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Table of Contents
Old versus new publishing technology
We believe that traditional offset lithographic processing and recent advances in Digital (on-demand) printing both have a role to play in today’s market.
Traditional publishing calls for a large investment in typesetting, plate-making and the whole rigmarole of conventional wholesaling, distribution and marketing. Even the smallest change to a manuscript creates enormous re-work costs.
The new digital technologies available are flexible, relatively cheap and much quicker to market.
SeaNeverDry will use the process best-suited to the publication in mind; typically taking a "raw" first novel through a limited digital print run to "test the water", then converting to a lithographic process when demand requires.
The Economic realities in publishing
It is a sad fact of life that the Author’s royalties from the sale of his own book are typically less than 10% of the cover price. For first-time authors this can be even less.
This may seem unfair, but the financial risk in traditional publishing is huge. Increasingly, large advances paid to authors are becoming a rarity, and where applicable are mitigated by reduced royalties to the author.
SeaNeverDry believe the author should receive at least 15% of the cover price of his/her work. This is negotiable, subject to the set-up cost of the digital imprint, the state of the original manuscript etc.
Submitting your work for publishing
Our preferred medium for manuscript submissions is in a conventional word-processor format such as Microsoft Word, accompanied by hard-copy text.
We are, however, flexible, and have facilities to scan (even old) typewritten copy into digital formats. Should you wish your manuscript to be returned, please provide a self-addressed envelope with appropriate postage.
We consider manuscripts free-of-charge
Subject to our evaluation, we will recommend an appropriate action which may include one or more of the following options:
Limited digital print run; submission to Amazon Internet marketing
Forwarded to a selected list of Mainstream Publishers
Suggested revisions
Rejection
The Role of Literary Agent
It is important for first-time authors to understand that unsolicited manuscripts, submitted to mainstream publishers, will tend to end up in what is known as the "slush pile".
It is dispiriting to think that your treasured work, often the product of years of toil, may never even get read…
Because of the sheer volume of manuscripts received by publishers (typically 10 per day) they can be very pedantic regarding both the way work is submitted and its presentation.
Bloomsbury, for example, quote the chances of a book in the slush pile actually being published as “one in every 5 to 10 years” – seriously daunting!
The principal role of the agent, therefore, is to persuade publishers that the authors they represent are worthy of elevation above the slush pile, their work be read and (hopefully) published.
SeaNeverDry can either act as literary agent in our own right or pass you on to an agent appropriate to the genre of your work.
Who owns the Copyright
SeaNeverDry respects the copyright of every original artwork. It is important therefore that the author should declare ownership and title rights as appropriate.
This would typically be incorporated on the verso page and/or on a page footer. We are happy to provide a copyright acknowledgement letter certifying the author’s rights upon request.
What is an ISBN number?
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) system was established in 1968 as a standard identification system for books. Today all publishers use ISBN which is a unique machine-readable identification number to track books, and almost every item found in a bookshop has one.
The ISBN number is a 10 digit string of numbers and/or letters, usually found on books' back cover near the barcode. Each ISBN number is unique, and from it a computer search can find the publisher, author, place of publication and other details.
Do I need one for my book?
If you want to make any sales in a shop/website or if you want people to find your book, you need an ISBN.
Where do I get one from?
If your book is being published by a commercial publisher, they will allocate an ISBN number.
SeaNeverDry will assist you and make sure your book gets an ISBN number.
See also: www.isbn.org
Promotion
SeaNeverDry markets the publications in the following ways.
Amazon
Waterstones
Gardners Book Distribution
Book signing events
Book Exhibitions
Proofreading/Editorial Service
Proofreading is probably the most critical process to promote a manuscript from paper to a published book. Elementary spelling/grammar errors are the primary reason first drafts are rejected.
It is often assumed that publishers take up this role : not so… simple errors mean simple rejection…
SeaNeverDry offers a proofreading service where it is felt necessary for the manuscript. As a rule of thumb, £300 per 10,000 words of text is chargeable. Our decision on the requirements for this service are based on the first twenty pages of your submission. These will be returned to you fully marked up with highlighted corrections/editorial suggestions, free-of-charge.
SeaNeverDry Publishing
13 Napoleon Road
St. Margarets
Twickenham
TW1 3EW
Contact: Dave Abbott
Phone: 07710 024117
Email: abbott@seaneverdrypub.com