Case Study
Eleanor Anstruther: Why I Swapped Mainstream Publishing for Indie Publishing
9 min read
We work with authors to guide them on what services they may need to achieve their publishing objectives and ensure that they only pay for the services they want. We publish all types of books, from slim poetry books to complex cookery books and everything in between. We offer pricing options from entry-level upwards, all on a bespoke basis.
We don’t offer pre-set packages because we believe they limit flexibility for authors. With packaged pricing, authors may end up paying for services they don’t need or miss out on the flexibility to choose what suits them best. Instead, we provide a personalised, no-obligation quote tailored to every author's unique book and publishing goals.
Below are pricing examples that reflect some of the most common goals authors bring to us. Please note that these are simply examples! They provide suggested service options along with approximate costs that we typically recommend for authors aiming to achieve these specific objectives.
The above pricing examples may fit with what you are looking for and your budget, but if not, we can work with you directly to produce a quote for the services that you want for your project.
We've based the examples above on a manuscript of up to 75,000 words containing text only. Production and printing costs will vary depending on the complexity of a book, which is why we always supply a written quotation based on your manuscript. All pricing examples are exclusive of UK VAT.
We work in partnership with authors to design, create, market and sell quality books across all formats, putting customers at the heart of what we do, and using our expertise to give the very best self-publishing experience. We enjoy innovating and improving services to benefit our authors and are committed to educating through our events programme to help authors make the publishing choice that’s right for them.
We use our experience, knowledge and expertise to give every author honest advice that suits their specific requirements.
We support and guide authors through the publishing process, from manuscript submission to publication and beyond.
We produce only the highest quality titles, with no shortcuts taken at any stage of the publishing process.
We’ll always ensure that you know exactly what you are buying, and allow you to take any time you need before you decide to proceed.
We don't hold the rights to your books, ever. We think that the right to your work should remain your own.
Publishing a book is something you need to take great care over. We'll always allow you time to do just that.
We will never 'go dark' once you have decided to proceed! We'll always be available to speak to directly by phone or on email, and we'll keep you informed every step of the way.
How much does it cost to publish my book?
The exact cost of publication will vary for each author, as there are many variable factors that have to be considered, e.g. length of the book, format(s) required, use of images in colour, paper type, book size, etc. We have given some example pricing as a guideline for authors of what they can expect to spend when looking at popular services, though we always supply a written, no-obligation quotation based on an individual manuscript, and then refine that to suit an author's budget and aims. See the 'Pricing' section above for examples of typical prices authors can expect.
What are the payment terms for publishing my book, can I pay in installments?
Although we do not accept payment in instalments, payments are already staggered across the course of publication. We do not ask for all publishing services to be paid up-front. We ask for an initial deposit of £500 when you return your contract, then any remaining services you have chosen will be invoiced as and when the work is carried out. Please contact our Customer Services team at [email protected] to discuss this further.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. Before you sign a contract with us we make sure that you know exactly how much you will be spending throughout the process and roughly when you'll receive those invoices given the current services you have selected. There are three reasons why your costs may change throughout the publishing process. Firstly, if you want to add or remove services that you have opted for in your contract. Secondly, if any contracted limitations are exceeded (for example, you require more sets of amendments to your manuscript than is stated in our contract) throughout the process - however you'll be made aware of this as soon as possible. Finally, the cost of printing quoted is based on an estimated page extent, so it may increase or decrease, depending on the final typeset page extent of your book (which cannot be known until it is actually completed).
If you aren't sure what you need or would like some advice from a publishing expert, please either fill in the form or contact us using the details below.
