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About The Program
(Answers)
Who is Thor? Go Back to the Top
In Norse mythology Thor was the personification of thunder and the principal war god. Son of the chief god, Odin, and second only to him in importance, Thor was particularly popular among the lower classes of society. He was armed with a hammer (Mjolnir) that returned to his hand after he hurled it at enemies, a belt that doubled his strength when he wore it, and iron gloves that helped him use the Mjolnir effectively. Most of his battles were fought against giants, and he was benevolent to humankind. Thor was noted for his ability to drink vast amounts; he is generally portrayed as a crude, red-bearded, middle-aged warrior who relied on his immense strength rather than on his wits.
According to one popular legend, the giant who constructed the residence of the gods was rewarded with the Mjolnir. When it fell into the giant Thrym's possession, Thor retrieved it by pretending to be the goddess Freya, whom Thrym demanded as his wife in exchange for the hammer.
Thor, also known as Atli, is identified with Donar, the thunder god of Teutonic mythology. His name survives in the English weekday name Thursday, its German counterpart, Donnerstag and in the Dutch Donderdag.
What is Thor Distribution? Go Back to the Top
Thor Distribution is a strategic alliance between RJ Communications, a New York printing services company with over 99 million books in print , and Lightning Source, a Tennessee based digital printer with just under 10 million books in print. The Thor program provides publishers with a cost effective POD alternative to traditional book distributors. The Thor delivery channels cover over 90% of the bookstores in the US.
What is POD? Go Back to the Top
The meaning of POD (Print on demand) is a printing process where books are printed on an as needed basis one book at a time. POD has evolved to mean any type of short run printing. There are very few true print on demand printers in America. Lightning Source, RJ Communication’s affiliate in
Thor Distribution, is the oldest and largest.
What are the benefits of the Thor Distribution Program? Go Back to the Top
• Cost effective way to make your books available to the major book wholesalers.
• Maximum return for minimum investment.
• No inventory sitting in distributors warehouse, unsold but inaccessible to you, the publisher.
• Books are printed one at a time and only printed if they are sold.
• Books are sold on a non returnable guarantee sale basis.
• There are no collections or bad debt to worry about.
• Easily converted to traditional distributor
What are the disadvantages of the Thor Distribution program? Go Back to the Top
There is only one real disadvantage to the program. That is while your book is available to over 90% of the bookstore in the US; they are not physically on the shelves of any bookstore. This is balanced by the fact that the Independent Publisher is required to print at least 100 books (500 minimum preferred) before they can be a part of Thor Distribution. It is these books that are the “seeds” for the “Buzz” that the publisher is going to create for their book.
How do I get started? Go Back to the Top
It’s easy to get started. Just click on www.BooksJustBooks.com, get an online Instant price for any one of 5 different trim sizes, in page counts from 64 to 480, in quantities from 100 to 10,000 in either paperback or hard cover. When you are ready to submit your book for printing, just follow the instructions at http://www.booksjustbooks.com/howto.asp?body=trade . You also need to fill in the www.JustBookz.com online bookstore agreement at http://www.booksjustbooks.com/bookrequest/Bookstore_Agreement-10-25-02.pdf . As soon as your initial order of books is completed to your satisfaction, your digital file will be uploaded for POD distribution. It’s as easy as that.
How much does it cost to have my book distributed by Thor Distributors? Go Back to the Top
In addition to whatever is spent for your initial printing of books through www.BooksJustBooks.com, the basic cost of the program is $49.95 plus $19.95/year for file storage. The $49.95 is due before the title is uploaded into the system. The yearly storage charge will be charged on January 1st of every year. You must have a valid credit card on file to have this yearly fee charged
How much money will I make per book sold through Thor Distributors? Go Back to the Top
You make the difference between the wholesale cost and the cost of printing. The wholesale cost is 50% of the retail cost and you set the retail cost is controlled by you so you control how much you make. Realistically, you need to set the retail price of your book to be in line with other similar books in a bookstore. Take a walk through your local bookstore to get a feel for what your book can retail for. For figuring purposes, we’ll assume that your book is 256 pages and will retail for $14.95. Your wholesale price is $7.50. Your printing price for wholesale sales is figured at $.013per page plus $.90/book or $4.23 so your profit will be $3.25per book. That $3.25 remains the same no matter how few or many books are sold through this POD method. The best thing about this number is that it is a net number so there are no other costs to be subtracted.
When do I get paid? Go Back to the Top
Checks are sent out quarterly for both JustBookz.com bookstore sales as well as Thor POD sales.
Can I have my book printed somewhere else and still participate in the Thor Distribution Program? Go Back to the Top
Sorry but this program is strictly reserved for customers of RJ Communications (www.BoooksJustBooks.com )
Does Thor have an online bookstore to help me sell my book? Go Back to the Top
The RJ Communications bookstore is located at www.JustBookz.com. Like the Thor Distribution Program, www.JustBookz.com is reserved exclusively for customers of RJ Communications. Books sold through www.JustBookz.com are sold at a 25% discount, compared to the Thor program 50%. Special “Keyword Internet Marketing” is available to bookstore members at no additional cost. There is a $24/year storage charge to be a part of the bookstore. That $24 fee is waived if you agree to use www.JustBookz.com “Buy Me” buttons to clear sales from your website through the JustBookz shopping cart and fulfillment center
Who controls the retail price of my book? Go Back to the Top
YOU DO. It’s as easy as that. Along with all the other Vanity Press negatives, many of them control the retail cost and price your book so high that nobody but the author would ever buy it. (Oh, but that’s their idea, remember?
Why do I have to buy at least 100 copies of my book before I can participate in the Thor Distribution program? Go Back to the Top
One hundred is the minimum number of copies needed to get started with www.BooksJustBooks.com. We want authors who are serious about marketing their book. Between friends and family, a couple review copies and maybe a local bookstore signing or two, 100 copies won’t go very far. Remember, it’s not going to be easy marketing a book. Don’t stack the deck against yourself.
Why do you recommend that I make an initial order of at least 500 copies? Go Back to the Top
If you have researched Independent Self-Publishing much at all, you have probably run across Dan Poynter. His “New Book Model” calls for 300-500 copies as a start. We say 500 copies because that is where BooksJustBooks starts printing using a traditional offset printing press where under 500 copies are pr8inted on a digital press. What are the differences? Click here to find out http://www.publishingbasics.com/newsletter/mar2003/askron.html. Want to listen to a recent interview with Dan Poynter on Reader Radio where he talks about his “New Book Model”, click here http://www.jackstreet.com/jackstreet/RR.Newbookmodel-JBZ.cfm
