Work With Spoonbridge Press

Is Spoonbridge Press a hybrid publisher?

No. Like a hybrid publisher, we guide authors through the tangled web of self-publishing and manage a dream team of top editors, designers, and distribution specialists—but you own your ISBNs, you’re the publisher on record, and all royalties go directly to you.

With our hands-on approach to your publication, we don’t just have you choose from a list of services. We handpick the editors and designers we believe are right for your project, we advise you on the publishing and distribution options that best support your goals, and we provide crucial quality control to ensure the highest-quality work throughout the process. While you are ultimately in charge of all key decisions, we steer you toward the outcomes and strategies that make publishing success possible.

Who does Spoonbridge Press help?

We do our very best work for authors who:

• Are publishing to build authority, business growth, or legacy
• Understand that publishing is a long-term investment
• Have a clear mission, message, or goal for impacting readers
• Value quality and are willing to invest in it
• Have the time and availability to be a partner in the process

We may not be the best fit for authors who:

• Are seeking a traditional publishing deal
• Are working with their own editors and design team
• Expect to generate a large, immediate revenue
• Are not willing to follow a structured process
• Expect guaranteed Amazon sales ranks based on metadata alone

How is Spoonbridge Press different?

We’re not a hybrid publisher, and we’re not a vanity press. We’re a small (very small!), hands-on publishing partner that guides each project with care, expertise, and personal attention. This level of partnership is rare in self-publishing, and it’s why our clients trust us with their most meaningful work.

We stay current with changes to self-publishing requirements and invest in the back-end details that can help your book perform over time. And because we manage every project personally, you don’t have to worry about your emails getting lost in the shuffle.

How do you support your clients?

Unlike many publishing service providers, we fully educate our clients on what it means to be an independent author so they are empowered throughout the process. That means each of our full publishing clients receives the following:

•  A welcome meeting with both of us to answer any questions
•  One scheduled phone or video meeting during each stage of publication
•  Unlimited email support
•  Custom guides and information to add context and help you make the best decisions possible
•  An optional exit meeting to go over publisher accounts and next steps in your publishing journey
•  Complete project management and coordination with editors, book designers, and other professionals
•  Crucial quality control checks throughout the process

How long will it take to self-publish my book?

Publishing is a journey, not a sprint. Quality takes time, and we believe in taking time for the professional editing, book design, and quality control measures your book deserves. Expect a publishing timeline of 6–12 months, depending on scope.

Here’s the hard truth: when tasks are rushed and corners are cut, readers can tell. Our best results come when authors treat their book like a strategic asset, not a rush job.

What does it cost to work with Spoonbridge Press?

The total cost of your publishing plan will depend on many factors, including the following:

• The length of your manuscript
• Your manuscript’s editorial needs
• The complexity of your book design
• Your budget

Depending on your needs and the options you select, a publishing plan for a 50,000-word manuscript will typically fall between $9,500 and $14,500.

How do I work with Spoonbridge Press?

First, we’ll invite you to schedule a free author consultation with our lead editor, Sarah, to chat about your book and your goals.

Then, if it seems like we’re the right fit for your project, we’ll send you a brief questionnaire to gather key details about your book. (You can also start there.)

Once we have clarity on your project, we’ll send you a proposal that outlines the services we recommend for your book.

After you agree to our proposal, we’ll send you a detailed contract and an invoice for your deposit, and we’ll be off and running!

How does the self-publishing process work?

With Spoonbridge Press, every publishing project includes these five areas of focus:

1. Strategy: We get clear on your book’s purpose, audience, production needs, and distribution approach.
2. Editorial: We build an editing plan and create custom back cover copy that supports your goals.
3. Book Design: We create custom cover and interior layouts for paperbacks, dust-jacketed hardcovers, and ebooks.
4. Quality Control: We conduct rigorous in-house reviews at multiple checkpoints so you can publish with confidence.
5. Upload and Distribution: We publish authors to top POD platforms or help them explore traditional distribution.

Once you become a client, we’ll schedule a welcome/strategy meeting to go over the publishing process in detail and answer any questions you might have. From there, we’ll be in touch to gather information as needed and get your approval at each stage before moving forward.

To learn more about each phase of our publishing process, visit our Self-Publishing Services page.

Does Spoonbridge Press help with book marketing?

We don’t believe there’s an out-of-the-box book marketing plan that works well for all authors. We believe authors are the best marketers for their own books: they know their audience the best, and most importantly, they know their own strengths, weaknesses, and comfort levels around connecting with readers.

Instead, we focus on producing beautiful, professional books that don’t look self-published. Then, we help you maximize your own marketing efforts by optimizing your sales pages and metadata, positioning your book in categories it actually has a chance at ranking in, and giving your Amazon sales pages and author profile a boost.

Can I discuss my project with you before signing up?

Yes! In fact, we insist on it. Schedule a free author consultation to speak with our lead editor about your project. (If you prefer, you can also start by telling us about your book.)

What if I need additional guidance?

If you decide not to invest in a publishing plan but believe a periodic consulting call would be useful to you in your publishing journey, we offer publishing consultant packages for independent authors.

“Sarah was awesome!

She put in many extra hours to deal with unexpected publishing issues that would have completely stumped me and she was always very available for all my basic questions as a first-time author.”

Jeff Johnson

Author of Boy Lessons: What I Learned from My Sons and executive director of Can Do Canines