The Publishing Process

THE BEGINNING

You're here! You're off to a good start!
Ready to reach out? Visit our Contact page and drop us a note. Share your manuscript’s genre, a quick summary (one sentence or a short paragraph), and let us know if your manuscript is in-progress or complete.
In that note, you can also ask questions or request a complimentary consultation—by Zoom or phone. We’re here to answer all your questions and help you decide if Empress is right for you, and if you're right for us.
You can request a sample contract and author referrals if you'd like.
At Empress, we don’t publish every manuscript that comes our way, and we don’t take on works-in-progress. We review only complete manuscripts to see if they’re a fit for our mission and creative sensibilities.
Publication costs typically range from $2,000–$5,000, depending on factors like editing needs, design features (illustrations, indexes, etc.), and manuscript length. We review each complete manuscript to determine the time and support required. Contracts are offered only once the manuscript is finished and we’ve agreed on the book’s features—format, design, and edition (hardcover, paperback, or e-book).
With the agreement in place, the contract is signed and half the payment is required to begin the next phase.

THE MIDDLE

And we're off!
Once the contract is signed and payment secured, we begin editing and layout. Every edit and design choice—from fonts and chapter layouts to book size and page color—will be shared for your approval, provided it also aligns with our aesthetic vision.
Covers matter deeply to authors, and you’ll have full input. Some authors bring their own images or designers; others ask us to create the cover. Either way, final approval is always yours.
While we’re handling production, we’ll ask you to provide back cover copy (with our guidance), an author bio, keywords for discoverability, and optional pieces like a dedication, acknowledgments, or author photo.
Publication timelines vary based on our current queue, the level of editing required, and how quickly you respond to emails. Some projects can wrap in as early a month, but most take 2-4 months.
When the layout is complete, we’ll send you a digital proof, and we'll make any edits. After you sign off, you’ll receive a physical proof—hardcover or paperback. We'll make our last set of edits, if necessary. Approve that, and your book is ready to launch!

After a smooth flight, we're ready to land the plane!
We publish print-on-demand through Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon’s platform) and IngramSpark. When your book is ready, you’ll create an account with one or both, and we’ll handle the entire upload process using your account.
You'll enter your banking account information so all royalties, paid monthly, go directly to you.
We'll show you how to order discounted author copies.
You make your final payment to complete your contract, and your book will go live within 72 hours!
While we don’t handle marketing directly, we can provide materials such as bookmarks, postcards, and flyers. You’ll also receive access to our marketing resources page, and we’re always glad to discuss strategies for getting your book out into the world.

We can't quit you, 'til death do us part!
If you’d like to revise your book—adding a chapter, updating details, or including reviews, endorsements, or awards—just reach out. We’ll support revisions at an hourly rate
You retain full rights to your book. If another publisher—or even a filmmaker—shows interest, you can transfer those rights simply by notifying us in writing.