FAQs

What do you offer authors that’s different than the Big Five or Self-Publishing?

At Raven's Quill Publishing we're here to help. I don't want to take your royalties. If I could convince every author to self-publishing I would.

I'm a firm believer in the author getting the money for their book. You put years into this project you deserve more than 15% of royalties. But the truth is self-publishing is not for everyone and I'd like to help make sure those authors get the best help they can. As a Certified Book Launch Coach, I can work with you one-on-one to develop and execute your marketing strategy and get your career off the ground while paying out a higher share to you, the author.

I'm also working my Story Grid Editor Certification which gives me unique insight into story and helps me select the ones that will resonate with readers. It also gives me the ability to work with authors to create the very best books they can. I've published a book that was less than adequate before and it's a terrible feeling I'd like to save you from. The Story Grid is a series of tools that do just that.

I also believe that editors put a lot into a book and have earned some of the money. As a result, I like to them a small royalty share. This is based off the Story Grid model of publishing which Shawn and Tim developed after years in the publishing industry and personally, I believe its the best model out there for authors who don't want to self-publish.

What do you look for in a manuscript?

I'm not interested in publishing a million, a thousand, or even one hundred books a year. I'm looking for quality work that moves me. Projects I can connect with and are inclusive. I look for real stories about real people (that doesn't mean I only do nonfiction or realistic settings. It means diversity is real and I want to see it in stories and books).

My favorite things to read are big idea and inspirational non-fiction, paranormal romance, chick lit/women's fiction, war books especially those with brotherhood or with strong romance plots.

See my submissions page for details.

What is an author platform?

A platform is what you use to sell your books and reach fans. It's your website, appearances, email list, content (podcast/blog posts), and social media.

Making sure everything is set up properly is key to creating long term success as an author. It's not something I can wave a magic wand over and fix, but I do know how to look at what you're doing and see the holes in your efforts. I can also help you start off on the right foot.