Frequently Asked Questions
about Cambridge Books
1. What is Cambridge Books?
Cambridge Books is the paperback arm of Write Words, Inc. It is operated as a print-on-demand, or POD publisher, because if we kept an inventory, we couldn't afford to stay in business. These are "trade paperbacks" and are much larger than mass market paperbacks. In fact they are exactly the same as a hardcover book, except they are bound in paper.
2. Why are they priced so high?
A print-on-demand or POD book is not printed until after the publisher has orders. Mass market books are printed in large lots and it's cheaper to do more copies at a time. Ten thousand copies sit in a warehouse somewhere and bookstores order them through distributors. At the end of the year, the mass market publisher dumps all the warehoused copies to avoid the inventory tax and then prints more, if there is a demand for them.
Because POD books are not printed until after they are sold, production and printing costs are much higheer. No copies ever get remaindered, or sent to a landfill. But printing one at a time is more expensive than printing in larger lots,hence the increased cost. This is also why we choose the "Trade" papeback format, as people expect to pay more for them.
Okay, they cost more. Are there any advantages to doing it this way?
Yes. Booksurge, our printers, have global distribution. That means that just as ebooks are sold internationally, our paperbacks are for sale world wide. If a customer in England, or Austrailia, or Europe, orders a book, it is printed locally and mailed locally. No International shipping bills. No excise taxes. No duty, because the book is produced from electronic data set up here, and printed in the country in which it is sold. Because all the printers use the same data, books should be identical.
Another advantage is that they do not waste natural resources to print books destined to be thrown away if not purchased within a month or two of hitting the stores.
Will I find my books stocked in book stores?
Most bookstores, especially chain bookstores purchase only through a distributor. They are not disposed to change and POD is new technology. They get a bigger discount through regular channels. They can, however, order your book direct if they will fax a purchase order to the publisher. This is why our fax number is on the information page of every book we publish. If you give them the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) they can go to www.bowker.com and find out the publisher and order as well. But if you give them the information, it will save them a step. Many of our books are also distributed by Baker & Taylor and they are available on line from amazon.com and booksurge.com.
Will I see ads for my book in the newspapers and Publisher's Weekly?
Probably not. We are a small press and our advertising budget is almost non-existent. But we can make for you Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) to send to review
sources and so on.
What is the difference between an ARC and a Published Book?
The ARC usually has no bar code. It is marked as a review copy and not for resale. Reviewers do not expect all mistakes to have been corrected as most ARCs are made from final gallies before final proofreading. Once you have ordered all the ARCs you need, we will switch the covers for the one with the bar code, correct any final errors, and go to press again. When that process is complete, your book will go on sale, even if the "publication date" is still months away. In fact, the best time ti curculate ARCs is from 6 to 3 months before the actual publication date.
Some writers choose to skip the ARC process and go straight to press, especially those who don't care to work toward reviews. Some have a rubber stamp made that says "Advance Review Copy, Not for resale and stamp that on the title page.
Hey, my contract says the publication date is October of next YEAR. Do I really have to wait THAT long?
NO. Once the ARC files are replaced by the final files, advance copies of the book will go on sale on line, We usually aim to finish the ARCS between 6 and 3 months before the scheduled release date of the book
Does having a later publication date mean I can take my time with the galleys?
Not really. Galleys should be returned within a couple of weeks if at all possible. No one can do the impossible, though. If you are ill, or your house burns down, no one expects you to do the galleys That Week. Also, the galleys should have all the corrections needed, too. So don't do a rush job.
But this is not the time to change things on a whim. The Fewer changes to the galley, the fewer
mistakes in the final copy of the book. A long delay with galleys will mean an equally long delay in the production of your book. The sooner you return the galleys to us, the sooner they will go to press. So if your "Official" publication date is October, don't wait until August to get the galleys to us. Send them back in April, and your ARCs can be printed by June. Advanced copies can be on sale as early as July.