Our partnership publishing and self-publishing packages are paid services for the up-and-coming author who's seeking professional backing for their project but wishes to retain creative control and rights to their work. Our partnership packages are tailored to the author's needs based on their project requirements. While we will give suggestions, the extent of our involvement is entirely up to the author.
Partnership publishing is a compromise between self-publishing and traditional publishing. The terms and services vary depending on the scope of the project and the company's practices. The breadth of our services relies on the author's needs. What is included in our partnership packages, but is not limited to: editing, formatting, cover design and formatting, interior design and formatting, marketing coaching, materials, and resources, as well as QKP logo and representation on/of the book.
Self-publishing is a publishing path that gives the author full creative and financial control over their work while allowing them to choose the professional support they need along the way. At Quillkeepers Press, our self-publishing services are tailored to each author and can include editing, cover design, interior formatting, book layout, publishing guidance, marketing coaching, promotional materials, and ongoing resources to help bring a book to life. Authors may select individual services or a more comprehensive publishing package based on the needs of their project. Because self-publishing places ownership and publishing rights fully in the author’s hands, books released through this service are published under the author’s own name or chosen imprint rather than carrying the Quillkeepers Press imprint.
What does partnership and self-publishing look like with Quillkeepers Press (QKP)?
QKP offers a variety of publishing packages tailored to our authors' needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to our partnership packages. We will take the time to thoroughly explore your project's goals and expectations. We consider this a partnership; thus, you can expect us to work as hard as you do to get the manuscript ready for publication. Each project and the finished product reflect both QKP and the author, so we will take the time to properly vet the author and manuscript, as well as produce a finished product that all parties involved can be proud of. The process starts with submitting your manuscript to see if we can align with your vision!
For information on where to submit, please keep reading; the details below are important for the submission process. (You're almost there!!!)
Pricing (USD):
Basic Package: Starts at $1,200.00
— Ideal for the author who has everything but the publisher together
— the author has completed editing, formatting, cover design, cover formatting, and illustrations
— the author already picked out their print-on-demand (POD) service
— the author already bought and or filed an ISBN
— the author already bought and or filed their copyright
Intermediate Package: Starts at $2,500.00
— Ideal for the author who has most of their project together
— the author has completed the editing process
— the author has established their goals and how to obtain them
— the author needs help with interior formatting, cover design, and/or cover formatting
Total Intervention Package: Starts at $3,700.00
— Ideal for the author who has written a manuscript but doesn't know where to go from there
— The author needs help with all the components of publishing: editing, formatting, cover design, and cover formatting
— The author requires a good deal of consultation and coaching
— The author is undecided on which print-on-demand (POD) service they will use
FAQ’s - Please read through these diligently before submitting:
QKP DOES accept previously published work for partnership publishing opportunities (so long as the previous publisher doesn't have exclusive rights)
QKP DOES NOT accept children's book manuscripts at this time
QKP DOES accept co-author collections so long as all parties are on the same page
QKP only accepts work in English
Any services not included in the quote will not be covered
Please submit the entire manuscript
QKP accepts .doc, .docx, and PDF
Please use a 12pt, sans family font, standard size print paper (8.5x11), and between 1.25 and double spaced
QKP will contact the author about developments via the email provided (in some cases, QKP and the author will convene over voice/video calls)
All non-refundable fees are paid upfront
Any add-on services after the agreement is signed will be approved or rejected and will require an additional quote/agreement and costs paid before work begins
Our time is our most valuable resource. Add-on services may be rejected due to time restraints. Please try to map out all service requests during the Partnership Package development process and before the agreement is signed. Add-on service approval is left up to QKP
QKP does not provide ISBN numbers
QKP does not file copyright for the author
QKP does not require a cut of royalties
QKP does not manage royalties
QKP does not manage marketing
QKP does not provide author copies (you will order these through your POD)
QKP will advertise your book through our social media, website, and journal. We provide some marketing graphics and will share information on tips and tricks to make your launch a success.
Marketing — You will receive resource guides to help you market and launch your book. We will also share contact information for organizations that provide spectacular marketing packages beyond our scope, including review leads and book tours. However, it is left to the author to procure these, should they want to participate in these third-party services.
Partnership Package includes some consulting in the price - allotment is determined by the scope of the project, and additional consulting over the allotment is billed $50/hour (time is so very precious). Timesheets are kept for every project and include time spent on the project as well as correspondence in any form between the author and QKP
Any cost for the rights to use graphics for the cover will be at the cost of the author; have all graphics ready before querying
Be organized:
Please research which Print on Demand (POD) service will be used and have the account set up before the query process
Acquire an ISBN (QKP will need this to include on the cover and in the interior of the manuscript)
Know which services are required from QKP (need guidance? QKP is here to help)
Have all your interior elements together (interior text, front matter, back matter, images, etc)
Have your font and font size picked out
Know the page count (QKP will need this to develop the proper Partnership Package)
Each new chapter must start on a new page for novels, and each new piece must start on a new page for poetry
Have the cover complete, or if QKP is creating the cover, have an idea of what the final product should look like and some inspirational graphics for QKP to use as a starting point.
Decide on the trim size (QKP can not start a project without this information)
We schedule our lineup diligently and often 6+ months in advance. Should your project run over the date agreed upon in the Partnership Publishing Agreement for any reason, the agreement may be void, QKP may have to discontinue the working relationship, and any fees accrued to that point will become due. It is inappropriate to ask QKP's proceeding authors to postpone their projects due to hold-ups. Most hiccups can be resolved before they materialize by being prepared from the start, and with a little due diligence
Reserve the right to cancel any problematic relationship (both author and publisher reserve this right, and all accrued fees become due upon cancellation)
Where to submit:
After reading the FAQ and getting materials together, please send inquiries to partnersubs@quillkeeperspress.com
