How do we Decide What to Publish
One of the questions we’re often asked is: “Why did you choose that book over the other submissions?”
The answer usually has very little to do with trends. Of course we pay attention to the marketplace, but we aren’t looking for books that simply imitate what’s already selling. Instead, we’re looking for stories that make us care. Stories that strike a cord when read, and make us want to champion the book for years to come.
When we evaluate a submission, we ask questions like:
Does this story hold our attention?
Are the characters memorable?
Does the author have a distinctive voice?
Can readers become emotionally invested?
Is the manuscript ready for professional editing and publication?
Does this mean the manuscript needs to be professionally edited and perfect before we will consider it? Absolutely not. We want a manuscript that has been edited and revised by the author, polished through beta readers and the best possible product an author can produce. But also one that has potential, that can be sharpened through our editing process and shined into what it could be from collaborative editing.
We also consider something many people overlook: partnership.
Publishing is a collaborative process. We look for authors who are excited to work together, open to feedback, and committed to helping build an audience for their books. We have created an author community, where authors lean on each other for ideas, support, and inspiration. Fit is very important in small presses, and crucial to a book’s success.
Not every good manuscript is the right fit for our list. Sometimes a book simply doesn’t align with the genres we publish or the direction we’re taking as a company. Saying no doesn’t necessarily mean the book isn’t good, it often means it belongs somewhere else. We just closed submissions and had to say no to several books that I wanted on my personal shelf, but didn’t fit in our production schedule.
Our goal isn’t to publish the most books.
Our goal is to publish books we genuinely believe in.
Every title we acquire represents months of editing, design, production, marketing, and ongoing support. That’s a commitment we don’t take lightly.