Authors FAQ
Help For Authors and Self Publishers
With advances in technology it is no longer necessary to submit your work to a publishing agency. We are a full service printing company and when we print your book you retain all rights to your work. There are no contracts to sign and you only pay for the actual printing costs. Here are few common questions answered.
Do I need an ISBN number? An ISBN number allows all bookstores and warehouses to use a single standardized system for point of sale and inventory. You don't need to have an ISBN number for your book but you will need one if you are going to sell through major book stores or online services. You will need a separate ISBN number for each version of your book. For example if you have a softcover, hardcover and an ebook version you would need to request 3 ISBN numbers. This insures that you are listed as the publisher and retain all copyrights. There is currently no charge for an ISBN number in Canada which is great. They cost up to $125 each in the US. You can request your ISBN number here at the Canadian Government's website.
Free ISBN Barcode. Once you have an ISBN number it must be converted into a bar code that is placed on the back cover of your book. We will generate a bar code from the number for you at no charge.
What file format should I use? Free PDF Conversion. Many choose to write their book in a word processor such as microsoft word. You can download templates here to get started. Once you are finished it is best to export it as a PDF. It is very important to preview the PDF carefully as it is possible there will be changes in the conversion process. If you need help we can do the conversion for you at no charge. If you send us a PDF or if we create it we will always email a PDF proof just before printing a final proof. You can upload your files to us here.
Can I see a sample first? We feel it is very important to see a physical copy of your book before we print the whole order. Our digital presses make it possible to make one copy of your book to preview before we start printing the whole order. It is extremely important that you preview and proofread this very carefully as we cannot make changes to your book after it has gone to print. We will not begin printing your book until we have received approval of the final proof.
Can I print different size versions of my book? Yes. In some cases your file may have to be reformatted. For example you may have written your book with an 8.5 x 11 page size but would like to print your book at 5.5 x 8.5. Or you may wish to have different size editions of your book. We can help you with the reformatting process. Basic charge is $3/page. If there are photographs, graphics, charts and lots of chapter breaks the charge is $60/hr.
How should I make my cover? You can make your cover by using tools such as photoshop. Remember not to put text too close to the edges and leave area for bleeds at all of the edges if your cover's artwork will go right to the edge of the page. We will send a PDF of the cover for approval before we send it to print. Our design team would also be glad to help you create a cover. Cost would vary depending on the complexity. Basic charge is $195 cover design and includes 2.5hrs of design and revisions and a colour proof for your approval. Please call for details.
Our print and design team is ready to help you tell your story. Feel free to call us at 1-800-565-6150 or send us an email if you have any questions.