Other Self-Publishing Sites

Looking for an alternative publisher besides Blurb.com to see if they are cheaper:

Inky:
http://www.inkylittlefingers.co.uk/main/products/boundbooks?gclid=COW_7JLYwq0CFUQMfAodDnzg-w
Still expensive!

Self-Publishing with Matador:
http://www.troubador.co.uk/matador.asp?s=The Cost
Though they say, they won’t let you down, I still got the impression that they need to see a manuscript before printing so would not print if not good enough and may be a very long process L

Lulu.com:
https://www.lulu.com/s1/paperbackuk_b/l/wiz?&cid=~sggl~kself%20publishing~gself+publishing_focused_focused_uk_broad~clulu_publishing_uk~a5727898221~p&gclid=COrh0Obcwq0CFS9ItAodtTCf_A
Looks promising but may need to sign up to see pricing and how to design and send book for printing.

Fast Print Publishing:
http://www.fast-print.net/?gclid=CMOSmZPfwq0CFUhrfAodN19FBQ
Not interesting!!! Simply because it didn’t really look easy to me L

Authors:
http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/
When looked in to depth, it was still expensive L

Print On Demand:
http://www.printondemand-worldwide.com/orders/calculator.php
Got quotation. Still expensive. (You must be joking!!!) Sticking to Blurb.com for now!!!

1^st March 2012 – Looked at Self Publishing on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-product-page.html?topic=200354160&ld=AZOnDemandMakeM
They talk about a site called CreateSpace which I have to sign up and submit my content.
https://www.createspace.com/Signup.jsp?&ref=115576&utm_id=4598
It looks like a better place for selling my books as many people use it and will hopefully get noticed more.

March 8^th 2012 – Signed up to CreateSpace and started experimenting with using my previous story.

Looks good but you have to go through some ‘issues’ which the site finds before doing anything else, and that’s something that may take some time to figure out. So Blurb.com is still the best thing at the moment, especially for my uni work. But I will try again in my own time with my other stories.

Extra Research and Ideas

Space Chimps.

http://sharni-research-neg1-level5.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/space-chimps.html


Mark Crilley

My main inspiration with his books and video tutorials.

Reading his Manga series gave me ideas on my book layout. Especially the title appearing after the prologue. It’s how modern films and dramas on TV start. Also how each page would look better.

Mark uploaded a video showing a rough guide on a comic page layout which made it clearer how my Graphic Novel should look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csbgkb1vhp0&feature=channel_video_title

Also helped understand where to place speech bubbles in order to make the story flow. I found his stories easier to understand as when I read other Manga books, I struggled to understand which bubble to read next.

Also read Alex Rider graphic Novel, which is in colour and set in Britain.

Roger Dean.

Liked what I saw as I felt it could help with designing more buildings on Planet Vi-ackle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Dean_(artist)

This appealed as it looks like an optical illusion, with interests developed from previous projects.

The branch of the tree in the foreground looks like it could be a path with background looking like a lake.

This picture of a room with no corners by Roger Dean has inspired me regarding the buildings in Planet Vi-ackle having rounded doors, windows and walls.

Syd Mead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Mead

"I've called science fiction 'reality ahead of schedule." ~ Syd Mead.

Interesting to know he has collaborated with Disney and Anime artist who also inspired me to do what I am doing now.

http://www.sydmead.com/v/10/anime/

http://sydmead.com/v/11/film/

His work looks sophisticated, so I decided to look at it regarding furniture and gadgets that may be used in my Graphic Novel and blend them in with what I found when researching Roger Dean.

Hobbit Houses.

http://webecoist.com/2010/10/18/hobbit-houses-15-grassy-hill-shaped-dwellings/

The interior of the Hobbit House above

This one reminded me of the Teletubbies' House, who also seem to be aliens. The reason I avoided researching them was because, they are aimed at very young children under 6years old, and I intended aiming my Graphic Novel at teens and above. Now I am thinking this would probably give me more idea regarding food and drinks my Vi-ackling have.