Publishing Models

Co-publishing is a hybrid between traditional publishing (where the publisher covers publishing costs in exchange for keeping a higher percentage of your book’s profits) and self-publishing (where the author assumes responsibility for all marketing and all publishing costs).

In co-publishing models, the author makes more profit per book than traditional publishing, and also retains book rights as well as a great deal more control of the marketing and selling to retailers. The author makes less profit on each book compared with self-publishing.

Traditional publishers are generally considered to be the big five New York-based publishers: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster. Although these publishers control a substantial portion of the U.S. book market in terms of sales (either a quarter or three-quarters of the market, depending on the source – estimates vary widely), they are not as all-powerful as they used to be.

Today's authors can publish in print or electronically. Some prefer to do both (we encourage our authors to offer their works in all formats). Our authors, in fact, are published in traditional print format as well as in e-book format (and sometimes in audiobook format). This ensures that readers can find and enjoy our authors' works in the format that best suits their preferences.

Self-publishing is the best way to start a writing career, regardless of what kind of writer you are or what kinds of books you write.

Some people in traditional publishing still look at self-published books as the work of writers who can't make it otherwise. This misses the point: Writers now have options. Where once it was traditional publishing or nothing, now there are multiple paths to publication and success.

Today, you have control.