Christian Self-Publishing (Partner-Publishing)
This is a new service we are offering due to numerous inquiries. It is subject to revision and even withdrawal without announcement.
Print on Demand technology has made it possible for authors to get around the ‘gatekeepers’ at publishing houses and take their books direct to the masses. Just as the music industry failed to adapt to changing technology, the publishing industry is struggling to find the best approach to this new situation. If a publisher is only going to print 1,000 copies and the author can expect only $1 for each sale (at best) why not dispense with the publisher altogether, sell only 250 books (very doable for an author) and make $4 per sale?
There are good reasons for going through the traditional publishing route. For many people, the technical issues of getting a cover and manuscript print ready are intimidating. Then, they have no idea how to promote the book.
Athanatos Christian Ministry’s solution is born of its Christian outlook and goal: the worker is worth his wages. Authors should be able to earn a larger share of the profits from their own book.
Moreover, while money can never be ignored as a consideration, when you are in service to the Lord, brazen profit-mongering isn’t the goal, anyway. ACM aims to integrate this outlook into its self-publishing service. The author and the publisher should both make money and the author is worth his wages. In short, when ACM presents itself as desiring to partner with the author, this is genuine and sincere.
That is why we prefer to call what we offer ‘partner-publishing’ instead of ‘self-publishing.’
With ACM’s model, the advantages of self-publishing remain: the author gets a higher share of the profit and he or she retains a high level of editorial control. At the same time, we will get the manuscript ready for final printing, design the cover, submit the book into the databases that Amazon.com and other online retailers rely on, and assist in and carry out marketing activities.
It should be noted, however, that ACM will not accept every manuscript. Ideal manuscripts will be consistent with ACM’s vision for its publishing arm, but they need not be. More critically, the manuscript must be well written and represent something that ACM can still stand behind from a quality standpoint. They will, however, not be anti-Christian. Also, a major consideration is whether or not the author himself will actively promote the book.
In this partnership, ACM’s effort is proportionate to the author’s effort. We will work as hard as you do, and just as hard to ensure a good return on your investment.
Copyright and Imprint Info…
Author retains full copyright and control over the title and may move it elsewhere whenever he likes. Depending on the negotiated contract, commission from online retail sales such as Amazon.com are generously in the author’s favor, with up to 80% of the profit going to the author.
ACM publishes under two imprints: Athanatos Publishing Group and Suzeteo Enterprises. ACM reserves the right to decide which imprint it will release the book under.
Process
In order to begin the process, you must complete our submission form. Select the package you are interested in. Provide us with your contact details. In a single document, give us a one page summary and outline of your entire book and then the first 10-20 pages (or about one chapter) of your book in its nearly completed form.
Upon receiving this information, our editors will determine whether or not the manuscript is one that ACM would like to be associated with and help promote. If so, you will be contacted to send the full manuscript. Our editors will review the final manuscript, and if we are still enthusiastic about it, negotiations on the contract details will be worked out.
Once the contract is signed and payment for your package choice has been received, work will begin to get your book ready for publication (cover design, etc). The release date will be negotiated.
Packages
If you would like to compare our fees with what other quasi-self-publishers charge, check out www.aventinepress.com or www.booksurge.com or Christian self-publishing houses, Pleasant Word and Xulon Press.
Package 1
Custom
- Contact us to discuss your needs.
Package 2
$500
- Title, set-up, and submission with online retailers (Amazon.com, etc)
- Generous discounts for the author’s purchase of own book
- 10 free copies of the book
- 30% commission on net profit.
- Submit Application
Package 3
$950
- Title, set-up, and submission with online retailers (Amazon.com, etc)
- Generous discounts for the author’s purchase of own book
- 20 free copies of the book
- 1 Press Release written and distributed through ChristianNewswire.com
- Cover Design
- 35% commission on net profit.
- Submit Application
Package 4
$1,500
- Title, set-up, and submission with online retailers (Amazon.com, etc)
- Generous discounts for the author’s purchase of own book
- 30 free copies of the book
- 1 Press Release written and distributed through ChristianNewswire.com
- Cover Design
- Web Page Set Up and Basic Design
- Basic Editing
- 40% commission on net profit.
- Submit Application
Package 5
$2,500
- Title, set-up, and submission with online retailers (Amazon.com, etc)
- Generous discounts for the author’s purchase of own book
- 50 free copies of the book
- 3 Press Releases written and distributed through ChristianNewswire.com
- Cover Design
- Web Page Set Up and Basic Design
- Standard Editing
- $500 Marketing Campaign (Yahoo ads, banner placements, etc)
- 50% commission on net profit.
- Submit Application
- All of the above, plus more- contact us to discuss.
- Distribution in ‘brick and mortar’ chains such as Barnes and Noble?
- Up to 80% commission on net profit.
- Contact us about this package.
- Submit Application
1. For self-published titles, we are looking for completed manuscripts that are ideally between 50,000 and 160,000 words.
2. Manuscripts should be already proofread, though light editing and suggestions may be given.
3. The author should plan on rolling up his sleeves to promote his own book. In fact, the willingness to promote one’s own book is a huge factor in our decision making process. Just because you’re paying us to distribute the book doesn’t mean that the author isn’t expected to do anything. If you’re not willing to work, don’t submit. (Unless you want to design a custom package costing $100,000. That would be different. 
)
