David Longfield from Biografica presented to the Society of Australian Genealogists writing group this month, and there were some great questions from attendees that we thought you might find helpful:
Q: What is the average print run, and can you do print on demand?
When you purchase Biografica, one hardback book of your story is included. We use print on demand for all our books, so you can buy as many additional copies as you wish. For up to 5 copies the cost is $75 each including delivery, in full-colour hardback, and for larger quantities, we will provide a quote based on the number.
Q: Can you produce my story as an ebook?
Yes, we can provide you with a PDF of your story, which will look exactly like the printed book. If you would like a true ebook in .epub format, we can create one for an additional cost.
As someone commented during the presentation, PDFs and ebooks are great for distribution to overseas or interstate family and friends.
Q: Are you able to help me make my story publicly available?
Yes. While Biografica is not designed to produce books and stories for retail sale, we can help you make yours available on various online bookselling platforms.
Q: Can Biografica produce books in different sizes and with unique page designs?
Yes. If you would like a specific size with a unique design and layout for your book, we can do that for an additional fee depending on the size of the book and the number of pages.
Q: Is there a size limit on photographs that can be uploaded?
Yes. We have a limit of 10MB per image, which will cover most pictures and ensures they reproduce well in your book. And you can always reduce the file size before uploading it.
Q: How many pages do most books end up having?
This is difficult to answer because there is no standard. However, most books we have produced for people are between 60 and 100 pages.
Q: Can I reproduce images or copy text from the internet or other books to put in my story?
This is a complicated area, but the short answer is 'no'. You must not use other people's work without obtaining their permission.
Here is a detailed page on copyright law from the National Library of Australia.
In many instances, if you ask permission, an individual may let you use something if it's for personal and family use only. If so, it's always a good policy to include a thank you in your book for their generosity.
If you want to use material from a major source like a museum, library, published book, or another public collection, you may need to pay the copyright owner to reproduce it in your book. Depending on your source, the cost may range anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars. For example, reproducing a painting from an art gallery may cost $300-500. A document from a state library may be $100-200, as a rough guide.
The best policy is never to use material without asking. When you receive permission, make sure you note in your book that the item is 'reproduced by permission of the copyright owner'.
If you have further questions on any of these items or other questions, please email us, and we will aim to get back to you within 24 hours.
The Society of Australian Genealogists is a fantastic resource and we thank them for inviting us to take part in their writing group presentation.
