Self-publishing Services

We often get requests for full self-publishing services. While this is not normally part of our operation, under some circumstances we will take on manuscripts to be published under our imprint where the author pays all costs - and keeps ALL the profits. However, we operate in a rather different way to most such companies.

* We are highly selective about what we take on. In fact, we are more selective than some major commerical publishers. (We once turned down a children's book - because it was drivel - that was later picked up by one of the biggest UK houses and went on to be a major bestseller. We stand by that decision. It was, and is, drivel and no amount of money would have pursuaded us to sully our reputation with it.) In other words, if your book is not up to scratch we will reject it just as any commercial house with any integrity would. This means that if your book ends up bearing the Eyelevel Books imprint, it will automatically have the cudos that all our books come with. Buyers - especially commercial buyers - trust us.

* We only publish to one standard: the best. Design - including text design - is important. We take the time to make sure your book is indestinguishable from any on the shelves of bookshops. Which means you have a much better chance of getting it on the shelves of bookshops in the first place. Bookshops hate amateur, shoddy work, as it is often a reflection of the quality of the content.

* We don't pay you any royalties. Royalties for self-published books are a con. You are paying for the production, so you get ALL the money. Why should you keep paying your 'publisher' every time they sell a book you already own?

* We do not do POD (Print on Demand). Never have, never will. The figures just don't add up. And bookshops never stock them. Some people say they just want to 'try their book out'; they're not sure how many will sell. Well, if you can't be confident of selling at least 1,000 copies, then don't bother self publishing it in the first place. To be successful in this business, you have to believe in your product. That belief starts with comitting to sensible, commercially realistic quantities.

Still not put off?

Good. You might just just be realistic enough to have a chance of success in one of the toughest businesses around. And with that attitude, we can help by giving you the best possible product. Email us with a proposal, and we'll take it from there. (We consider all material, fiction and non-fiction. Quality is our only criteria.)

Contact us here.