Posted on 5 Comments

MySQL’s cluster cert study guide – on lulu?

Hmm, dunno if anyone else spotted this interesting tidbit… the new MySQL Certification study guide, the one on MySQL Cluster, is made available via Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/content/1297960

MySQL AB used to have a deal with Pearson, branded as MySQL Press.
Lulu.com on the other hand is a self-publishing system.
I’ve seen other Lulu books, the printing and binding is quite excellent. No worries there.

But what this means is that apparently the Pearson deal ended somehow and MySQL AB hasn’t got another publisher. I find that a bit curious. The problem is of course that now you’re not likely to see this study guide appear in any shops. Online is fine, but shop-based distribution doesn’t hurt, particularly with the “competition” databases having plenty of related books on the shelf. Diddums for Amazon & co, it’s now just not there. So people searching for this kind of stuff through their usual channels won’t spot it.

Posted on 5 Comments

5 thoughts on “MySQL’s cluster cert study guide – on lulu?

  1. It makes me wonder if it would be worth the time and energy to publish a book there…

  2. The benefit of publishing companies is that they do the printing and distribution for you. They take care of lots of the logistics.

    The drawback is they want input, they want a cut of the sales, etc.

    From what I understand (and I’ve talked to folks on both sides of this, the MySQL side and, as my mother conveniently works for Pearson, folks on the Pearson side) there was a contract for a length of time, and the contract wasn’t renewed.

    As well, it’s not too hard to get books in stores or on Amazon.com. I worked with a not-for-profit organization for 6 years, helping self-publish a few books.

    There’s also the possibility to publish it as an e-book — http://www.pma-online.org/articles/shownews.aspx?id=2522

    We used:

    Baker and Taylor:
    http://www.btol.com/
    (FAQ on becoming a supplier) http://www.btol.com/faq.cfm?category=15
    (more docs on being a supplier and supplying a book)
    http://www.btol.com/supplier_info.cfm

    The catch, of course, is that someone has to fill the orders (called “jobbers”).

    The Book House (for libraries)
    http://www.thebookhouse.com/

  3. As stated in my initial announcement of the book (http://www.bitbybit.dk/carsten/blog/?p=110), the book *will* be available through Amazon as well as brick-and-motar shops in due time. What “due” is in this context I do not know — I expect it to be 4-6 weeks.

    We posted the link to lulu.com for the impatient. If you insist on using a retailer, you’ll just have to wait a bit.

    / Carsten

  4. Didn’t see your original… was probably while I was busy at OSDC.
    Anyway, good to hear. Thanks for the info!

    And I hear you left MySQL yourself? Good luck in your new gig!

  5. Lulu.com offers distribution packages though which you can make your book available at bookstores, Amazon, etc. I have never tried this and I’m not sure what the terms are, but it’s possible to do it.

    Bill Karwin

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