FAQ

What is a publishing services company?

A publishing services company performs all of the steps necessary to produce a finished book and release it to the market.  The author pays a fee that covers the cost of mechanical editing, page and cover design, printing, and binding, as well as limited promotion, order fulfillment, and other administrative services.

What separates Williams & King Publishers from other publishing services companies?

As a Williams King author, you’ll benefit from our turnkey,  personal approach. You’ll work directly with your own full-time, full-service Author  Services Assistant. This person is dedicated to ensuring that the final book is the piece you always wanted to publish. Once the publishing process is complete, your Author Services Assistant will guide you through the promotion process, helping you get your book into readers' hands.  

How much will I be charged?

We customize our publishing packages for each book. Binding type, page size, and whether illustrations are required are several factors that affect the price. Once we have received your manuscript, we will provide you with a full-service publishing proposal that outlines the fees. We’ll also outline the general production specifications of your book and how long it will take to complete. Often, we can offer our authors attractive and flexible, interest-free payment plans.

Do I need a completed manuscript?

At Williams & King Publishers, we would like to talk to you no matter where you are in the book development process. If you’re in the process of finalizing your manuscript, contact us to begin the conversation about publishing your work when it’s complete.  If your manuscript is complete, submit it to us for review. We can offer publishing contracts only for completed manuscripts. 

How does the process work?

Once you submit your manuscript, our team will review it. If accepted, we’ll send a detailed publishing proposal that outlines how we’ll handle the publication of your book, and what it will cost. If you accept our proposal, you’ll return the signed contract along with your payment, and we’ll get to work!

Do you take every manuscript?

We do not review or evaluate manuscripts for literary merit or market potential. However, there are categories that we do not accept. Examples include materials that contain pornography, or libel and racist content that promotes hate of any kind. We reserve the right to reject any work that we may find to be unsuitable for our company.

Do I need to copyright my book before I work with Williams & King?

No. Upon publication, two copies of your book will be filed in your name with the Register of Copyrights of the Library of Congress to obtain a Certificate of Registration of Copyright. The copyright will be registered in your name, not Williams & King's. Manuscripts and unpublished works are protected by common law and statutory law from the point of creation. There is no need to obtain a formal copyright registration before submission to Williams & King.

How can I be sure my work will be protected? 

As a reputable, trusted company, Williams & King Publishers will not use any material submitted to us without your written permission.

What kind of earnings can I expect?

Williams & King authors receive a percentage of the retail price of each book sold. You should proceed with Williams & King Publishers because you want to see your work in print, not because of the expectation of sales.  Typically, self-published books do not earn enough from sales to recoup the expense of publishing. Some of our authors have received national attention; however, most self-published books do not sell as well as their authors hope. 

How will my book be promoted?

We undertake a clearly defined, limited promotional program designed specifically for your book, as outlined in your publishing contract proposal. Below are some highlights of our standard campaign, which may be included in your book’s promotion:

• Press kit
• Featured Book” on Williams & King website
• Online news releases
• Search engine marketing
• Google Book Search
• Online retailer listing
• Industry trade directories
• Bookstore outreach
• Direct mail

We also offer additional promotional opportunities to help take your book marketing to the next level. Consult an Author Services Assistant to learn more about our offerings to discuss what’s right for you.