Amazon also has some odd practices about pricing books that they sell directly. On my first book (2006) they kept the price at the original set level for nearly ten years. On my latest book, released in August, they discounted it heavily from the start, though it is gradually rising again.

At first I was furious as there had been no explanantion, but was informed upon complaining, that they pay the royalty based on my chosen list price, no matter what they sell it for. Sort of priming the pump, I guess.

My first book covered guns which had been neglected in print and thus sold fairly well. The second book - which I should have completed much sooner - deals with exotica which most people do not own. Add to that, the collecting population has aged. I do not expect a high volume of sales, but am grateful for the print-on-demand process, as number two would never have seen the light of day under traditional publishing.

For anyone wanting to write a book, I cannot speak too highly of CreateSpace. Since I did my own photography, layout and design, my out-of-pocket costs to get it on sale were basically ZERO! My ONLY cost was purchasing a few proof copies ($5.87 delivered) as I went along.