Why You Should be Selling Books Directly to Your Readers with Dave Sheets

Print-on-demand made self-publishing feel instant, but “instant” is not the same as “best.” We sit down with Dave Sheets, a 30-year book industry pro and the founder of Indie Author Book Services, to get honest about what actually changes when an author moves from print on demand to short-run or offset printing. We dig into the real-world differences that matter: unit cost, profit margin, and the kind of print quality problems that can quietly wreck a reader’s trust.Then we zoom out to the bigger play: distribution and ownership. If every sale runs through Amazon, you may gain reach, but you lose something priceless, your customer data. We talk through why direct-to-consumer book sales on your own website are the lifeblood of an indie author in 2025, plus a simple crawl-walk-run plan to handle fulfillment without getting overwhelmed. We also cover smart ways to incentivize buyers to purchase direct, from downloads to bonus formats, so you can build an email list you can actually use for book two, three, and beyond.We also tackle AI in publishing, including where tools like ChatGPT help with ideas and short-form writing, and why AI still falls short on long-form books that need voice, empathy, and lived detail. And we bust a few stubborn publishing myths, like “traditional publishing is always better” and “bookstores are the holy grail,” while exploring special markets opportunities where bulk orders and partnerships can dwarf retail results.If you care about self-publishing, book printing, offset vs POD, direct sales strategy, and building a real author business, hit play, subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review. Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelFollow us on Instagram and FacebookLearn more about Launch My Book