What do we do?
We're a full-service publisher. We do it all - from editing, proofreading, and cover/interior design to publication, distribution, and promotion.
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It typically takes 8-9 months to turn a manuscript into the "dream come true": a well-edited, well-designed book that's available wherever people buy books.
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Below, you can learn a little more about the steps in our publishing process - and about our book contracts and royalty payments.
Editing
Design
We may begin with a developmental (also called a "conceptual") edit: a set of big picture suggestions for you concerning your overall story arc, plot, and main characters. Then we edit for content, prose quality, and grammar. As a last step, our proofreader will infuriate everyone by finding a few hundred misspelled words, extra spaces, and missing punctuation marks.
In consultation with you, we'll design a cover (front, back, and spine), as well as the interior of the book (font choices, layout, table of contents, etc). Needless to say, a professionally designed book cover is a different thing than a homemade cover, and can make the difference between a book getting noticed or ignored.
We focus on designing a cover that captures the inner essence - the soul - of your story.
Publishing &
Distribution
Promoting
Your Book
We get new books into e-channels such as Amazon (and others, although there are advantages to starting off Amazon-only, which we'll discuss with you). We also set up print-on-demand for soft and hard covers versions, and get books into distribution channels that reach bookstores on a global basis, such as Ingram-Spark. It's important to understand that "Big Box" bookstores rarely put unproven books from newer authors on their shelves, so we'll focus on a well-staged plan to generate initial book sales and strong reviews, in order to approach those booksellers from a position of strength.
Getting a book into online and physical distribution is just the beginning. We'll send it to the web sites, blogs, influencers, and podcasts most likely to reach the target reader. We'll also focus on getting pre-publication and time-of-publication reviews. Reviews from popular, credible sources with large (and relevant) audiences is a critical success factor for any book launch.
Authors must be full partners in the promotion of their books. We give each author a detailed, customized Book Launch Roadmap and a timeline to guide their efforts. Self-promotion through active engagement on social media is crucially important to a book's success these days, no matter who publishes it. We will help guide you and be your partner on this journey, but ultimately you must make the promotion of your book a top priority in the months before, during, and after publication.
Compensation
If we think your book is a good fit with Lake Eerie Books, we may ask you to edit and fine-tune it a bit. Once we're both in agreement that it's ready for final submission, we'll offer you an industry-standard royalty contract, consistent with the best practices of the Independent Book Publishers Association, of which we are members.
You'll have as much time as you want to review the contract, show it to friends and trusted advisers, and discuss it with us in detail. The two things to know for now are:
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You'll be paid 40 % of net sales as royalties, but that number will increase to 45% and then 50 % if certain sales metrics are achieved.
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We'll want Worldwide (English-only) rights to your book for hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio.
Want to submit
a manuscript?
Click Here.
