Author Solutions LLC is a company that helps DIY authors publish their own books through self-publishing services. It owns and operates several self-publishing imprints including iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Wordclay, Inkubook, Trafford Publishing, Xlibris, and Palibrio.
It also offers white-label self-publishing services to publishers like Simon & Schuster and has recently started a few new imprints in Spain, Malaysia, and India.
iUniverse
iUniverse is one of the best known self-publishing services. It offers a variety of packages varying in price and benefits to aspiring authors looking to publish their books. In 2007, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova published Still Alice with iUniverse, which eventually led to an Oscar-winning film adaptation.
Founded in 1999, iUniverse is part of the Author Solutions LLC umbrella along with Xlibris and AuthorHouse. It provides self-publishing services for a wide range of genres. Its services include editing, cover design, layout, and printing.
The company also provides a number of marketing packages to promote the work of its authors. Its most popular program is its Publisher’s Choice program, which allows an author to have his or her book displayed in a certain bookstore. The program does not guarantee that a book will be displayed in more than one bookstore, however.
In addition, the company offers an editorial review process, which helps improve the quality and sales of a book. It also offers an award recognition service.
Many authors have used this service to enter a literary competition and receive a professional book review, which can help build their credibility as an author. Additionally, iUniverse offers a variety of marketing tools to help promote books, such as a website and social media marketing.
While iUniverse is a good choice for most authors, the company's business practices can be difficult to understand. Its sales reps have aggressive internal quotas that are not measured in customer satisfaction or how well the marketing packages sell books.
AuthorHouse
AuthorHouse is a print on demand self-publishing firm founded in 1997. It was originally named 1st Books, and it was met with a barrage of complaints that resulted in the company changing its name to AuthorHouse in 2001.
Its publishing packages are designed for different authors' needs and include a variety of benefits. They include softcover and hardcover printing for both black and white and full-color books, as well as cover design options. They also offer various trim sizes and paper specifications for book covers, including perfect binding with a glossy case laminated cover.
The service includes a free press release, which is an important marketing tool for any author. This can help you get media coverage, which can lead to increased sales of your book.
You can also opt to receive a professional book review, which can provide credibility for your work. Many readers rely on reviews to determine which books are worth reading.
Additionally, AuthorHouse offers Cinema Advertising, which allows you to tap into a large market of potential readers by having a 30-second trailer for your book shown in over 200 domestic movie theaters. You can even advertise on TV shows, such as those produced by major cable networks.
AUTHORHOUSE also provides superior financial benefits for its team members, such as an impressive 401(k) plan. 401(k) plans enable employees to save for their retirement and enjoy numerous perks, such as fully paid vacations and commuting benefits.
In addition, AUTHORHOUSE provides its team members with a suitable vision plan and covers basic eye exams. It also offers a flexible spending account, which enables eligible employees to withdraw funds for daycare and eldercare expenses. It also has a disability program that provides eligible team members with coverage for a short-term disability that replaces a certain percentage of their salary.
Wordclay
Wordclay is a DIY publishing site that allows anyone to self-publish a book in just a few simple steps. It also offers a variety of features and benefits.
The main advantage of Wordclay is that authors retain the rights to their books. They are free to publish under a royalty scheme of their choice, and can set the price as high or as low as they like.
In addition, Wordclay is one of the few major self-publishing sites to offer the option of making an e-book available to Kindle consumers, a format that most authors don't even know about. The e-book format is expected to be a popular way for readers to consume digital content in the future, so if you are planning to self-publish an e-book, consider using Wordclay.
As with Lulu, you'll be responsible for all the design and production aspects of your book's print-ready files. This includes cover design, front-and-back design, editing, copyediting, binding, and so on.
To ensure that you can get your work printed as soon as possible, Wordclay works with various printers to deliver a timely product. They also provide distribution services and a fulfillment network to handle the book's delivery to retailers.
Author Solutions LLC is a subsidy publisher with brands including iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Trafford Publishing, and Wordclay. It is a parent company of several subsidy publisher imprints that operate in conjunction with leading publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Random House, Hay House, Reader's Digest, and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan.
Author Solutions aggressively sells its services to authors via a large sales force of telemarketers, largely in the Philippines. These telemarketers are commissioned sales people with internal quotas that have nothing to do with customer satisfaction or whether the services they sell actually improve book sales.
Inkubook
Inkubook is one of the best online tools for turning your digital photos into a photo book. It is a fun and creative way to create a keepsake for yourself or as a gift. Inkubook also has some cool features, like a collaboration tool that lets you invite friends to work on your project.
Inkubook uses ExactTarget to send out monthly newsletters, a nifty new e-mail marketing platform that allows the company to track customer activity and retarget them on social media with seasonal offers. Inkubook’s e-mail marketing efforts were a big part of its first year in business, with monthly newsletters and re-engagement e-mails accounting for more than 60% of the company’s revenue.
The company’s website has a surprisingly large number of pages, including an interactive photo-book wizard that allows you to make a photo book in minutes. The site is easy to navigate and offers plenty of choices, from photo-centric designs to themed layouts.
Inkubook is a great way to turn your photos into an aesthetically pleasing keepsake that you’ll be proud to display for years to come. It’s also a fun and creative way to share your photo memories with others. Inkubook’s website has a free trial that allows you to create your own custom photo book and keep it forever. Using Inkubook is as easy as uploading your photos and creating a free account. The site has several different formats to choose from, including hardcover and softcover. Inkubook also has a collaboration tool that allows you to invite friends to help you create your book. The site also has some cool features, like a nifty new e-mailing tool that allows you to send e-mails to anyone who has an Inkubook account.
GABAL Global Editions
Author Solutions LLC, the world's largest supported self-publishing services provider, has partnered with German publisher GABAL to offer a new package, GABAL Global Editions, that allows affiliated authors to publish their titles in English for readers around the world. Offered through Author Solutions' iUniverse imprint, the service is exclusive to authors of books published by GABAL, which focus on issues in business and education.
In addition to its partnership with GABAL, Author Solutions recently entered into a media partnership with Hollywood-based studio Legion of Creatives that will review iUniverse titles for possible media adaptations. Additionally, the company has launched a university press. iUniverse titles The Jew with the Iron Cross: A Record of Survival in WWII Russia by Georg Rauch, and Conflict -- The Unexpected Gift: Making the Most of Disputes in Life and Work by Jack Hamilton, Elisabeth Seaman, Sharlene Gee and Hillary Freeman have been acquired for publication in China by Beijing Wisdom & Culture Co.