Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question, please contact us, we’re happy to help.
Who is the publisher of my book?
You’re the publisher! You make all of the executive decisions for your book, we’re just here to provide professional services and expertise to make your book the best that it can be. You can put your name or your company name on the back of your book, or you can use one of our imprints (publisher name) and branding packages, through Proving Press at no additional charge.
What other costs can I expect?
There are no hidden costs. The packages that you see include everything you need to take your book to market. There are no up-sells or fees that you’ll have to deal with down the road.
Who prices my book?
You do! We’re happy to help you make a good decision, but the choice is ultimately yours. Before we start your project, we’ll talk about the estimated page count and run through some pricing options, and provide the royalty rates you can expect to receive.
What royalty will I receive?
You take home 80% of net earnings. That means that after the book is printed and the retailer and distributor take their cut, you collect 80% of the money that comes in. The actual dollar amount will vary depending on the page count of your book, the printing options that you select, and the price you choose for your book.
As an example, a 250 page paperback book, 5″ x 8″ with a black and white interior and a full color cover, priced at $14.95, the author will receive approximately $6.25 for every book sold through our distribution channels. That’s more than ten times the average royalty some of the larger self-publishing companies are offering!
Find more in-depth information about our distribution pay rates here.
Where will my book be available for sale?
Your print book will be distributed through Ingram (the nation’s largest book distributor) and will be available from all major online retailers, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It will also be available to brick-and-mortar bookstores, but it will be up to you to convince them to carry your book on the shelves. Whether they carry it or not, the book will be available to all bookstores for special order, so if someone asks for your book, they can get them a copy.
Your e-book will be available from the world’s four largest e-book retailers–Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, iTunes and Sony/Kobo. These e-book retailers account for more than 99% of all e-book sales in the United States.
Can I print books for myself? Can I sell them? How much will they cost?
Yes, you can print books for yourself, and do whatever you want with them. You’re the publisher, and you retain all rights to your own work. You can give them away, you can sell them online, at author fairs, to friends and family. You’re the boss.
The cost to print books will vary depending on the page count, book size and other printing options. As an example, a 250 page paperback book, with a 5″ x 8″ size, with a black and white interior and full color cover will cost about $5 to print, plus shipping. For most orders, books will be delivered to your doorstep in about 10 business days. Rush processing is available for an additional charge.
We offer quantity discounts for orders of 100 books or more, so the price will be even lower!
How long does it take to edit and design my book?
The length of time varies based on the services that you’ve requested. Most complete book projects take from 3 to 8 weeks. That’s counting from the time that all of the materials are provided to the day it’s available for sale from major retailers.
Can I provide my own cover artwork? My own copy editor? Proofreader?
Absolutely! You’re the publisher, and that makes you the boss. Let us know what you already have, and what you need from us, and we’ll adjust one of our packages to meet your needs at a great price.
Are your prices negotiable?
Sorry, but if we could offer a better price, we would. We may be able to adjust the services that you’re receiving to give you a better deal, but generally, we’re already providing the lowest prices we can. We want to make sure that our income allows us to provide the exceptional service and performance that you expect from us.
What’s the difference between a cover consultation and a cover design?
A cover consultation means that you’re providing your own cover artwork (complete with text and graphics), we’re just going to help you size and format it for the printer. A cover design starts with our artwork or yours, and makes it a complete cover, including title and text layout, barcodes and logos.
My book is different, can you print it?
Yes, we can print any book, with any printing options you can imagine. But our print-on-demand distribution services have some limitations regarding what we can make available to retailers. So we can print it, but we may not be able to distribute it for you. Please contact us to talk about what you have in mind, and we’ll give you a direct and clear answer.
Who provides the ISBN and Barcode?
We have ISBNs and barcodes available for our clients at no additional charge. Some clients choose to bring their own ISBNs or barcode, and that’s cool too.
Don’t see your question? Please contact us today, we’re happy to answer all of your questions.
