Black india ink should probably be as permanent as your book. Whether you use a nib or brush and what style is up to you. Are your hand lettering skills good?

Hand-lettered, preferably by the author.

There is no one author, it's more of a combined work. I do have good lettering skills, my concern is my experience with india ink going back to drafting days - rapidographs tend to spit sooner or later, and anything I have to dunk would have the same issue. Any other suggestions?

Speedball, or better yet Brause, nibs need not be dunked, and should not. Keeping them clean and sharp is part of the game, but you can always just buy them new. You feed them with the eyedropper/cap thingie, just not directly over your work. I still use a drafting pen once in a while, too. I love doing calligraphy and have done it for three quarters of my life and am perfectly steady, comfortable, and sometimes even creative with pen & ink. Maybe you should have a professional calligrapher number them if this book project is not appropriate as a learning project.