contact publishing
Fresh Ideas. Fresh Words. Fresh Books.
Home
Encouraging fresh, aspiring writers to realise their potential
Writers Page
Micro Publishing
What Is Micro-Publishing?
How Can Micro-Publishing help you?
How Does Micro-Publishing work?
Micro-Publishing submission guidelines and info.
Micro-Publishing packages.
>>
E-Books
Coming soon....
Contact Publishing is an independent press launched in February 2003. Our mission is to encourage fresh young talent to deliver quality writing and original, inspirational or practical ideas to the public arena. We believe that authors can reach their intended audiences through modern technology as well as traditional print. Currently, we do traditional publishing and micro-publishing (a new medium for specialist books) and plan to expand into e-publishing in the very near future.
About Us
Anne Mortensen - Founder and Chief Commissioning Editor. Anne believes that the key to quality creative work is a close relationship between the author, editor and publisher, wherein every author receives individual personalised attention.
Vineet Vijh - Co-owner and Operations Director. Vineet is a social scientist specialising in Technology, Media and consumer behaviour. He believes innovation is about finding a better, more efficient means of packaging what consumers want and need.
Grant - Publishing Assistant and Chief Manuscript Reader. As a lifelong lover of books, Grant believes that a good quality manuscript should be brought to every reader's attention.
Job Opportunities: Here at Contact Publishing, we like to offer enthusiastic and passionate people an opportunity to increase their work experience while helping new authors enter the literary market. If you are interested, please see:
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
GRADUATE / INTERNSHIPS
FREELANCE / PART-TIME
Contact Us
manuscript submissions
submission _ contact-publishing.com
Publisher: Anne Kontoyannis
annek _ contact-publishing.com
micro-publishing
micro _ contact-publishing.com
Publisher:Vineet Vijh
vineetv _ contact-publishing.com
general information or questions
info _ contact-publishing.com
Manuscript Reader: Grant
grantc _ contact-publishing.com
Address:
1 Rosemont Road
London
NW3 6NG
UK
Tel: +44207 193 1782
back to Writer's Page
Why Choose Us?
Contact Publishing promises proven experience, quality service, honesty and fairness.
We also specialise in helping first-time authors enter the literary market.
Our company offers:
1. Proven publishing expertise.
We are a traditional publishing house located in London, the literature capital of Europe. We have the capacity to undertake every step of the publishing process from design to distribution. Our contemporary structure allows us to minimise costs and control quality throughout the process.
2. A truly personalised service.
Contact Publishing works on a shared partnership basis between author and publisher. If we decide to publish your book, you will have access to the Commissioning Editor at every step of the publication process. Your manuscript will be assigned to one of our experienced editors, who will send you proofs with their suggestions for your approval. We encourage authors to contribute their ideas so that our team can incorporate them into the publication process.
3. Professional, modern production and design to make your book stand out.
Contact Publishing uses only the best printing and binding techniques to produce your book. Our designers will present you with a choice of professional cover designs for your consideration. Again, your ideas and suggestions are welcome here. Our publications are of the highest standard and are suitable for bookshops, libraries and online stores, or can be published as ebooks.
4. Professional marketing and promotion.
We offer fully customised and inclusive marketing. Our marketing team will work with you to ensure that your book realises its full commercial potential.
5. The very best distribution for your book.
We ship your book through major book wholesalers, making your book available to bookshops nationwide and internationally. Your book will also be available for purchase online via Amazon and suitable ebook websites.
6. Royalty structure that favours the author.
As we work on the premise of shared partnership between author and publisher, we are able to offer extremely favourable royalty rates. Our authors typically receive 50% royalties for the subsidiary rights of all books sold.
Submission Guidelines
Genres
Submissions
We accept unsolicited manuscripts from first-time and seasoned authors in the following genres:Literary FictionGeneral FictionTravel and AdventureThriller/MysteryGenerational/Family/Cultural SagasSelf-Improvement and LifestyleFor other genres or special-interest publications, see our micro-publishing section.
We accept unsolicited manuscripts from first-time and seasoned authors in the following genres:
Literary Fiction
General Fiction
Travel and Adventure
Thriller/Mystery
Generational/Family/Cultural Sagas
Self-Improvement and Lifestyle
For other genres or special-interest publications, see our
micro-publishing section.
Please submit a synopsis of your book, a brief author biography and three sample chapters. We only accept email submissions in .doc or .pdf format.Submissions should be emailed to: submission_contact-publishing.co.ukWe read every manuscript that we receive and make every effort to respond to submissions within one month of receipt, though periodic backlog can delay response times. We regret that due to the quantity of manuscripts we receive, we are unable to enter into detailed correspondence concerning individual submissions.
