I’ve been writing and publishing ESL books with several different companies in Taipei for three years now. However, I’ve only ever been able to get one-time payment for these efforts. Now I would like to publish a series of books of my own design, and would like to receive continuous profit in the future, assuming the book sells well. Is it possible to independently print and publish a book and then sell it to directly bookstores? Does anyone have any experience regarding this? Many Thanks
This is a good question…anyone have the answers?
Dan Bloom did it (two or three books, if I remember right) and I think Steve Crook’s book (a collection of his essays on Taiwan) was self published/self distributed.
take care,
Brian
thanks… 
The printing part is easy…distribution and marketing, that has me stumped. I’m curious about the answers also as I’m thinking of doing a couple of books and self-publishing may be the best way.
There is an ESL company in Taichung that has had some sucess with direct sales to kindergartens (with very sketchy materials, I might add). Printing is simple enough and there are lots of illustrators and designers around.
The problem is marketing. Most sales to bushibans and kindergartens are handled through sales agents. You need some sort of a marketing plan before you can really hope to sell books.
OK all, please forgive my ignorance but you say printing is easy…how so? where do you find this printers - if you can’t read Chinese? Anyone know one? Any ideas on costs? Minimum number of copies, etc.?
Yeah, I know a couple. The folks that do my business cards are really good. I use them via the graphic designer I use. I’m planning on designing a postcard promo mailing for the U.S. myself and having her deal with the printing company. The only complaint I had was that ink thickness varied a bit too much for my taste, but it was still within acceptable ranges. I’ll see if I can find out who they are, you will definitely want to have someone who speaks Chinese do the negotiation and description of what you want. I know an Australian guy in Hsinchu that does a lot of Australia/NZ outsource printing here. The paper quality is average, printing quality is average. Definitely NOT bad paper and bad printing. Bindings seem a little stiff to me (the glues they are using), but he assures me that they are meeting Australia/NZ specs (different feel to the books, that’s for sure). The color work on the covers is excellent and the consistency of the text printing is excellent. I don’t have his number handy, but I have been meaning to drop in on his restaurant for weeks. I’ll try and grab a business card…email me in a couple of days and cyber kick my a$$ if I don’t have the number 
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By easy, I mean that the printing is cheap and of moderate quality (not bad, not National Geographic 12 color special editions, either).
Have you contacted CAVES BOOKS? If your proposed books are very good, they might consider paying you royalties. I know that Hartzell got royalties for some of the books he wrote for CAVES BOOKS before. But that was a long time ago … certainly well before they reorganized and moved to their current location in Nei Hu, Taipei.
Thanks for the replies and suggestions.