If you are new to self-publishing, here’s a collection of self-publishing companies in Victoria, BC and beyond.
before you self-publish – Questions to ask first
First, ask yourself some key questions before choosing a self-publishing path:
- How many self-publishing tasks are you willing to do, learn, or troubleshoot?
- Are you able to work with PDFs, digital images, and keywords?
- Do you have support from any family, friends, and contacts?
- How important is quality control over all self-publishing steps? (E.g. control over book covers, editing, and book prices.)
- What is a bigger barrier to you: lack of financial means or lack of time?
Choosing a self-publishing path
Generally, if you want full quality control over your book, then independent publishing is the best route. This also means learning new skills, troubleshooting, and finding professional help when needed.
On the other hand, if you don’t have the time or inclination to build your self-publishing skills, then it might be best to find a (legit) self-publishing company or service. This will be more costly. Additionally, you must ensure you don’t get scammed.
Finally, if you’re still not sure which path is best for you, check the advice of experienced writers (e.g. Jane Friedman). They often address the question of whether to aim to be traditionally published or to self-publish.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) Indie publishing
If you feel you can manage all necessary tasks to publish and sell your book, this path will be best. However, DIY doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means finding skilled help for proofreading, editing, and cover design. (Tip: don’t try to do your own cover unless you are a skilled graphic designer as covers are a key book marketing tool.) The indie path takes more time initially, but can lead to long-term successful self-publishing. You can also view our author checklist here.
Note: before publishing, learn about libel laws and make sure you don’t violate them.
Self-publishing packages
If you are uncomfortable with fully managing your book project, you may decide to purchase all or most of your self-publishing services from one company. While saving you time and headaches, this does entail higher costs and less control.
NOTE: Research well before signing any contract. Check other writers’ experiences with the company. Assess their print quality. Make sure you don’t over-pay. Most of all, be sure to avoid scams targeting writers.
Read about one self-published author’s costly learning experience.
Another option is to hire a “book shepherd” ––someone who offers a personalized self-publishing service. Research book shepherds first. One way to check for a quality service is to find out if they are an Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) partner. (E.g. this company in Ontario offers services similar to a book shepherd and they are an ALLi partner.)
Self-Publishing Companies – Victoria & Vancouver
- Cascadia Author Services (Vancouver Island)
- First Choice Books (Temporarily closed)
- Digital Direct Print Books (Print books, no ebooks – Victoria)
- Printorium Bookworks (Print books, no ebooks – Victoria)
- Agio Publishing (Boutique author services – Victoria)
- Coast Dog Press (Self-publishing with focus on aviation books)
- LifeWriters (Memoirs, family, corporate histories – Victoria)
- LeanPub (Full and ‘in-progress’ publishing; options for sliding scale pricing. Non-fiction and fiction, epub and PDFs, no print books – Victoria)
- Page Two Books (Boutique publishing services – Vancouver)
- Art Ink Print (Fine art printing services – Victoria)
Note: not a complete list.
Self-publishing companies – Main online platforms
- Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon) for ebooks and paperbacks.
- IngramSpark – Hardcover, softcover and ebooks
- Smashwords – Ebooks & distribution
- Lulu.com – Hardcover, softcover, photo books, and ebooks
- Barnes & Noble – Print & ebooks
- Bookbaby – Self-publishing services
- Unbound – Crowd-funding for books
- KDP vs IngramSpark
- Self-Publishing Companies rated (massive chart)
- Reedsy – Top Self-Publishing Companies 2023
Photo & Art Books
- Picaboo.com – Photo books
- Peecho.com – Books, magazines, posters & more (reviews here)
- Blurb.com – High-quality art and photo book options
Canadian print book companies
- Friesens.com (MB)
- Houghton Boston Printers (SK)
- Hignell Book Printing (MB)
- Rapido Books – Short-run, on-demand printing (QC)
- International Web Express (BC) magazines, booklets & more.
Self-Publishing for Children & Youth
- StoryStudio.com (BC)
- Creative Writing for Children (BC)
- Writers’ Exchange (BC)
- StoryTreasures.com (online projects for teachers and students)
- StoryJumper.com (online projects for teachers and students)
What are Print-On-Demand (POD) and hybrid publishing?
Print-On-Demand means printing just a few books at a time as needed, or “on demand”. POD became possible with the arrival of digital printing. Before that, books had to be printed in higher quantities due to the print set-up time. For self-published writers, this meant big costs and boxes of books waiting to be sold. This all changed with digital printing. Suddenly, small numbers of books could be printed at a very reasonable cost.
The term “hybrid publishing” is something you may come across when exploring self-publishing options. As usual, make sure to check scam warnings before signing anything.
Next: Learn about Ebook Resources here.
Updated October 2023 by 3PennyPublishing – Victoria, BC, Canada; researching and sharing self-publishing resources with writers since 2010.
Note: Links and information are for research purposes only and do not indicate endorsement. They do not replace professional advice. In addition, accuracy of third-party websites cannot be verified.