Lulu alternatives: Lulu or a full-service publisher?
Nova Publishers and Lulu solve different problems. Lulu is a self-serve print and ebook platform for finished files. Nova edits, designs and formats the book first, then distributes it through accounts you own, for a fixed fee.
About Lulu
Lulu is a self-serve print-on-demand and distribution platform. You upload finished files, order printed copies and choose where to sell. It's flexible for a wide range of print projects.
Publishing with Lulu yourself
Lulu suits authors and organizations who have finished files and want printed copies, from a single book to a print run, along with optional retail distribution. You supply the interior and cover, choose the format and paper, and decide where the book is sold.
That flexibility works well for finished projects. Editing, cover design and formatting are steps you arrange before upload.
What Nova adds
Nova Publishers does the work that comes before printing: editing by a genre-matched editor, a custom cover, print and ebook formatting and an ISBN. The book is then printed on demand through your own KDP and IngramSpark accounts with no minimum order, and bulk runs are quoted when you want boxes of books for events.
Every format is listed in your own accounts on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books, and from Launch Pro the book is orderable by 20,000+ retailers and libraries.
When Lulu fits
- Your book is already edited and designed.
- You mainly want printed copies, or a print project outside trade publishing.
- You prefer to manage printing and distribution settings yourself.
When full-service publishing with Nova fits
- You want editing, a custom cover and a professional interior before printing.
- You want the book published in your own retailer accounts on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books.
- You want one fixed quote and one team for the whole project.
What Nova puts in writing before you start
- One fixed quote for the whole project, set before work starts
- Your book published in your own retailer accounts
- Nova's ISBN by default, or your own if you prefer
- 100% of your retailer royalties, paid straight to you
- In-house editors and designers, with revision rounds set in your quote
- Your book stays live in your accounts, whatever you do next
Every Nova Publishers package includes a project manager, an editor matched to your genre, a custom cover, print or ebook formatting, an ISBN, metadata and setup in your own retailer accounts. Packages run from $999 to $5,499, and single services start at $450.
Questions about Nova and Lulu
Can Nova Publishers print copies of my book?
Yes, Nova Publishers sets up print on demand with no minimum order, and quotes bulk runs for events and resale.
Is Nova Publishers a Lulu alternative?
Nova Publishers is a full-service alternative to Lulu for authors who want the book edited and designed first: it edits, designs and formats your book, then prints it on demand through your own KDP and IngramSpark accounts with no minimum order.
Is Nova Publishers a printing company?
No, Nova Publishers is a book publishing services company: we edit, design, format and distribute books, and printing is one part of that.
Do I keep my rights with Nova?
Yes, with Nova Publishers you keep your copyright, your files and 100% of the royalties retailers pay you.
Want the book edited and designed first?
Send us your manuscript, or whatever part of it exists. We'll reply within 1 business day with a fixed quote.