FOR AUTHORS
How We Publish Books.
Every book we publish moves through a deliberate, professional system, structured and clear from the very beginning.
THREE PATHS
Find The Right Home For Your Book.
No matter the path you choose, the craft and care are the same.
PATH I
Traditional Publishing
We invest fully—our capital, our craft, our name—and publish under a royalty agreement. Selective by design, chosen on editorial merit and real market promise.
PATH II
Hybrid Publishing
A shared investment: we fund the larger share—60% to your 40%, negotiable per book. Held to the same bar as every title—the books we believe in, not every one that arrives.
PATH III
Indie Author Services
Editing, cover design, and formatting for authors publishing on their own. Keep your rights and every royalty—and borrow the craft of a real house.
However it's published—traditional, hybrid, or on your own—every book moves through the same deliberate, unhurried craft. Clear from the first conversation to the final proof.
THE PROCESS
From Manuscript to Shelf.
Every book we publish moves through a deliberate, professional system, structured and clear from the very beginning.
STEP 1
Discovery Phase
Everything starts with a conversation. We review your manuscript, your goals, your timeline, and your expectations, and talk honestly about audience potential and what it will take to move the book forward.
STEP 2
Publishing Model Selection
We choose the right path together—Traditional, Hybrid, or Indie Author Services. Each model defines how the book is funded, how royalties work, and what each party is responsible for.
STEP 3
Contract & Onboarding
We formalize the agreement—rights, royalty structure, scope of work, and timeline—then schedule an onboarding session and map the production calendar.
STEP 4
Editorial Development
Structured refinement: developmental editing for structure and clarity, line editing for flow and voice, copyediting for technical accuracy, and final proofing. We don't rush this stage. Craft comes first.
STEP 5
Cover & Production
Professional cover design, back-cover copy, interior layout, and full print-ready files—designed for the real marketplace. Everything is proofed before release.
STEP 6
Metadata & Market Strategy
ISBN registration, retail categorization, pricing strategy, preorder timing, and launch planning—the infrastructure that determines discoverability and retail performance.
STEP 7
Preorder & Release
We activate distribution channels, open preorders, and coordinate the launch window across retail platforms, bookstores, and direct channels.
STEP 8
Ongoing Support
Publishing doesn't end at launch. Authors receive continued sales reporting, royalty payments according to agreement, and guidance for future projects. Your book stays part of our active catalog.
START HERE
Ready When You Are.
When your manuscript is ready, send it our way—we read everything that comes in, and we'll reach out. Prefer to talk it through first? Email us at editor@nocturnehouse.co and we'll set something up.