We are committed to 100% transparency with our authors. Our business is based on trust, and it’s our pleasure to give prospective authors as much information as possible.
The Boyle & Dalton hybrid publishing model is unique and effective. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question, please feel free to contact us.
What kinds of books do you publish?
We publish fiction, narrative/creative non-fiction (true stories), and poetry. We’ll consider non-fiction of other types, but we’re looking for compelling reading, not academic materials.
We do not publish erotica or children’s books. Our emphasis is on books for adult readers, but we will consider YA and middle-grade chapter books.
If you have work of another type, we encourage you to submit. The worst we can say is “no thanks.”
Start the submission process here.
I’m having trouble with the website, can I talk to someone?
Sure! We’re happy to chat. Please give us a call at 614-805-3982, or email us at info@boyleanddalton.com.
How is Boyle & Dalton’s hybrid model different than self-publishing?
Self-publishers pay directly for services like editing and cover design, and the only barrier to entry for those services/publication is cost. In contrast, Boyle & Dalton stringently vets all submitted manuscripts for quality prior to acceptance, and all of our books undergo a complete production process that mirrors the production process of a traditional publisher.
Like self-publishing, the author receives the majority of all royalties and retains ownership of their manuscript at all times. Our present standard royalty rate is 70% (compared to a 7% industry average NET royalty among traditional publishers).
If selected for publication, where will my book be sold?
Hardback and paperback books are distributed through Ingram, the nation’s largest book distributor, and available on major platforms such as Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. E-books are distributed to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, iTunes, and Kobo.
How much does it cost to publish with Boyle & Dalton?
Most authors invest between $4,000 and $6,500 in their book. Factors that may affect the total investment price are the length of the book and the amount of editing and development needed.
What percentage of submission do you accept?
We accept fewer than 10% of the manuscripts that are submitted to us.
How much do your authors make in royalties?
We pay a royalty rate of 70% of NET. This means that whatever we receive for the sale of your book, you get 70% of that in a quarterly check–no weird fees, held payments, or funny business. Most of our authors make $3 to $5 per book sold.
When do authors get paid?
We pay our authors every quarter and provide them with a royalty report so they’re plugged into their sales. Typically, authors receive checks in March, June, September, and December.
How do you determine how much the author invests in the book production?
The biggest factor we consider is the cost to produce the book, in labor, wages, and cash expenses. We balance that cost against our optimism for the book at market, and we arrive at a fair investment point that we believe the author is likely to recover.
Who prices my book?
You do, with our help. We’re here to provide good advice, taking into account factors like book length, target market, and genre, but ultimately, we allow the author to set the final price.
Who has the final say on creative decisions?
You do. We respect your investment in your work, both monetarily and creatively. So when push comes to shove, if you’re in disagreement with our production experts (which rarely happens), you’re the boss.
How do we select books?
Traditional publishers ask one question when they evaluate a book: “Can we make money with this?”
At Boyle & Dalton, your investment helps to mitigate the financial risk of taking on a new title. So we ask a different question: “Does this book represent the values and quality of Boyle and Dalton?” More specifically, we’re inspired to publish books that are purposeful, enriching, and creative. If your manuscript has the potential to be a book that we can proudly stand behind as an example of our work, we’re willing to apply all the expertise, knowledge, and guidance we have alongside your investment.
How long does the selection process take?
We do our best to make a determination on most books within two weeks.
How does the process work?
We’re a close-knit team that cares about the work we do, and it’s important to us that our authors receive individualized attention. We’ll walk you through each step, answering questions and getting your feedback and approval for each component of production before moving on. After everyone is 100 percent happy with the finished book, we distribute it to retailers.
Read more about our production process here.
Where are you located?
Our office is located in Zanesville, Ohio. We regularly meet authors in person if they’re local to the Ohio area. For authors located outside of Ohio, we’re happy to video chat, email, or talk via phone. Contact us here.
How and when do I pay Boyle & Dalton?
We accept checks, credit/debit cards, and PayPal. For most titles, we ask for half of the total project cost up-front, with the remainder due when you’re 100 percent satisfied that we’ve produced the work in a way that’s consistent with what you’ve been promised.
Who pays for marketing?
The author and Boyle & Dalton are expected to market the book. Boyle & Dalton primarily markets the book within our existing extensive social media platform.
Boyle & Dalton provides unlimited marketing consultation to authors. Our industry experts are available to provide insight, guidance, and resources throughout the process at the author’s request, at no charge. Additional marketing services can be provided by Boyle & Dalton on a fee basis if the author would like assistance.
Are there any other fees or costs?
No! The only other cost is a $25 annual renewal, billed once annually to keep your book in our catalog and available from retailers so readers can purchase your work.
If you don’t see your question, please reach out to us today. Contact us here.
Ready to submit your work for consideration? Begin the process here.