Please submit a synopsis of your book, a brief author biography and three sample chapters. We only accept email submissions in .doc or .pdf format.
Submissions should be emailed to:
submission_contact-publishing.co.uk
We read every manuscript that we receive and make every effort to respond to submissions within one month of receipt, though periodic backlog can delay response times. We regret that due to the quantity of manuscripts we receive, we are unable to enter into detailed correspondence concerning individual submissions.
Info and FAQ
Publishing FAQ
Since publishing a book can take a lot of time and logistical planning, it's natural for both first-time and experienced authors to have questions about the publication process.
Our FAQ attempts to answer many of the questions that authors, particularly new authors, have about the process of publishing, and to set expectations at a realistic level.
1. What factors does Contact Publishing take into account when deciding to publish a manuscript?
2. What happens after my book is accepted for publication?
3. How do copyright and permissions work?
4. What if my book has illustrations?
5. How does the printing process work?
6. How will my book be marketed?
7. Six months have passed since my book was printed and sales are going well. What should I expect now?
Catalogues
Click to download:
Full Catalogue
Fiction
Self-Help / General Non-Fiction
Travel
back to Micro-Publishing Page
What is Micro-Publishing?
Conventional publishing falls into one of two categories: traditional publishing, which has large print runs for established authors, or self-publishing, which is sometimes referred to as vanity publishing. We have combined the best aspects of these categories to create micro-publishing.
Micro-publishing is a cross between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Although books are self-published, quality and sales key aspects of traditional publishing are very important. In particular, micro-publishing provides a platform for authors of special interest publications who want their work published to a high standard, with professional-standard design, production, marketing and sales. Most authors who take the micro-publishing route are serious about creating a high-quality book or distributing their work to a large audience.
As the creators of micro-publishing, we here at Contact Publishing concentrate on producing and undertaking top-quality content, design, production and distribution. We undertake as much or as little of the publishing process as you wish, with ready-made or customised packages to suit your requirements. We can also give you realistic and helpful advice throughout the publishing process.
Contact Publishing has its own commercial publishing programme with respected book lists and is also a member of the Independent Publishing Guild. Our micro-publishing authors can thus be assured that their books are in experienced professional hands.
For more details on the process of micro-publishing, see:
How does Micro-Publishing Work?
How Can Micro-Publishing Help You?
We have found that a great deal of worthy and highly credible authors are having a difficult time getting published. Sometimes this occurs when authors choose to work outside of traditional genre restrictions. Other authors have several years' experience in their chosen field and as a result have developed their own innovative and unconventional ideas.
If this sounds like you, micro-publishing can help.
Micro-publishing follows a clear-cut set of professional criteria to ensure the production of a top-quality book. Additional benefits include:
* Your book is published by a recognised, commercially credible publisher.
* You retain control of your work.
* You are involved in every stage of the publishing process.
* All of the logistics of publication and worldwide distribution are handled for you.
* We help you to fund the cost of publication.
* Your royalties are higher than those of our traditionally published works.
* We market the book in partnership with you.
If you choose to micro-publish, your book will be available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for direct purchase, and through US and UK distribution channels for bookstores to order. Your book will also be included on our sales list and the represented list of Contact Publishing books.
For artists seeking to expand their portfolios, we plan to start micro-publishing art and photo books in the near future.
How does Micro-Publishing work?
First, you need to submit your book to us. For best results, please read our submission info and ensure that your submission materials follow our
Once we review your book, you can choose a publishing package that best suits your needs.
Our publishing package options can be found at:
If you require a customised package, please drop a line to the micro-publishing team at:
micro _ contact-publishing.co.uk
After we exchange contracts with you, we can begin working on the actual publication process. Although you can be involved at any or all stages of publication, we handle the logistics so you dont have to.
Once your book is printed, it is listed on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and listed in Ingram's Advance, which is a monthly US publication for American bookstores. We also include your book once on our lists, and can relist your book upon request.
micro-publishing guidelines
micro-publishing packages.
Micro-Publishing...the guidelines
Although the process of submission can be daunting for some, this is your chance to sell your book, and yourself! Please submit the following four items:
*Author bio - this should include why you are qualified to write this book.
*Synopsis of the book.
*Comments from author-appointed reader or editor.
*Finished manuscript.
To submit your materials and begin the micro- publishing process, please email our staff at micro_contact-publishing.co.uk. In the meantime, check out our .
micro-publishing packages
back to FAQ Page
What factors does Contact Publishing take into account when deciding to publish a manuscript?
