21st Century Research

Venice, FL, November 21, 2007 --(PR.com)-- This unique directory includes primarily book manufacturers who operate digital presses in addition to traditional offset and other printing systems. Their advantage lies in the fact that they can provide POD book printing services to an author quickly at a very reasonable cost. There are no contracts to be signed and the author can print only a few copies of a book. Minimum numbers vary but range from 1 or 2 to 200. POD printers can produce a book within days or weeks depending on how well it is prepared by the author.

When using a POD printer the author in fact becomes the publisher of his book and retains full control of all the rights, prices and royalties or profits. The disadvantage is that the author must submit the manuscript in a print-ready state. This means formatting and design of book pages and cover. It also means editing of the manuscript that must be arranged by the author.

POD printers are paid for production and delivery of a book. Most POD printers provide a Request for Quotation(RFQ) form online which is used to determine the price of a finished book. Some of these RFQs are quite comprehensive and take into account number of pages, type of paper, images, color book trims and type of binding. Although these RFQs are valid usually for only 30 days authors can compare prices from several POD printers before making a decision.

Some of the POD printers do provide or can arrange associated services such as editing, design and marketing and distribution although such package deals are more typical of POD publishers. These differ from POD printers because most do not operate printing plants but act as intermediate agents between the authors and POD printers. The "Print-on-Demand Publishers Directory 2008" includes details for those services and is designed for use by authors who are not able to handle the formatting and design of their books.

Authors who use POD printers should also be prepared to promote and market their books although some services are available from some POD printers and most POD publishers. Since adequate book marketing is one of the greatest problems for new authors, 21st Century Research also provides specific targeted E-mail lists for book promotion. More details are available at the blog: http://book-publicity.blogspot.com.

In view of the fact that about 300,000 new titles are now published every year, it is almost impossible to have a book published by a traditional publisher. The POD printers and publishers provide an opportunity to new authors to publish their manuscripts quickly and at reasonable cost without the need for agents and lengthy delays.

Both directories are available from 21st Century Research at a price of $ 10.00 each ($13.00 outside USA) with free shipping and handling by first class mail. Checks or money orders should be made out to "21st Century Research" or credit cards can be used through PayPal.

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