Digital publishing

For authors wanting to do this, we produce the ebook at the point of them signing off their book files as being ‘ready for print’ with our production team, which ensures that we are using the final text and cover files to create the ebook.

Our Digital team will then take those final production files and produce an EPUB 3.0 file which is compatible with all e-reading devices and retailer websites.

Once the ebook has been created, authors are sent a proof file to check so that they can confirm they’re happy with the ebook before it is made available for sale through retailers including Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Kobo and many others.

Our Full Ebook Publishing and Distribution service includes everything you need to produce and distribute an ebook, including front cover design, formatting and conversion, international distribution, ISBN allocation, bibliographic data management and more.

For authors wanting to ensure their manuscripts are error-free, we offer a copy editing service, and for those wanting to spread the word we can provide a variety of marketing options.

The cost of audiobook production is determined by the length of time it takes to record a book, and that is influenced by the word count. We base our production costs on a book's word count as follows:

• Up to 40,000 words*: £1,450 *(equates to around 150 typeset pages)
• Each additional 1,000-10,000 words*: £160 *(equates to around 40 typeset pages)

We usually ask to see a copy of your book first, so that we can give an accurate quotation to you of the audiobook production costs.

The next step is to choose an actor. We offer a range of vocal talents and ask you to choose which you feel would be best to narrate your book. To aid the recording process, we ask you to fill in a questionnaire briefing the narrator on things they need to know – such as accents or pronunciation.

The recording of an audiobook takes place over a few sessions. Once complete, a copy is sent to you for checking – and we allow up to an hour of studio time for re-recording passages, if necessary. While recording takes place, we create your audiobook cover to the specifications needed by retailers. Overall, the production process usually takes around six weeks, but this can depend on studio and actor availability.

For authors who wish to distribute and sell their audiobooks themselves, that is the end of the process. Most, however, ask us to distribute their audiobook to retailers worldwide on their behalf.

We offer two distribution options:

Basic Distribution service
We will distribute your audiobook exclusively through Audible, Amazon and Apple for an initial two years. A royalty rate of 40% of the cover price (set by retailers) is paid; we deduct a commission of 15% of the net receipts on sales made. Authors can choose to renew the distribution of their audiobooks to Amazon and Apple after the first two years.

Full Distribution service
We will distribute your audiobook through our extended retailer network of up to 80 retailers including Audible, Amazon, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Storytel, Google Play, Kobo, Audiobooks.com, and Barnes & Noble US for an initial two years. A royalty rate of 35% of the cover price is paid; we deduct a commission of 15% of the net receipts on sales made. We assign your audiobook an ISBN and disseminate metadata to retailers. Authors can choose to renew the distribution of their audiobooks to retailers after the first two years.

For both of the above services, we add a sample of the audiobook to our website and provide marketing information that an author can carry out themselves. We can distribute audiobook files produced elsewhere subject to approval of the files.