Nevada Agriculture Past and Present: A Look At Book Costs
Greetings
My name is Thomas Farley and I am a freelance writer living in Las Vegas. I’m proposing a
book on Nevada agriculture past and present. A full proposal letter and a 15-page sample chapter
is at NevadaAg.com:
http://NevadaAg.com
To summarize that full proposal, I state that Nevada’s ag history is scattered across a score of
disassociated pamphlets, books, and online papers. And that no book treats current operations. I
assert a book which brings the past and present into one title would be a good idea. My on-line
sample chapter highlights the yesterday and today of Clark County agriculture. All well and
good. But what would a book like that cost?
A book presents two sets of costs. The first set involves the costs to write, layout, and edit. The
second set includes the costs to physically make the book. Let’s tackle the second first.
Physically making the book — the costs
I envision a 200-page full color book in 8.5” X 11” format. Using Amazon.com’s print on
demand company, CreateSpace, such a book would cost $15.28 a copy with shipping before tax.
That’s the raw cost for the book’s printing and shipping upfront with no Amazon.com
distribution. Incidentally, 100 books cost the same per title as 1,000 with printing on demand.
Use the tab “Buying Copies” at the URL below to see how prices change with the many options.
https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/
Buying a stack of books leaves you with selling and order fulfillment. As well as, again, paying
upfront. You eliminate this if you sell through CreateSpace and Amazon. There’s no out of
pocket costs for printing a book sold at their site if your title’s price is high enough. It would,
though, have to be much higher than the $15.28 raw cost.
Placing the book at Amazon.com means a markup for them. A 200-page book needs to retail at
$25 to avoid paying Amazon charges. If you priced it lower, say at $20, you would have to pay
back Amazon $2.85 for each book sold. Still, that three dollars might be less than your staff
having to handle copies, post them, and then bill for them.
I can’t see charging more than $20 for the title.
Use the tab “Royalties” at the URL below to see what effect retail price has on what the book
would cost.
https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/
I’m emphasizing Amazon’s CreateSpace company because people are comfortable ordering
through Amazon.com. CreateSpace can also convert a hardcopy book into a Kindle e-book. All
figures are estimates supplied by their website.
Writing, layout, and editing the book — the costs
What would I charge? I struggle with this. The Editorial Freelancers Association, of which I am
a past member, says a freelance writer should charge no less than $.20 a word. With a projected
word count of 73,072 words, that works out to $14,614 for the book. TheBalance.com, on the
other hand, says book writing should start at $25 a page. A two hundred page book means $5,000
minimum. Quite a discrepancy between the two sites.
The lowest I’ve worked for is $.10 a word for my last four Rock&Gem magazine articles. The
book at that rate would be $7,307. With this project I would be taking the photographs, doing the
layout, making the index, and handling all the arrangements with Amazon. As well as keeping
NevadaAg.com updated with my progress. What about $12,000? With the book and that
payment due in one year? That might allow you time to find sponsors or underwriters. A list of
contributors could figure prominently in the book.
Last thoughts
E-books like a Kindle version are an alternative but I think a nice sized hardcopy publication is
worth striving for. The conversion fee to Kindle is under $100 once the book is finished.
Thank you for your time and consideration. My e-mail inbox is always open. As you read my
sample chapter, know that I would rather have direct quotes from farmers and ranchers instead of
quotes through newspaper articles. I look forward to talking and learning from them directly
should an actual book goes forward. I can’t imagine anything more positive for a book on
Nevada agriculture than having the support of the Nevada Farm Bureau. Again, I thank you for
your time.
Best regards,
Thomas Farley
9999 West Katie Avenue Unit #1217
Las Vegas, NV 89147
(702) 600-4637
E-mail: [email protected] Writing website: http://thomasfarleyblog.com