There are many factors we take into account when we decide to publish a manuscript (MS). We assess the quality and originality of the work, the books production needs and marketing potential, and the writer's credentials. The quality and marketability of the work are the strongest factors in the decision-making process.
For this reason, the author should know his or her work inside and out, and should be able to communicate its marketing potential. The author's knowledge should shine through in the materials (biography, synopsis, cover letter) sent along with the MS. This will give us a good indication that the author has considered the marketability and strengths of his or her work.
If a publishing offer and Publishing Agreement are made, the author can hire a solicitor at his or her discretion.
What happens after my book is accepted for publication?
After your book is accepted for publication, we will then begin the editorial process. The length of this process depends very much upon the MS received and the time you have to devote to your work. However, your Publishing Agreement will stipulate a timeline with a specified number of months within which the manuscript will be published.
We will assess the MS and send you an outline of what, if anything, we think could enhance it. Often, the MS itself will be marked up and sent back to you with corrections and suggestions. During this step, the MS can shuttle back and forth between you and us many times until the MS is ready for typesetting.
While the MS is being edited, we will design your book cover and submit it to you for approval. Proofs of the book cover may also travel back and forth between you and us before a final design is agreed upon.
After proofs of the MS and book cover are supplied to you for checking, the proofs are then checked again, usually by a freelance proofreader, and final corrections are then made. Once the final proofs are approved, the typesetter will supply the paginated output via email using PostScript or PDF software. After this point, any corrections made to the final copy will be made at cost to you, so it is best to catch all errors in the editorial process as early as possible.
How do copyright and permissions work?
Copyright:
Copyright ownership gives the copyright holder the exclusive rights to publish, reproduce, distribute and adapt their creative material. It gives authors and publishers the power to prevent unauthorized reproduction of work, including the unauthorized use of written text and illustrations such as photographs, drawings, charts and graphs.
Permission:
We cannot publish material from other publications in print or non-print (CD-ROMs, the Internet) format without written permission from the copyright holder. Written permission must be obtained by the manuscript delivery date, or we will omit the quoted material.
If you quote unpublished written material, e.g. letters, private documents or theses, you must obtain permission regardless of the length of the extract.
If you quote a previous work by yourself that has been copyrighted by another publisher, you must obtain permission to do so.
If you use someone else's material but rewrite it in your own words, you do not need to obtain permission. However, you must acknowledge and provide a reference for the source.
You may use short, direct quotations without the need to obtain written permission from the copyright holder, provided that you give proper credit to the author and sources. We define this as excerpts under 400 words (or a series of excerpts totaling fewer than 800 words as long as no single excerpt is longer than 300 words) from one work. If extensive, longer extracts are being used, you must obtain permission if they amount to 10% or more of the original work. If the whole work is quoted for instance, if you are quoting a poem written permission from the copyright holder is required.
If in any doubt about whether permission is needed, apply to the copyright holder for permission. For the final word on copyright law, please visit: http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk.
What if my book has illustrations?
You will need to supply your own illustrations, as set out in the publishing agreement. Illustrations are then converted to digital format by a 'repro' (reproduction) house or by the printer.
How will my book be marketed?
At Contact Publishing, we combine professional marketing and promotion services with the desire to help you, the author, be the best salesperson for your book.
In the highly competitive world of publishing, authors deal with a hugely overcrowded market in which the shelf life of new titles is becoming shorter and shorter. The sales and marketing process is quite different from the editorial process, in that much of the activity in sales and marketing is discretionary. The only guaranteed exposure an author is guaranteed by any publisher is an AI (advanced information sheet), entry in the company catalogue, presentation at an internal sales meeting or conference, and review mailing (press release and a copy of the book).
At Contact Publishing, we strive to offer more than that - we believe that authors should take an active role in selling and marketing their own books, and we offer a range of services to help you accomplish this.
Always remember that the lack of marketing activity is rarely ever your publicist's or sales manager's fault. The usual culprit is simply the volume of books being pumped through the market.
Arm yourself with as much information as possible to begin your own marketing campaign - there is nothing stopping you!
How does the printing process work?
Once your book has been edited, designed, proofed and approved, it will be ready to go off for production. Our production team is responsible for gathering printing quotes, overseeing printing and binding, and arranging the delivery of your book to the distributor.
Printing: Books are either printed using litho (offset lithography) machines or POD. The machines used for colour work are usually sheet-fed, but big web machines are used for monochrome (black and white) printing and for mass-market paperbacks, which print on reels and can be produced very quickly.
Binding: Paperbacks are generally perfect-bound, which means that they are bound by cutting off the spine folds of the sections and gluing the cover into the book. Some hardback books are still produced with sewn binding, but many are now unsewn, using either notched or slotted binding, wherein the sections are glued together but retain their folds.
