Frequently Asked Questions

*book marketing*

Q: I don't know where to start! Will you help me?

Yes. We'll help you with a marketing sheet and give you information on marketing your book. We are the founding member of The Self-Publisher Association of South Africa (SPASA) and if your book qualifies, we will market your book on our website and through the annual SPASA competition (all member self-publishers can enter their authors into the SPASA competition).

*book distribution*

Q: Will you put my book into Exclusive Books or any other book store?

A: Not unless we think there is a market.

Q: Will you show me how to distribute my books, then?

A: Absolutely. We'll give you all the information you need to distribute throughout South Africa and from Amazon.com.

Q: There are some self-publishers who offer a print-on-demand distribution service with Ingrams or one of their affliates. Why don't you?

A: We used to - we stopped because it's too expensive! You can count on adding at least R1500.00 to your bill just to get something like that going. And then, assuming all goes well and you start selling many books, there are all the hidden international tax implications you will have to deal with in order to get paid. That is something you will only discover in the ultra-fine print. See below for more on tax.

Q: Why don't you distribute for me?

A: Money. We want you to have a bigger royalty and absolute control. If we add on a percentage for a distribution handling fee on top of the distribution fees, printing fees and so on, your book will be priced out the market - and we want you to sell lots of books!

*book subsidies*

Q: Will you pay for my book to be published? I can't afford it!

A: You have the following options:
* Are you a lecturer? Take a look at I'm a lecturer
* Do you have a market? Discuss pricing with us and get the money from the people who said they'd buy your book.
* Pay over a few months. For each payment. a certain amount of work on your book will be done. When you are finished paying, you will receive your books.

*book rejection*

Q: When won't ada enup accept a book?

A: We don't accept books that promote negativity and hate speech. And if your book could be better written, we will tell you why and give you the option of editing (at an extra charge), self-editing or no change before we print.

*book print runs*

Q: What's the minimum print run for an unpublished book?

A: 50 books.

Q: But isn't there a way to print fewer?

A: Yes, of course there is. However, you'll need books to sell, to market with and to distribute. You may even use the entire first 50 books at your launch party, at media functions and so on.

*book publishing*

Q: I published with you and I need more of the books you printed. Does the minimum of 50 books still apply?

A: No. When you do order, though, consider the effort and cost; buying just one book is possible - but is it feasible for you?

Q: My book has been published before. Can I bring it to you to re-publish for me?

A: ada enup cc has a strict legal policy. Check your author / publisher agreement. Who has the rights to the book and for how long? Contact your publisher and ask for acknowledgement and permission in writing to go elsewhere to publish your book. Without that letter - or a clear statement in your contract to the same effect - we can't help you.

Q: I published my first book with another publisher. I now have a second book. Can I publish it with you?

A: Again, it depends on the author / publisher agreement you signed. Does your publisher have first right of refusal? If so, that means you have to offer your new book to them first. If they don't want to publish it, we will need a letter from them confirming it.

*book tax (international)*

Q: You are the only publisher I've come across that mentions international tax. Why mention it at all? Is international tax an issue?

A: You will only get paid by US companies if your tax position is sorted out. This we discovered when our authors battled for nearly a year to get paid by Lulu.com. No international or online publisher / distributor / print-on-demand resource that we have come across - not Lulu.com, not Ingrams, not Amazon.com nor Lightning House nor any self-publisher we have spoken to in South Africa - can give you exactly and all of the critical information you will need. The reason is simple: They are not international tax consultants, nor are they geared towards international tax consulting. We at ada enup want our authors to have the smoothest, easiest time while setting up and continuing their writing careers, so we collected that information. Only our authors benefit.

Q: You haven't answered my question!

A: Contact us and we'll try to help.