Possible book project

[Bruce Day]

You would have to self publish and you would need to use an on demand print method.... you print the copies when you have firm, paid orders.

You might get 100 to 200 orders at around $40 to $50 each, possibly more depending on illustrations. You'll find lots of expressed interest that disappears when it comes time for writing a check for the real cost of what it takes.

[Pittypatdugan]

This project might be subsidized by PGCA..
The BODS of PGCA give NRA $ 10,000 from time to time and I think you book would merit some help. It sounds like a super project that would benefit all Parker people.

[10ga Hammer]

Brian, I would be willing to be a prepaid sponsor for a signed and numbered copy when the first edition is finally printed. This is how Ed Muderlak started the "Shooting Flying" book. I think this would be a great idea, easy for me to say with all the work resting on your shoulders.

[walt brown]

I would buy it especially if there was a chapter on restoration and wa list of craftsman like yourself who do resatoration

[Opening Day]

I think what has been said above is true, Bruce brings up a good point about when it's time to send the money some people disappear, but prepaid orders would be something to look into and yes some kind of support from the PGCA whether it be advertising it in the PP or ordered through the Parker store would both be no cost to the PGCA and a great tool that has been needed for a long time. And yes I would buy the book also.

[James L. Martin]

Brian, Sounds good to me , I would buy one. Hope it works out and happens.

[Ray Masciarella]

Print on demand is an option, as pointed out by Bruce. I choose not to go that way for several reasons. It works great for inexpensive paperbacks but cuts into profit margin because it's ultimately more expensive. You have to set it up with the right company and they get their cut plus the printing cost.

Printing cost to fairly simple. The items that affect price the most are the cover, quality of paper, the number of books printed and the number of pages. Some printers charge on increments of 16 pages. It has to do with their printing method. I stayed away from that because it's a pain in the layout and why pay for blank pages.

My book has a leather cover. Very expensive. Going with a standard hard cover and dust jacket is much cheaper but the dust jacket is a pain in the neck so I didn't go that way. Of course, going with a standard soft cover is even cheaper. I think my printer calls it's a "Perfect Cover" or something like that. Paper weight is also a factor. Photo quality also influences price but overall your paper selection doesn't increase/defeated price that much.

Like my book, yours would have a very specific market. Amazon would probably not be the best place to sell. My book is a limited edition of 500. Once the collector community learned it was out there, 100 books were sold in a matter of weeks. Once all of the diehards get their copies, sales do slow down.


If you can do all of the work and deliver it print ready on a high quality flash drive, the printing cost is not that bad. Most folks I talked to who had published these types of books always just paid to have a certain number printed and avoided the on demand method.

The biggest cost is your time. It took me two years to do it working on and off. I figured my time was free anyway. That said, I don't think you'll change careers after doing it. I don't think there is a lot of money in the book writing business generally.

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, I once attended a gun auction that had a full color catalog, plastic spiral bound. They probably got it printed in weeks. I still have the catalog and I want one like it to sell my guns some day. I would recommend spiral bound for a book like you are planning.

[B. Dudley]

What Bruce said is kind of what I was thinking.

I figure that I would sell a good amount at first and then not so many after that. I could have it sit out on Amazon or Ebay and maybe sell a couple a year after the initial flood of orders.

I am leaning towards a spiral bound or paperback as being the best options for it iven what it will be.

I do not want to go the on CD only route as it is chinsy and too prone to copying.

[Bruce Day]

Ed Muderlak would ask people whether they might be interested in a certain subject book, he would get many positive responses, so he would have printed what he considered that the demand was. He financed the printing himself and would take delivery of the number.

There would be initial sales at less than the number of people who said they were interested and would buy. He would then have boxes filling his garage and would do promotional offers and finally, about anything to get them gone.

I like these books, I buy them, but those who write them and finance them repeatedly report that there are many who talk a lot about how they would buy, are very interested, then don't seem to be able to pay for the book when it comes out. They want it, but they want something for nothing.