THIS PAGE IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF MSI PRESS AUTHORS, TO HELP WITH BOOK PRODUCTION, PROMOTION AND MARKETING.

 

AUDIOBOOK HELP

MSI Press does not prepare audiobooks. Some MSI Press authors have done this, and others have expressed an interest. Audiobook rights in all contracts remain with the author. We can recommend a couple of choices for preparing your audiobook if you are so inclined.

Voice over Vermont helps authors who want to voice their own audio book. Authors can record remotely, using V-o-V recording equipment and assisted by a professional audiobook producer. If you are interested in getting some help for an audiobook, download the Audiobook_infosheet_101122_M and AB_Pricing_2023 (1) (pfh=per finished hour).

ACX may be the better choice if you prefer to find a narrator other than yourself for your book. You can also narrate your own book with ACX; however, you will need to have the proper recording equipment at home.

Last update. 2-2-23

 

AUTHOR DISCOUNTS AND CODES

Did you forget the codes needed to get author discounts through our webstore? The AUTHOR DISCOUNTS AND CODES document lists them for quick reference, including discounts for family members, acquaintances and friends.

Last update: 3-3-23

 

BOOK AWARDS

This document contains a list of all the book awards that we know about, including information about which authors have earned each of the awards (where an MSI Press author has won one — and, surprisingly, many of these awards have been won by our authors).

This document is in progress. We still need to add some of the competitions identified n 2022 Notes. Additional competitions will be added as we become aware of them. Please check back periodically for the updated version.

Need help? Book Award Pro, of which MSI is a partner, provides free and paid assistance to MSI Press authors. The information is contained in the downloadable Book Awards document.

The MSI Press blog contains information about book awards from time to time. You can read these posts at the MSI Press blogsite.

Download BOOK AWARDS now.

Last update. 2-2-23

 

BOOK PRODUCTION TIMETABLE

There are many steps in the book production process. For the most part, they are sequential. Some do not have specific deadlines, but once copyediting starts, deadlines, some of the immutable, kick in. If deadlines are missed in some cases, books will have to be rescheduled for a later release date. The BOOK PRODUCTION TIMETABLE document provides the steps and time frames from contract to post-publication promotion and marketing.

For more details about the book production process, this MSI Press blog post might help.

Last update. 3-3-23

 

BOOK REVIEWS

This document contains a list of book review possibilities, both pre-publication and post-publication, paid and unpaid. We will add more review possibilities as I hear about them.

The MSI Press blog contains information about book awards from time to time. You can read these posts at the MSI Press blog site.

Download BOOK REVIEWS now.

Last update. 2-2-23

 

BOOKSTORES

forthcoming

Last update. 2-2-23

 

COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION

Authors should register their copyright with the Library of Congress within 90 days of publication. Within weeks or months, authors will receive a certificate of registration. It is helpful for MSI Press if authors send a photocopy of that document for MSI records.

Last update. 3-3-23

 

DISTRIBUTION AND SALES POLCIES

For the first two years after publication, regardless of sales, books are front-listed and enjoy full distribution; they also benefit from right-of-return status. After that period, book sales must warrant maintaining these statuses. The DISTRIBUTION AND SALES POLICIES document explains the conditions for maintaining these statuses and authors’ options when the conditions are not met.

Last update: 3-3-23

 

MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

coming soon: how to finalize your manuscript before publication, ensure acceptance for quality, and speed up the copyediting process

Last update. 2-10-23

 

MARKETING & PROMOTION HELP

This MARKETING ACTIVITIES document provides guidance for marketing and promotion, keeping in mind that macro (national/international/generic) activities are undertaken by the press while authors are expected to handle micro (local/topic-specific) activities. Since marketing and promotion success is limited only be imagination and depends on individual authors’ willingness to invest efforts (and the direction in which they feel they can best use their talents and connections), this document is only a starting point. However, for authors who are not marketers (most are not), it can be a good source of support.

These MSI Press blogposts about marketing can be helpful.

You might also check out these MSI Press blogposts about book promotion and, for new books about to be launched, blogposts about book launches.

Last update. 2-13-23

 

ROYALTIES

For most authors, MSI Press pays 10% on list (retail) price as royalties for paperback books and hard cover books. That generally works out to be about 50% of net. A 50% net option is available. For e-books, MSI Press pays 50% of net. Annual statements distributed in February and March provide calculations for royalties earned the preceding year.

The TIMETABLE FOR PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES depends on the amount of royalties, with royalties exceeding $600 in any quarter for books by any US citizen (the IRS required reporting level) triggering a quarterly payment.

Royalties are reported to the IRS for the year in which they are paid, not the year in which they are earned.

3-3-23

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BOOK CONTRACT

forthcoming

In the interim, the MSI Press blog has a series of posts about book contracts that might be helpful.

Last update 2-2-23