FAQs

Why do you specialise in works by small publishers and self publishers?

Large publishers have the financial clout to get their books into bookstores, and indeed work almost hand-in-hand with them. Smaller publishers have been almost completely squeezed out of bookstores, whose exorbitantly high commissions and demanding return conditions make it almost impossible for a small publisher to compete with the big guns.

We as book buyers, while offered a large selection in chain bookshops, are still only seeing a fraction of the published information that is available. However, if we have a specialised interest in a topic, we are not surprised when we’re unable to find anything covering that topic in a regular bookshop.

The internet has been a great playing-field leveller. Businesses such as this one are able to deal intimately with small and self publishers, offering them unprecedented opportunities to get their books out to a worldwide audience, while offering you, the customer, a chance to purchase books you might never see in a bookshop.

What advantage does a small publisher have over a large publisher?

The small publisher is usually less inhibited by profit-margins. Many small publishers produce works they love. They do not roll in money as do some large publishing houses, and indeed often only break-even or run at a loss.

The result is that small publishers can produce works which larger publishers would reject on the basis of commercial appeal. They may deal with subjects a minority of people would find appealing, but there are many such minorities - and it is these buyers who are grateful for the work of small publishers. This is one advantage a small publisher has over a large publisher.

Is the quality of a self published book less than that of a large publisher?

No. Many myths surround this subject. As a person with proofreading experience, I spot spelling and grammar errors almost every time I pick up a mainstream publication, not to mention seeing binding errors, chapter repeats, and uncut pages – all passed unnoticed by large traditional publishers who employ individuals to edit, proofread and print manuscripts.

A self publisher can either have their printer arrange these same functions, or outsource this to freelancers. Whichever way they choose, professionals have been responsible for the production of their book – they just don’t necessarily all operate under the same roof.

Having said that, there are some unscrupulous publishers who have produced very bad quality publications, and it is these businesses that, at times, have tarnished the reputation of self publishing. Fortunately, these are in the minority.

Why are books published by small publishers often more interesting than those published by larger publishers?

This depends on your personal taste, of course, but the small publisher has the advantage of not being bound by the pressure of sales targets. Large traditional publishers have a narrow profit-margin under which they operate. They have more money to invest in a high-profile publication, but are much less keen to invest their money in a new author or in a specialised subject.

This gap has been filled by thousands of small publishers, whose books are not generally produced for the mainstream audience, and it is for this reason they are often considered more interesting.

Where are you located?
We are based in Perth, Western Australia, but we send out our books all over the world. Please note that for safety and insurance liability reasons, we cannot offer over-the-counter sales or pickups. We are set up as an internet-only bookseller.
Our contact details are as follows:
PO Box 270
Inglewood WA 6932
0415 486 854
Fax 08 9371 2626
info@vanitypress.com.au

What is your Australian Business Number (ABN)?
Our ABN is 85 661 019 321.