Determine what distribution you wish for your books. Professional distributors such as Amazon.com or the major book chains will demand up to 75% of your future sales for distributing a book, disregarding your production costs or personal involvement. In return they offer access to all book shops and libraries, without giving guarantees for sales. They will also store the books but you will have to consider a high circulation that needs to be sold in order to cover for all your costs. However, networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook and Google's adsense have increased the possibilities of selling outside the usual markets, while auction or sales websites such as eBay, Amazon's Seller program and eCrater offer alternative sales channels. If you choose self-distribution, you will have to find a dry place to store the books, but you can consider a lower and more cautious circulation, as most of the profits of future sales will end up in your pocket.
Apply for an ISBN number for your book. An ISBN number consists of 13 digits that will be printed above the bar code on the back of your book and on the back of the title page. In the U.S., ISBN numbers are issued exclusively by RR Bowker ISBN Agency for a minimum fee of $128 per book; in most other countries the ISBN will be distributed by the national library. To register a book for an ISBN number you will at least need the title, the author and the category. The ISBN number can be issued immediately online.
Buy a suitable domain name for your book's website and set up a website with some text and illustrations of your material. Submit your URL to Google, Yahoo and Bing.
Contact printing companies in your area. Provide information about your book, such as circulation, pagination, illustrations, binding (hardback or paperback), and if you require a dust jacket. Ask for cheap printing slots in the near future. Printers often have some hours between major printing jobs where all staff is on site, but not occupied. These empty hours are sold off cheaply to smaller projects, such as your book. Alternatively, a printer might ask you to deliver your files at any time and he agrees to print the books cheaply in the first available slot, without giving a deadline. Agree upon a paper quality. Printers often have overstock on certain paper which might just be right for your book, and you can pick up a bargain.
Place a note on the blackboards in all art and graphic design schools in your area, briefly presenting your project and inviting students to contend for the design of your book. Mention the printing deadlines to avoid applicants who do not have the time available. The visual presentation of your projects will be critical to your sales, and it therefore should not be undertaken by someone without some formal training. However, established book designers can be very expensive, and typography (the craft of composing letters) is taught early on in art school, so a capable student should have a clear understanding on how to design a book.
Choose the most suitable candidate. Most students will need projects for their portfolio, and illustrated books are a popular component. Make a legally binding contract, specifying number of books, pages, illustrations, deadlines and pay. The contract should also determine how many books the designer will get once they have been printed. Agree upon a date to view the first sketches, usually one to two weeks before the expected printing date.
Hand over your text and illustration files to the designer. Remember that both text and pictures should be complete for each project and should not require major editorial changes, such as added chapters or replacement of illustrations.
View the sketches when available and discuss design changes. Do your first proof reading and return corrections to designer. Agree upon a deadline for the second proof, usually depending upon the number of changes.
Send the corrected and accepted files to the printers. Before the official print start you will be provided with a third proof by the printing company to ensure that all files, illustrations and fonts have been placed correctly. The printer's proof needs to be accepted by the designer as well, as he is most likely to detect problems related to the artwork. If you have agreed to a night print, you and your designer will have to be accessible during that time in order to accept the proof and initiate the printing process.
Ask the designer for suitable Internet artwork, such as PDF or JPG files of the book cover, etc., which will enable you to start marketing on the web. Publish the artwork and extras on the website that you set up earlier. Start circulating your book title and artwork on networking sites.
Once the books have been printed, the finished copies will be send to either your chosen distributor, or your storage. Remember that even though you might have chosen a professional distributor, you still will have to find book shops that are willing to sell your books.
Send press copies to newspapers and load your car with stock to be shown to book shops. Start locally, as you will be received with interest and encouragement and your books are more likely to succeed nationwide if they capture the regional audience. Upload your books on eBay, Amazon, eCrater, etc. If possible, ask your designer to help you adjust your website so that the design resembles the artwork of your books.