An inspiration to a writer.
Why every Canadian author should know the significance before publishing with CreateSpace?
My book is on amazon. Wow, that’s great but which amazon because I really have to know where it’s listed. Does it matter anyway? I’m Canadian you see and listing my book solely on amazon.com has its drawbacks to my Canadian readers.
Amason.ca, amazon.com it’s all the same to the lay-person but not so to the published author. If you are a buyer of books on amazon you’d know as a Canadian you’d only buy books from amazon.com as a last resort.
I can’t upload my profile to Author Central. It’s only for authors who have listed with amazon.com. It only took me only one call to amazon.com to know this.
“Canada’s Heritage Act places restrictions on shipping media into Canada. By working with Canadian authorities we have enabled the export of music, videos and DVDs to Canada. Lifting of any further restrictions will be announced in the monthly FBA Newsletter e-mail.”
Well… we are still waiting.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/booksellers-battle-amazon-s-canadian-plan-1.885431
Thank you Canada Heritage Act for making it difficult for the author and the buyer of books.
If only things were as simple. I won’t be responsible for two listings, in amazon.com and amazon.ca.
I have to print my books through CreateSpace to be listed on amazon .com, which is ok, but wait, even though I have an amazon.ca account, due to the “friendly” Heritage Act my book won’t be listed on amazon.ca.
I hear ignorant Canadian writers and authors complain about the Americans and amazon.com’s policies. Do your due diligence and your homework because this whole annoying listing difference between amazon.com and amazon.ca is mainly the work of the Canadian Heritage Act.
Canadian authors who have ignorantly listed with amazon.com realize too late why most Canadians are hesitant to buy their books from amazon.com. For those new authors who wanted to keep cost lows it was not a well thought out plan.
An acquaintance of mine had the disdain to do just this and found out the hard way what a detriment it was for him to bring his own books into Canada and for other Canadians to buy his books from amazon.com.
We are forced to buy books with sometimes more than double the price from amazon.ca.
That’s just the way it is and it’s all thanks to the Canadian Heritage Act.
Please don’t blame amazon.com. It doesn’t work that way. It’s of no fault of theirs.
They aren’t allowed to ship books to Canada either with Fulfillment by amazon (FBA) or by their sellers.
Find out in the link below what the Canada Heritage Act is all about.
http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359570626539
These are the responses I got from the associates at CreateSpace when it comes to publishing by a Canadian author. The folks there are pretty helpful and will call back within five minutes if you leave them a message.
Question 1
Can I use my own ISBN which is provided by Library and Archives Canada to print with CreateSpace?
Fact:
If you have an ISBN that you have obtained from R.R. Bowker or through the International ISBN agency specifically for a book, you may use it in publishing your book with CreateSpace. If the work has been previously published under this ISBN, the binding type, title, and author names must remain the same.
You may input your own ISBN into the appropriate field of your member account during the book setup process. You will also be required to enter an imprint (or publisher) name. CS will verify the ownership and authenticity of the ISBN you enter. Once your ISBN has been entered for your title and verified, CS system will superimpose the ISBN barcode in the lower right corner of the back cover.
Question 2
What sort of listing will I get with usage of my own ISBN?
Fact:
You will have the option to make your title available for sale through CS’s Standard and Expanded Distribution options.
Standard Distribution includes:
Amazon.com:
Makes your title available for sale to millions of customers on Amazon.com. To create the Amazon.com detail page, CS will use the same title information and description that is entered during the title setup process and, if selected use it on the CreateSpace eStore. This distribution channel helps direct interested Amazon.com customers to your book’s product detail page through various automated discovery features such as Search, Browse, and Recommendations.
Amazon Europe:
Broadens your book’s availability to Amazon’s European sites including Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, and Amazon.es.
With the Amazon Europe channel you can set your royalty payment options to local currencies including U.S. Dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP) and Euro (EUR) if you have a bank account in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, or The Netherlands.
CreateSpace eStore:
A customizable sales page that allows you to sell directly to customers. Your title’s eStore is hosted on their site, www.createspace.com, but can be customized to look like part of your own website to give customers a more seamless shopping experience. Many CreateSpace members focus their marketing efforts on driving customer traffic directly to their eStores, providing discounts where desired.
