Self Publishing Family History

[Siely]

Has anyone put their family history into a book for family and friends only ? Does anybody know how much self publishing costs for a low number of copies ? 

[aghadowey]

It probably depends on where you are located so good idea to check with local printers. You might try asking a local family history group, if there is one in the area, for advise and recommendations.
One thing that can make a difference in cost (aside from selecting more expensive paper, binding methods, etc) is the number of photographs that you include. Sometimes it can be slightly less expensive if photos are grouped together on a page rather than scattered throughout but this is something to ask a printer.

[mckha489]

Or you can use any of the online sites.

Eg.  https://www.blurb.com/    But there are many.

They can be expensive but have good discounts.  Best I have seen on Blurb is 50%.
Blurb has their own software your download, you can fiddle about off line as long as you like. Make the book, then when ready, upload the book. Then sit and wait for the discount before ordering copies.

[Kiltpin]

Friends of mine use - 

https://www.lulu.com/

Regards 

Chas

[ThrelfallYorky]

Why bother? As far as I can see it's merely a "Vanity exercise" sadly.
TY

[aghadowey]

Why bother? As far as I can see it's merely a "Vanity exercise" sadly.
TY

A very strange reply on what is essential a genealogy forum 

There are many, many reasons for wanting to publish research so that information, stories and photos can be preserved and passed onto other relatives or friends.

At the moment my sister and I are writing a joint obituary for both our parents (harder than writing two individual ones). Hopefully are children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that are old enough to remember our parents will appreciate it now and even in the future.

[David Nicoll]

You can put a lot more information than a bare tree in a book.

That is what makes it interesting to a wider family audience, who knows it may become history.

I am very fortunate in that a Canadian relative carried out such a “variety project” in the 1930’s
writing down his memories of family in Canada and earlier into the 1830’s on Deeside.

It told me so much more than the records ever could.

[Erato]

I'm lucky, too.  Both of my paternal grandparents wrote fairly lengthy accounts.  My grandmother focused on genealogy and my grandfather on farm life in Wisconsin from 1875-1900.

[mckha489]

And family is much less likely to throw away a bound book than file boxes of papers.