Publishing and Costs

How long does it take to publish a book?

3-6 months on average, maybe less if your manuscript is finished and edited.
For more intricate layouts that haven’t been edited it could take up to a year to have the book available.

How much does it cost to publish?

It can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars (doing it all yourself) to thousands of dollars, depending on how much help you need for services like editing, design, etc.
The average cost of publishing professionally with many hybrid publishers is between $2,500 and $5,000. This is based on the type, length and complexity of your book; however, at Mermaid Cove Publishing packages are generally much lower. In certain situations, your only upfront cost would be for editing. Contact us to discuss.

How are royalties determined?

Retail price (price on the cover), minus the printing and shipping costs, minus the wholesale discount (sales fee) = your royalties.
The wholesale discount or sales fee is the percentage discount that the author or publisher sets for third party online retailers and bookstores.  When a book is sold through a third party, the printing cost and wholesale discount are deducted, and the remainder is the royalty/compensation.  For example, if your 250-page paperback novel has a retail price of $12.99, your print cost is $6.81 and you give a 40% wholesale discount, the compensation is $0.98 per book. If your book is sold at a discounted price by the retailer, it will not affect the royalty amount you receive. Also, the cost of shipping from seller to buyer will not affect your royalty.

What is an ISBN? Do I need one?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, meaning it’s an internationally recognized identification number. It’s similar to product numbers you find on other products you buy. The ISBN is a number in the barcode on the back cover of every book, assigned to books on an individual basis. This number registers and identifies a book worldwide and associates the publisher, and other essential information, to one book alone, because every single ISBN is unique. Each format of a book (paperback, hardback, eBook) needs its own unique ISBN. ISBNs are how libraries, bookstores, and distributors identify, keep track of, and properly catalog important information about your book.
The ISBN also identifies the publisher of the book. Mermaid Cove provides ISBN’s for the books we publish.

Printing and Distribution

What is POD (Print-on-demand)?

Print-on-demand technology allows you to print books when you sell them.  There is no need to purchase large quantities of books.  The printing cost for each book is the same no matter how many you order.  POD gives you the ability to choose from many size and trims for your book.

How much do POD books cost?

Printing costs vary per book depending on the book type and pages. For example, a 300-page, standard size paperback book would cost $5.48 to print per copy.  A book with color interior or a hardback would cost significantly more.

What are author copies?

Upon publication, authors can order copies of their books from the printer.  You pay only the actual print cost and shipping cost. You can order your copies before or after the book as been published and use them for your own personal use, as advanced reader copies or for book signings and direct distribution.

How do online retailers and bookstores purchase my book?

Mermaid Cove uses IngramSpark for most of our POD books.  IngramSpark makes titles available to 40,000+ retailers, libraries, schools, and e-commerce companies including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Foyles, Waterstones, and more across the globe. When someone orders a book through one of these online retailers, or when a bookstore orders a book, the book is printed and shipped.

Does this mean my book will be available in physical bookstores?

Maybe. Most self-published and hybrid published books won’t be available in physical bookstores unless you have a plan to promote your book to each store. There are many other factors involved including your wholesale discount rate and whether your book is returnable or not. 

Book Design and Editing

What type of books can I publish with Mermaid Cove?

Mermaid Cove can help you design and publish almost any fiction, non-fiction or illustrated picture books. Please keep in mind, as a hybrid publisher, we reserve the right to decline work on books whose content we find unacceptable and that may not fit with our mission.
There are many size options for both paperback and hardcover books with choice of black and white or color interior. 

Do I need to have my book edited?

Professional editing is crucial when preparing a book. The value that book editors bring to your work emanates to you in readers’ and booksellers’ minds. Your book must be free of errors and aesthetically in tune with other books on the market to be competitive. And editing must be done before layout.

What is book layout design?

Book layout design is the process of artfully placing and styling the text of your manuscript on the pages of your book in the correct way. This involves many decisions and requires technical knowledge and dedicated software like InDesign.