Books-a-Million Outsourced Its Self-Pub Unit to an Iffy Services Company - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. There our kitty boy found a post about Books-a-Million's BAM Publishing.

Self-publishing really is complicated.

According to a post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Books-a-Million's BAM Publishing now contracts it's author services through a vanity publisher. Apparently, this isn't obvious at the BAM Publishing site and takes some sleuthing to find out. Mr. Hoffelder quotes a post at the Indies Unlimited site as reporting that although BAM uses the FastPencil software platform, their other services now go through vanity publisher Infinity Publishing. There's a link included in the post to the original Indies Unlimited post.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Maybe they just don't want you to know who they use."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to read today's selection or, if you plan to follow the link to the second selection, bring another cup of tea and muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Books A Million

Books-A-Million and FastPencil have formed a partnership - AL.com

Today, Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took to the AL.com site. There our brave kitty pilot found a post about Books-A-Million and FastPencil.

That's a lot of money.

According to the post by Kelly Poe, Books-A-Million and FastPencil have announced the formation of a new partnership. As part of the partnership Books-A-Million bookstores will begin selling self-published books by FastPencil authors. The caveat self-published authors must be aware of is that FastPencil must be hired to do the book editing and distribution to Books-A-Million. The cost of these editing packages begin at $1,100.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You'll have to sell a lot of books to get your money back."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Books-A-Million

FastPencil Sold Back To Steve Wilson

Mom here. The house is mostly back to normal today with only a couple of things to replace from the water damage.

So, Panzer was free to hit the Catosphere today. He went to see what's been going on over at Publishers' Weekly.

My big brave kitty boy found a post by Jim Milliot and Calvin Reid about FastPencil. According to the post Steve Wilson is buying FastPencil back. Turns out FastPencil is a partner in the Books-A-Million self-publishing platform. Panzer already told you about the BAM! publishing platform's pickup locations for print books. 

Let's look again.

Panzer says, "I wasn't too sure about this new platform, but maybe the BAM! publishing needs another look if FastPencil is part of it."

To read the post, tootle over to FastPencil

Enter A New DIY Publishing Company

Be careful. Always read everything first.

Panzer found an interesting post at the Publishers' Weekly site today.

It seems Books-A-Million (BAM) is jumping into the do-it-yourself (DIY) self-publishing market. According to a post by Clare Swanson, BAM will be offering print books, ebooks, and distribution services to indie authors. There's a link in the post to the BAM site so you can decide if this option might be for you.

Panzer says, "Be careful! The post says you can pick up your print books in South Portland, Maine or Birmingham, Ala. Unless you live near one of these cities, it's an awfully long trip to get your print books!"

To read the full post, tootle over to BAM self-publishing