Book publisher?

[scooterbug44]

Does anyone know of a local business or internet site where I can get a book printed for a reasonable price? It would be approximately 10 copies of a 40 page book - no pictures or color.

My great-grandmother wrote a short autobiography and I thought it would be a great gift for my family if I retyped it/put it in a computer and had it printed & bound. I think I am the only great-grandchild who has ever read it and there is some great stuff in there.

[kurt]

Not sure about minimum quantities but check www.blurb.com

[beachmouse]

For bigger runs, Mr. Mouse uses Tom White the Printer in Pensacola. He thinks you'd be better off using a Kinko's sort of place for a ten book run.

[scooterbug44]

Thanks, can they make "book" books at Kinkos? I'm not doing anything fancy as far as color, font etc, but want a nice finished product that is a book as opposed to a pamphlet/manual etc.

[Dune-AHH]

Scbg44 -- What a lovely idea for your family. I don't know any publishers but am interested to hear the follow-up on the solution you ultimately choose. I'd like to do something similar...

[sowalgayboi]

You never made books in school? PM or call me and we'll talk. ;-)

[scooterbug44]

You never made books in school? PM or call me and we'll talk. ;-)

Yes, but I was shooting higher than badly cut construction paper tied together w/ yarn :biggrin:.

Would be VERY cool if I could make something presentable as most of the sites are running more than $20 a book before shipping.

[NoHall]

Is there a 2nd hand book store somewhere down there? We used to have a grayt one here, and the owner knew quite a bit about book binding...:idontno:

[scooterbug44]

That is exactly what I need - a book binder!

I know a great little shop in Florence that would do a fabulous job, but think the budget dictates a closer shop!

[Sea Sothebys]

The guys at CopySystems in SRB do a great job. They may have what you need.

[scooterbug44]

Thanks, are they on 98 near the original Fabrice?

[jpbhen]

kinko's or office depot or staples can do a book that is bound with a comb binder - like a lot of cookbooks have. you could also design and print covers for the books. that's what we did for school projects, pta cookbooks, etc. they work great, look great, and are inexpensive. my sister bought her own small comb binder (you can get supplies at office depot, etc) and writes and binds personalized books for her grandchildren.

[scooterbug44]

Thank you, but I want a real binding, not a comb binder or similar. My idea was to make something durable that could be passed down for several more generations, which is why I was trying to find an online publisher or local book binder. It's a really cool story and I want to do it justice.

Her autobiography starts w/ my great great grandfather's emigration to the US to avoid military service in Germany pre-WWI (my great great great grandparents tagged along too), includes her childhood activities of making skis out of barrel staves to ski down the sides of indian mounds, her summers homesteading in Montana in a sod house/dugout, and only seeing her husband once a month for 6 years during the depression when he went to Chicago for work to support the family.

[TreeFrog]

You want a company that the publishing business calls a "vanity press". They are companies that specialize in low-volume private runs of books. They can do proper printings, with paper, type, bindings, etc. to your specs.

I wish I knew one I could recommend. Google and Wikipedia both have lots of links you can use to find one. Good luck.

[scooterbug44]

The one Kurt posted a link for looks promising, my google searches were coming up with sites for serious authors willing to pony up hundreds and thousands to start the process and many warnings from BBB et al.

I was trying to find someone local so I'll check out Copysystems.

Think sowalgayboi severely overestimates my ability to do something creative without supervision and duct tape :blush:.

[LightWorker]

This is such a cool idea !!

:wub:

[savvytangerine]

I have never used any of these before - but thought more options would be helpful.

http://www.lulu.com/

This one really caught me attention: http://memorypress.familylearn.com/family-history-publishing/

Let us know how it goes!

[Geo]

Does anyone know of a local business or internet site where I can get a book printed for a reasonable price? It would be approximately 10 copies of a 40 page book - no pictures or color.

My great-grandmother wrote a short autobiography and I thought it would be a great gift for my family if I retyped it/put it in a computer and had it printed & bound. I think I am the only great-grandchild who has ever read it and there is some great stuff in there.

Hi Scooterbug,

Check out booksurge.com

I don't know if they do the vanity publishing but it is a great resource for self publishers...

And pls do share who you decide to go with and the result, lessons learned, etc.

Cheers,
G

P.S. Neat idea!

[Dune-AHH]

Thank you, but I want a real binding, not a comb binder or similar. My idea was to make something durable that could be passed down for several more generations, which is why I was trying to find an online publisher or local book binder. It's a really cool story and I want to do it justice.

Her autobiography starts w/ my great great grandfather's emigration to the US to avoid military service in Germany pre-WWI (my great great great grandparents tagged along too), includes her childhood activities of making skis out of barrel staves to ski down the sides of indian mounds, her summers homesteading in Montana in a sod house/dugout, and only seeing her husband once a month for 6 years during the depression when he went to Chicago for work to support the family.

I'm already captivated... I adore family stories & particularly ones that include a homesteading element. I wonder if they were anywhere near the Doig's in Montana(as in Ivan Doig, author of The Whistling Season)?

[beachmouse]

If you do go through with it, could I suggest that you see if any libraries around where she grew up would be interested in a copy of it. Some of them take an interest in archiving state/local history and welcome those kinds of journals in their collections.

[sowalgayboi]

Yes, but I was shooting higher than badly cut construction paper tied together w/ yarn :biggrin:.

Would be VERY cool if I could make something presentable as most of the sites are running more than $20 a book before shipping.

:moon: We acually did it with clothe and wood or pressed cardboard. I was also offering you a handons training, with plenty of instruction. Oh well you try to be nice. :idontno:

[elgordoboy]

:moon: We acually did it with clothe and wood or pressed cardboard. I was also offering you a handons training, with plenty of instruction. Oh well you try to be nice. :idontno:
Haha...I' sure that means to read hands on but I was yawning as I was reading and saw the first n as an r. Thought "what have I stumbled into?"

[scooterbug44]

I'm already captivated... I adore family stories & particularly ones that include a homesteading element. I wonder if they were anywhere near the Doig's in Montana(as in Ivan Doig, author of The Whistling Season)?

Great grandma's homestead was near Albion, Montana about 50 miles north of Belle Forche, South Dakota.

[sowalgayboi]

Great grandma's homestead was near Albion, Montana about 50 miles north of Belle Forche, South Dakota.

You mean someone owns something in Montana other than the Federal Government and Ted Turner? :biggrin:

[scooterbug44]

Since she sold it to help pay for my grandma's and great aunt/uncle's college Ted might own it now. :idontno: