)

I have never been published by any traditional press, although I have had articles published in mainstream magazines.

My bestselling books are technical in nature and my potential buyer market is very small (about 10,000 people take a specialized tax exam every year, and I write a study guide for it). I started with nothing, and it took four years to get where I am now.

My point is that anyone can do this, as long as they are stubborn enough and have fairly good writing skills. I say "fairly good writing skills," because what most people don't realize is that this business is 90% stubbornness and 10% talent. You have to work hard, long, and have a thick skin.

You have to accept rejection, criticism, and still get up and write every day with no guarantee of sales or success. That takes a special type of crazy. If you can manage to ignore all the voices that tell you that you are "never going to make it," then you can make a living as a writer.
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Question: I am thinking about self publishing, but I want to make sure that I am going to be successful. Are there any self-published "bestsellers" out there?


Answer: Yes! There are many examples of self-published books that go on to sell thousands and even millions of copies. Authors Dan Poynter and Aaron Shepard have both sold hundreds of thousands of copies (perhaps millions at this point) and they have been successfully self-publishing for years.


That being said, you need to realize that publishing is always a gamble, and even many traditionally published books don't make it. Make sure your book is as professional as possible, and you have a better chance at success. 
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