New Books on Demand Service Enables Self-Published Authors to Sell Through Amazon.com

An interview with CreateSpace Co-founder and Managing Director Dana LoPiccolo-Giles on her company’s new service

Founded in 2002 as an on-demand distributor of DVDs, CustomFlixLabs Inc. was acquired by Amazon.com in 2005 and later added a CD on Demand service to its growing portfolio. Last month, the company experienced another growth spurt, announcing a new company name, CreateSpace, as well as the launch of a new Books on Demand service for self-publishing authors.

The service allows authors to offer their works for sale through Amazon.com, the CreateSpace.com site and via their own free, customizable eStore without inventory, setup fees or minimum orders. CreateSpace manufactures on-demand and ships the books direct to the customer, and the author earns a royalty fee (which is calculated by subtracting the following costs from the sale price of the book: a standard $3.15/unit charge, a per-page fee for black and white or color printing, and a 20-percent share for books sold on eStore or a 30-percent share for books sold on Amazon.com).

Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CreateSpace, spoke with Book Business Extra about the company’s latest endeavor.

Extra: Describe the new CreateSpace Books on Demand service.

Dana LoPiccolo-Giles: Books on Demand works the same way as our DVD and CD on Demand services. We manufacture and ship books as customers place orders. It’s free and easy to set up a title on CreateSpace; authors simply upload their book files, purchase a proof copy and can begin selling in just a few days.

Extra: What are the benefits of the service?

LoPiccolo-Giles: CreateSpace empowers independent authors to self-publish their books without the costs and risks associated with traditional distribution. Books sold on Amazon.com are printed on-demand, display “in stock” availability and can be shipped within 24 hours from when they are ordered. Titles sold through the CreateSpace Books on Demand program are also automatically eligible for Search Inside!, Amazon Prime, Super Saver Shipping and other Amazon.com programs as well.