We are an independent publisher operating on a collaborative basis, but what does that mean? How does our approach compare to other routes into print?
And what surprising link connects us to the great authors of old?
The main routes into print
There are a lot of different routes into print, and we firmly believe authors should choose the route which suits them the best. The definitions of the different kinds of publishing often fall into three camps: self-publishing, traditional publishing or collaborative publishing.
We classify as a collaborative publisher, in that the author shares some of the costs of getting their work into print – but in most other ways we operate on a mainstream publishing model, particularly in terms of how we present and distribute our titles.
What sets us apart:
- This is not a publishing service. We work closely with our authors, but we’re publishing for mainstream release;
- We only publish titles we truly love and feel we can represent. If you’re set to be one of our authors, this is because we’ve seen something special in your work;
- There are some costs involved with this route – but it is very important to understand that these do not cover the entirety of the cost of publishing the work;
- The majority of our sales are through high street bookshops and online retailers – and we market our titles.
This is how we are able to treat each title as the individual it deserves to be. Our books are also truly beautiful.
A closer look at the three main routes into print:
When authors speak about publishing, their experiences often fall into three camps: self-publishing, traditional publishing or collaborative publishing. But what do these terms mean, and how do you know which is the right one for you?
Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing is the stock phrase for the independent authors of the #amwriting community. Indie-authors manage their own cover design and formatting – or pay skilled service providers to create this for them. They are often computer literate and internet-savvy, as a lot of self-published books are produced online.
Sometimes authors approach their local printing company and order a hundred or so books for their own use, which they sell locally.
We absolutely encourage authors to pursue this route if it is the right option for them. Some incredible authors are self-published.
However … this is not what we do. If you are set to be one of our authors, you’ll come to us because you don’t want to be a lone voice in the bustle of the internet world – you want a publisher to represent you and to see your book being championed to bookshops and online retailers such as Amazon. And you definitely value the respect that is given to a book that has been thoroughly edited and is a beautiful bookshelf read.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch.
Traditional publishing
Traditional or mainstream publishing is the term used for the route into print where a publisher signs you into a contract and, hopefully, pays an advance.
At first glance, this can seem like the ideal option for most authors and there is a bias towards this kind of publishing in online discussion.
However … there can be a lot of pressure to conform, which can be stifling. It is also a rarely mentioned fact that some of our greatest authors were not traditionally published and had commercial contracts with their publishers. If traditional were the only acceptable route, we wouldn’t have the cultural treasure trove which exists today. Did you know that:
- Jane Austen had a commercial contract with her publisher;
- Charlotte Bronte and her sisters paid a sum to the publisher for their first books;
- Charles Dickens founded his own newspaper and several periodicals so that he could serialise his own work;
- And Virginia Woolf founded a publishing company with her husband, the Hogarth Press, so that they could publish their poetry?
We were founded on similar principles.
If you are set to be one of our authors, you’ll come to us because you want to know you are seen as an individual and not a number on a spreadsheet. You’d like to sign a publishing agreement which is written in clear language and you’ll also enjoy feeling confident that your book is being presented as the gem it is, and not mis-sold as something else.
In short, you want a publisher who is passionate about helping you to fulfil your dreams as an author and one who treats you as the unique voice you are.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch.
Collaborative Publishing
Confusingly, collaborative publishing covers a huge spectrum of different kinds of publishing, but put simply, this is the term applied to the form of publishing where the author contributes to the cost of getting their work into print.
This form of publishing is extremely flexible and ranges from assisted self-publishing (sometimes called hybrid publishing) through to our form of collaborative publishing – which is very close to traditional publishing and is our preferred route into print.
We’re proud that our approach allows us to champion authors who have a lot of talent and write original work which deserves unique representation.
We have experience of all three main routes into print, and aside from sharing the initial risk with our authors, we operate very much on the mainstream model of publishing.
Our mission
Our mission is simple. We have a reputation for publishing beautiful books by talented UK-based authors. In the same way that the great authors of old forged their own path, we want to continue to build our catalogue of unique reads, whether that is original fiction, meaningful personal stories, overlooked history, subtle poetry, or captivating children’s books.
We also like the way our approach allows us to be friendly.
Our authors are:
- Committed and enthusiastic about their work;
- Polite and enthusiastic. Publishing can be a deeply emotional experience but it is exciting when you have a publisher on your side, championing your work.
- Willing to undertake marketing work as far as you are able, whether online or in the local area – with our guidance and support;
We treat every single one of our titles as the unique work it deserves to be. Our authors like the fact that they have a publisher representing their work and they know that the high standard of their writing has been recognised. Our authors tend to be very committed, but are also looking for the support and confidence that we can give them.
If you think you would like to become one of our authors, please get in touch.