– Your Author Journey with Filament
Filament does not provide Self-Publishing. We are publishers, in the traditional sense, and members of the Independent Publishers Guild and have been publishing for 25 years. We provide Commercial Publishing Services to organisations, and a range of different ‘author-centric’ business models for individual authors to meet their specific needs. Everything we do is bespoke and individually crafted. One size does not fit all.
You only have one chance to make a good first impression
In our experience, once an author has written something, their eyes see what was in their mind when they wrote it – not necessarily what is actually on the page! To give you peace of mind, all manuscripts are read and evaluated by our own Editor-at-Large, Tessa Glover, who has qualifications in creative writing and proof-reading.
In addition, we will also provide a commercial evaluation of your book to provide you with clarity on how to make it a commercial success – rather than an expensive hobby!
“People buy people, before they buy books”.
All authors need to build their profiles and engage with followers. You need to build a community of people who know where you add value to their lives. This is not something a publisher can do for you. A publisher can promote and distribute your book, but you have raise your own profile in order to attract people to your author business.
The success of your book will be determined by the amount of ‘momentum’ you are creating for your brand, in the marketplace.
Producing your Book
We provide a bespoke service to each one of our authors. No two books are the same, and every author is unique. We publish books of all genres and in all manner of sizes, ranging from smart-looking professional nonfiction books in black and white, to glorious full-colour coffee-table books on a range of subjects.
Our unrelenting focus is on helping you to get the very best for your book, in the most cost-effective way possible. We work with you for as much or as little as you want, or your budget dictates.
To enable us to fully understand your aspirations for your book, we offer a free 45-minute consultation with a publisher. Only then can we provide an accurate budget based on our discussions.
However, it can help authors to have an idea of the costs associated with producing their book, based on the services they are looking for, from the minimum, to selecting everything on the menu! We hope this helps you. A quotation based on your needs may well be less.
STAGE ONE – Editorial Assessment and proof-reading
The first stage is to ensure that your manuscript is the best it can be. Our Editor-at-Large, Tessa Glover, will read, evaluate and proofread your manuscript. You will also receive a Commercial Evaluation to establish the best way to ensure your book will be a commercial success.
For an average book of 200 pages, we estimate 20 hours of editorial effort. £600.00
STAGE TWO – ORIGINATION
We work with you to create an original design for the book. We help the book cover appeal to what the potential reader is looking for, rather than promoting the contents of the book. We will suggest style features to reflect the content of the book and which appeal to the reader. Allow a budget of £1,500 for origination.
STAGE THREE – PRINTING , DISTRIBUTION and MARKET ACCESS
We provide print project management and quality control. We ensure that the book is added to all distribution platforms worldwide. We create and distribute your book metadata to ensure the book can be easily found and purchased.
Allow £750
STAGE FOUR – MARKETING and PROMOTION
We send an advance information sheet to the book buyers of the multiple book chains and independent bookshops. We create and distribute press releases to the media –
Budget for one month of intensive activity £1,000
Example 1 – Creating and publishing my book as an eBook
- Your personal project manager
- Formatting your proofread manuscript
- Cover design
- eBook conversion
- International distribution
- FREE Filament guide – How to promote my eBook
Circa £750 – subject to length of manuscript and actual services selected. Ask for an actual quotation in writing
Example 2
Create and print my paperback book
- Your personal project manager
- Professional proofread of manuscript
- Original book style and typesetting
- Original Cover design
- Both eBook and paperback
- International ISBN
- Global online distribution
- 50 high quality books
- Access to the AuthorCraft online book marketing community
Circa £3,200 – subject to length of manuscript and actual services selected. Ask for an actual quotation in writing
Example 3
Book Trade distribution worldwide
- Author Strategy coaching sessions – purpose, audience, title and offering, book description and blurb, keywords, book categories, editorial evaluation.
- Book style and design. Creating a sample layout for approval, typesetting and page layout
- Book cover concept, heading/title/strapline/ illustrations / back cover blurb
- eBook adaption and conversion
- Setting up author’s own KDP account for royalties to be paid direct every month
- Market access. Issue ISBN, creating and uploading book metadata, setting up international distribution and supply chain. book trade promotion. We print and distribute in 15 locations in the USA. This is self funding.
- Support to host an online international book launch on zoom
- Post launch ongoing marketing support – monthly author support event
- 50 author Limited Edition copies with enhanced cover finish
- Promotional graphics for social media. Mock-up Shots.
Total £4,000 – subject to length of manuscript and actual services selected. Ask for an actual quotation in writing
We will provide a bespoke quotation to match your specific requirements
Additional examples
Limited edition books
- In addition to the standard international edition, we can create additional Limited Edition prints of your book for you to sell on your website and at book signings. You can choose from a range of special cover finishes including embossing, foil printing, spot UV varnish and cover flaps. Because you are selling your book direct you benefit from the full profit margin. And a limited edition encourages people to buy from you direct.
Circa £500
AUTHOR WEBSITE
- Sell your books direct with a shopping cart
- Grow a mailing list of fans
- Provide the media with content about you and your book with a Press Area on your site
Author website – from £650
AUDIO BOOK
Your book converted to an Audio book and published on all the main audio book distributors
From £2,000 depending on book length and reader
AUTHOR BACK STORY INTERVIEW
Conducted by a professional journalist, we would conduct an Author Backstory Interview session in order to capture content which we would then use to create a press release for the book. We would then distribute the press release to our media lists.
Author BackStory Interview and press releases – £1,000
Some questions to ask yourself
- What does success as an author means for you?
- What are your expectations from this project?
- Are you publishing primarily to make money? To raise your profile? To educate? To entertain? What are your objectives?
- What skill sets do you have to help raise your profile and build a following?
- Who is your perfect reader? Why will they choose your book? How can you reach them? How will they find you?
- What is your genre and niche? What key words will people be searching for to find your book?
- Describe the main offering of the book
- Nobody owes any of us a living. Are you prepared to invest in achieving your success?
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Publishing is a serious business. That is why we have a proven process and formula for our authors, guiding and valuing their time, effort, and work. Whether you are a creative author, a new business author, or your work is a labour of love – be assured of our attentiveness to your needs throughout our collaborative process and the professional quality work and placement your book deserves.