S.A. Gibson
"I put 150-300 into paying for cover art and cover design. I occasionally pay 40-50 for paperback book formatting. I pay for development editing, less than $1000 per book."
Shakyra Dunn
"When I think of publishing, I fear it. No matter how much you can try to prepare, it's never flawless, and you shell out more money than humanly possible. And sometimes that's okay. Because when you look back on your hard work and grace in its beauty, you feel a little more complete."
Lynn Lamb
"While in the writing process, I work anywhere from six to fourteen hours a day. I like to read through and do some initial editing each evening. This can go on for as long as five or six months. I also have a business (bookbannersetc.com) where I create banners for authors, as well as covers and trailers. Covers can take a day or so to produce, and depending on the author’s needs and personal tastes, can go through several rounds of alterations. Producing and editing book trailers can be a lengthy process, also. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything, which includes daily marketing on Twitter and Facebook."
Patrick Christopher Power
"I work for one of the top 10 brands in the world in a marketing capacity and can tell you I never give my books away. Free from a downloaded perspective means you have less perceived value and therefore they are in fact less likely to read your book let alone review it. You devalue your work and that of others by giving books away for nothing. It is nothing more than an ego. Project to see download numbers at the expense of those who place a value on the work we do. My first five books contain over half a million words.. try spend the time to count that high let alone write, re-write and edit that quantity of words.. books have value."
Theresa Jacobs
"I've been writing steady for a year now and I still work a 40hr a week in retail. I have tried to keep from spending any money on self-publishing but that just doesn't work. One year cost me $1750.00 in editing, covers, courses and book proofs."