“Two additional printing options have become available in the past year, and they may be viable alternatives. Both strike me as being hybrids—a crossover of the vast divide between print and electronic books. The new plans may indeed set the next standard for independent publications. They certainly fit into the pattern of consolidation that is happening in other industries. I can’t say a whole lot about these options because I’ve not tried either one, but I can tell you what the pundits are reporting and what the new companies say they offer.

“The first to break into the market was Ingram Spark. In case you’ve forgotten, Ingram is the largest book distributor in the country and the parent company of Lightning Source. Ingram Spark is the company’s solution to complaints that Lightning Source is too expensive and too complicated. It promises a cleaner, simpler interface, allowing authors to submit files similar to those Lightning Source accepts for digital editions. Since I’ve not tried this program, I can’t evaluate that promise.

“They do, however, offer certain advantages. The Spark plan will produce either paperback or hardbound copies, and there’s little difference in the costs between binding styles. That will be important to any author who hopes to place books in schools and libraries, which will usually purchase only hardbound books.”