Well,
You should still have my email and can contact me off-post for more information, but a few general comments.
"I want to maximize what little profit there is."
Um, how much is your time worth. Being "only an author" on a book might not make as much as being both the publisher and the author, but I can guarantee that if your time is worth something to you, the "return" on being both is not really very good.
As far as control of layout, content, publishing rights, copyright, etc. How much $ are you really willing to spend to retain that control?
Publishing, particularly print publishing, is far more involved than many initially believe.
First, you need to set up a business entity, it varies from state to state as to what types of small businesses or corporations you can set up. Figure that this will cost in the neighborhood of $200-500. You might get by for $100 using online forms and avoiding a lawyer.
Second, you'll need tax ID# for the business and a banking account (banks tend to gouge small business bank accounts, shop around).
Third, you'll need ISBN #'s if you are going to be a print publisher (doesn't need to be done immediately, but you need to have some before advertising to distributors and setting up distribution). I used to know off the top of my head how much this cost, I simply can't recall now. I think you need to get about 10 ISBN #s for a lump sum price, might be about $250, someone else will remember here.
By now, you have spent between $400-1000 and you haven't even started on the book yet. If I recall you have a legal background of some sort, you'll still need legal contracts, etc. for art, this could cost more $ as well. After this costs get vary variable. Some possible costs that could get large:
Cover Art: if you are going to use color cover art be prepared to shop around. Expect to spend $500-1000+ for really good cover art. You can probably license some things for less, you really need to shop around if you want to control costs on this.
Interior Art/Cartography: this can be another major expense. It can be brought down somewhat, but you really have to shop around here as well. Guidelines we use would suggest you need about 54 pieces of 1/4 page interior art/maps.
By the way, "shop around" here means "spend lots and lots of valuable time doing nothing but ..."
If you are doing your own layout you need layout software. I STRONGLY recommend that you have your own, legal, copy of layout software this is a major expense. If you contract someone to do it, the software is their business expense. Contracting for editing, etc. is all going to be variable in costs. As for printing, you'll need to "shop around."
Once you get all that down, you still need to find a distributor willing to carry you. This is a major hurdle if you are going print. Not so bad if you are going to publish as .pdf.
Time for me to take some kids to school, you can email me with more questions if you want. I strongly advise against self-publishing if you are only doing one book. The costs are ridiculous and won't "maximize" any profits. If you are going to publish 10 books, that might be different.
Patrick
Edit: can't spell and started the post last night, some people above have better suggestions for "cheaper" art, layout, etc. Still going to cost you tons of time. Unless you have many more books than 1 planned, I still suggest finding a publisher willing to carry your book for you.
olshanski said:
I have capital.
I have only one large MS.
I do not want to give up much control of layout or content.
I do not want to give up e-publishing rights.
I do not want to give up rights to update, port to other systems, or reprint.
I think the MS is very very good.
I want to maximize what little profit there is.
I dont think I can find a publisher to give me all of the above. I will not quit my day job in any case.
I'd still appreciate more responses/warnings/or answers to original Q.