Expanded Distribution includes access to thousands of:
Online retailers
Bookstores
Libraries
Academic outlets through their direct relationships with Ingram/Lightning Source, Baker & Taylor and other wholesalers.
Additional information about Expanded Distribution and eligibility requirements can be found at:
https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/ExpandedDistribution.jsp
If some channels within Expanded Distribution are not available in your Member Account, your title may not be eligible for those distribution options.
Distribution to libraries and academic institutions:
For example, titles must have a CreateSpace ISBN (available at no charge) to be distributed to libraries and academic institutions.
Titles also need to meet some physical specifications in order to be distributed to online retailers and bookstores. The reasons for ineligibility are provided alongside the distribution channels in your Member Account.
CreateSpace distributes through the aforementioned sales channels.
However, CreateSpace does not hold rights over your content.
Whose name is this “no charge” ISBN under? Does it belong to CreateSpace or will it be bought under the authors name?
“Titles must have a CreateSpace ISBN (available at no charge) to be distributed to libraries and academic institutions,” means,
the ISBN will belong to CreateSpace. You will only be able to publish the title through CreateSpace, with the assigned ISBN.
To publish elsewhere you would need to get a new ISBN for the title.
CreateSpace will also be listed as the Imprint for the title, but this will not appear in print on the book.
This non-exclusive agreement means that as the copyright holder, you are free to pursue any other distribution channel you see fit.
Question 3
Since I’m a Canadian residing in Canada, will the listing be in Amazon.com only or in amazon.ca as well?
Fact:
CS does not currently distribute to Amazon.ca.
“We welcome future opportunities for new international marketplaces helping you reach more customers worldwide.
We offer an option to enroll eligible titles in the Expanded Distribution Channel at no cost. Enrolling can allow your book to appear on Amazon.ca or on any of the other sites not directly supported through us at the moment. The availability of your books on these sites is at the discretion of retailers who purchase your books through the Expanded Distribution Channel. Once you have successfully enrolled your title in Expanded Distribution, it may take up to six to eight weeks for your title to begin populating in the distribution channels you have selected.
However, we cannot guarantee your book will appear on Amazon.ca.”
This particular representative was discreet enough not to mention the Canada Heritage Act as the culprit.
Question 4
Since I have an Amazon.ca account can I also sell my book through my website? I already have a book listed on Amazon.ca.
Fact:
You are more than welcome to sell your book yourself through the Amazon.ca website.
You own the rights to your content so you are welcome to do so. This is the reason I recommend CS to anyone.
Question 5
Are there any distribution restrictions on my part?
Fact:
You are welcome to take advantage of other distribution channels outside of CreateSpace. CS tries to offer a variety of channels to make the distribution process as efficient as possible for you. However, if you find other channels that they do not currently offer, then they do not want to hinder you from reaching your readers. Which also means you can sell your book through your website.
Question 6
How do I get my books into Canada?
Fact:
Their carrier is often UPS, but not always. DHL is also used. CS bases their choice of shipping carrier on shipping speed, destination, and options available at the time when they manufacture, box, and create a shipping label for your order.
When placing an order, you will have the option to select from three different shipping speeds: Standard, Expedited, or Priority. While they are not able to select a specific carrier when you place the order, they are committed to sending your order with a carrier that will meet or beat the Estimated Delivery Date for your order. You can always specify or ask for a particular carrier. It’s worth the try.
Canadians beware of brokerage fees.
Note that customs, import duties, taxes or brokerage fees may be levied once the package reaches the destination country. In this case Canada. Additional charges for customs clearance are the recipient’s responsibility. CS has no control over these charges and cannot predict what they might be. This is the reason why these charges are not mentioned to the buyer in most cases.
Poignantly, publishing with CreateSpace is neither straightforward nor easy for the Canadian author or his/her readers. My advice to Canadian authors wishing to publish with CS is to weight in all the pros and cons. Do your research meticulously when it comes to getting that book to your readers. Do not let shipping and the cost become a deterrent to your buyer. If you are serious about selling your books and it’s not just a hobby, by all means make it easy for your readers to access your books.
My first choice was to print with CreateSpace until discovered the restrictions placed by the Heritage Act on importing media into Canada. My readers are important to me. I would make my books available to them easily any way I can.
I hope this posting helps answer some questions regarding printing and publishing with CreateSpace especially as a Canadian trying to make it into the industry.
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