Cost quotes and print run: At this stage, printing quotes will have been gathered from the printer, or will be worked out according to the scale of production and the contracts with the printer. The print run is fixed at the last possible moment to avoid overstocks and take into account advance orders, particularly from the big bookselling chains.
Six months have passed since my book was printed and sales are going well. What should I expect now?
After publication, book sales are ultimately dependent upon the market, although Contact Publishing will continue to market your book (and hopefully you will too).
Periodically, you will receive a summary of sales with royalty statements according to the timeline stipulated in your publishing agreement.
Remember that each book has its own popularity cycle. Some books fly off the shelves from day one, some take a few months to become popular, some are word-of-mouth successes with a steady flow of buyers, and some decline in popularity after a certain amount of time. Continue to market your book and don't hesitate to ask us for further marketing services.
Opportunities
Graduate Opportunities
Marketing and Public Relations interns (Part-time):
We are looking for students or recent graduates with a strong interest in media and communications to assist with marketing and public relations campaigns, creating marketing collateral, research and administration of contact lists. This position is suitable for candidates who are interested in learning about the publishing industry and wish to pursue a career in fiction or non-fiction publicity.
Duration: Two days a week for 3-6 months.
Writers (Part-time):
We are looking for students or recent graduates to work on a book writing project. Work includes research, conducting interviews and writing brief biographies and profiles of published authors.
Duration: One day a week for 6 months.
E-publishing Assistants (Part-time):
We are looking for students or recent graduates to work on an innovative electronic book delivery project. Work involves assisting the project manager with co-ordination, communication and collating information. Candidates should be interested in new technology and have an aptitude for learning new software programmes and methods. This position is suitable for candidates who wish to pursue a career in project management within the publishing industry.
Copy Editors (Part-time or as needed):
We are looking for trainee copy editors to edit fiction and non-fiction books. Trainees will be mentored by an experienced book editor and will learn about the editing process from beginning to end. Candidates should have excellent written English, strong attention to detail and an aptitude for proofreading, fact-checking and copy editing tasks.
Duration: On an as-needed basis. Typically each assignment will last two months, during which the copy editor will need to spend a total of 30-40 hours on the project.
Part-Time/Freelance Opportunities
Fiction Publicist:
We are looking for a freelance Marketing and Public Relations professional with experience in the publishing industry, specifically the publicity and promotion of literary fiction books in the U.K. Candidates should have a track record of successful campaigns with an extensive network of contacts in the book industry.
Duration: On an as-needed basis. Assignments will be project-based. A typical assignment would involve managing the end-to-end publicity campaign for a book.
Non-Fiction Publicist:
We are looking for a freelance Marketing and Public Relations professional with experience in the publicity and promotion of travel literature, culture, self-improvement and lifestyle books in the U.K. Candidates should have a track record of successful campaigns with an extensive network of contacts in the book industry.
Copy Editor:
We are looking for experienced freelance copy editors for fiction and non-fiction books. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years' experience in editing, and should have experience working for large publishing houses. Responsibilities will range from copy-editing finished manuscripts to converting academic or professional writing for public popular readership.
Duration: On an as-needed basis. Assignments will be project-based. A typical assignment would be carried out on a complete manuscript.
Consulting Opportunities
Commissioning Editors:
We are looking for experienced book editors in a part-time, advisory capacity to review manuscripts and work with authors to shape the books into saleable properties. Candidates should currently be working for a successful publishing house or have previously been responsible for the review and selection of books for a publishing company. This position will primarily involve the commissioning of literary fiction; however, some non-fiction books on travel or self-help may also be involved.
Duration: On a part-time, as-needed basis. The successful candidate will typically be paid for a fixed number of hours for general advice and consultancy, and will also be engaged in specific projects from time to time.
Publicity and PR Consultant:
We are looking for an experienced fiction publicist on a part-time consulting basis to work with company and freelance staff and to advise on publicity and book launches. This position primarily involves the publicity of literary fiction.
Duration: On a part-time, as-needed basis. The successful candidate will be engaged in specific projects on an hourly basis.
What's On...
Creative Contacts - Writer's Event
We will be hosting a free social event for aspiring writers in early January. There will be a short talk from a published author, and industry professionals will also be in attendance. We will also provide a reading service, where you can show our reader a page or two of your writing and receive immediate feedback.
We hope this event will give aspiring authors an excellent opportunity to gain valuable advice, meet industry professionals, and, most importantly, to socialise with like-minded people and just have some fun. Invites will be sent out later in December - we look forward to meeting you there!
Micro-Publishing Packages
Espresso
Consultation Only
Medium Latte
Full Works
