For Readers
Where can I buy your books?
Wherever you normally buy books. We don’t retail directly to customers at this time, because pack-and-ship fulfillment is a pain in the butt. All of our books have links to the most popular retailers, like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Sony/Kobo, but if you prefer a different retailer, chances are you can find it there too. If you don’t see it on the shelf, just ask a salesperson.
For Writers
There are so many types of organizations that call themselves “Independent Publishers,” it’s hard to know what you’re getting. We’re happy to provide as much transparent information as possible up front so that we don’t waste your time and you don’t waste ours.
What’s your typical budget for a first-time author?
We typically invest $5,000 to $10,000 into books by first-time authors, but this varies greatly based on the genre and target market.
Do authors have to pay anything to be published with Columbus Press?
No, authors do not contribute financially to the production of their book. We are a conventional publisher, and we foot the bill to develop and produce the book.
Columbus Press typically provides authors with a box of books for the author’s use. Authors may buy additional copies of their own books at a heavily discounted rate, usually around 50% of list price.
Generally, Columbus Press pays to market the book. In some cases, authors may incur expenses in their personal marketing of the book, but these expectations vary from project to project, and we’ll have an upfront conversation about any potential expenses before the project begins. These expenses would be paid to third-parties, like travel expenses, personal social media development, or event fees.
Authors NEVER pay Columbus Press any money to produce or market the book.
Do you pay an advance to authors?
We do not pay advances. We don’t get paid unless your book sells, so we think it’s fair that the author waits too. This allows us to invest more money into marketing and distributing your book, which means higher payouts for you down the road.
How do you distribute your books?
We distribute most of our print titles through Ingram, the nation’s largest distributor. We distribute e-books directly to retailers.
Do you publish previously published manuscripts?
Typically no, but we do make exceptions. If you’ve self-published your manuscript, we’ll consider it in some circumstances. Please view our submissions page for more information.
How long will it take you to review my work?
We’ll try to respond to your initial query within two weeks and let you know if we’re interested in reading more. From there, the final decision can take some time, but we’ll do our best not to waste your time. In exchange, please do not submit your manuscript to other publishers or agencies until we make our decision.