Publishing Resources on the Internet

The Basics

Writing World: Publishing Your Book
Information about book promotion and self-publishing. Scroll down for POD links.
www.writing-world.com/publish/
Preditors & Editors
A guide to publishers and publishing services rated according to industry standards of ethical behavior.
www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
Midwest Book Review
Online articles and links to resources. Book reviews, with priority consideration to small press publishers, self-published authors, and academic presses.
www.midwestbookreview.com
Step-by-Step Self-Publishing
Some articles and recommended resources, and a list of book reviewers who are open to independent publishers. The book reviewer list is also available as an e-book for easier use.
www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net
Marion Gropen’s Reference Desk
Articles on the business of publishing and assorted useful links.
www.gropenassoc.com
Aeonix Publishing Group
A master list of book printers, basic information about file preparation, and more.
http://www.aeonix.com

Print on Demand

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America: Print-On-Demand Publishing Services
www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/pod/
Lightning Source
A print-on-demand printer with a direct connection to Ingram, the major U.S. book distributor.
www.lightningsource.com
CreateSpace
The print-on-demand publishing arm of Amazon.com.
www.createspace.com
Lulu
A print-on-demand printer. www.lulu.com

E-books

Wikipedia: Comparison of E-Book Formats
wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats
MobileRead
An online forum for the exchange of ideas and information relating to all aspects of the Mobile Internet boom (i.e., e-books).
www.mobileread.com | wiki.mobileread.com
Smashwords: How to Publish on Smashwords
An e-book distribution service.
www.smashwords.com
Amazon’s Digital Text Platform
The first step in publishing books in the Kindle format.
dtp.amazon.com
PubIt! by Barnes & Noble
Sell your e-books on Barnes & Noble.
pubit.barnesandnoble.com
Calibre E-book Manager
A free, open source program for managing e-book libraries, converting between e-book formats, and editing ePub files.
www.calibre-ebook.com
Sigil E-book Editor (ePub format)
A free, open source WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) e-book editor.
code.google.com/p/sigil/
Adobe InDesign: How to Export for ePub
www.adobe.com/products/indesign/epub/howto/
Validate EPUB Documents (e-books)
threepress.org/document/epub-validate

ISBNs, PCNs and CIP Data Blocks, and BISAC Headings

Bowker Identifier Services
An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is required for books sold in bookstores. Bowker is the official source of ISBN blocks for U.S. publishers.
www.myidentifiers.com
Library of Congress: Cataloging in Publication
Information about Cataloging in Publication (CIP), a program in which the Library prepares the bibliographic record, or data block, to be printed on a book’s copyright page.
cip.loc.gov
Library of Congress: Preassigned Control Numbers
Preassigned Control Numbers (PCNs) are used to locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record. A PCN can be assigned to books that are not in the Library’s CIP program.
pcn.loc.gov
Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication
Publishers who are unable to participate in the Library of Congress CIP Program may obtain a Publisher’s CIP data block for printing on a book’s copyright page.
Adrienne Bashista, cataloger-at-large, www.cipblock.com
Quality Books Inc., www.quality-books.com
Book Industry Study Group
The source for the book subject categories printed on books, which are used to help booksellers know where to shelf a title.
www.bisg.org
U.S. Copyright Office
The official source for U.S. copyright laws.
www.copyright.gov
Guide Through the Legal Jungle
A blog by author and attorney Joy Butler, who practices in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, and business law.
www.guidethroughthelegaljungleblog.com
Ivan Hoffman, B.A., J.D., Attorney at Law
Articles about intellectual property and copyright law from an attorney with over 35 years’ experience.
www.ivanhoffman.com
California Lawyers for the Arts
Nonprofit service organization that provides lawyer referrals, dispute resolution services, educational programs and publications to artists of all disciplines.
www.calawyersforthearts.org

Updated January 26, 2011