Publishing with Story-weaver
Step-by-Step
We believe gritty stories deserve a fearless publishing process. At Story-Weaver, we partner with authors to navigate the entire journey, from intensive, collaborative editing to a stunning final cover design. Our hand-picked team of industry professionals knows how to handle stories that matter, and we're dedicated to stewarding your work with the respect it commands.
Phase 1: Submission & Agreement
This is where our partnership begins. We want to see if your story's heart matches our mission.
Submissions
When your manuscript is complete, submit it to us with a query letter. We want to hear your voice, so be authentic and tell us what makes your story the right fit.
Phase 2: The Kickstarter Campaign
This is where we rally a community around your book. We manage the campaign and you bring the passion.
Campaign Prep
We handle the logistics—building the Kickstarter page, creating graphics, and working with you on structuring the perks. We'll assist you in creating a short video that shares your vision for the story.
Phase 3: Forging the Book
With funding secured, our editorial team begins the deep, collaborative work of refining your manuscript into a powerful, polished novel.
Creative Vision
The process begins with you. You'll provide our design team with your ideas, mood boards, and inspiration so we can craft a cover that is true to your story.
Phase 4: Publication & Beyond
Distribution
We prepare and upload the final files to our global distribution partners, including Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital, making your book available to readers worldwide
F.A.Q.
Common Questions
What is a Hybrid Publisher?
A hybrid publisher blends the best of traditional and independent publishing. For Story-weaver Publishing, it means a true partnership. We supply the editing, design, and distribution know-how, while the author contributes their passion and reach. Our model is unique in that we fund the professional production of your book transparently through a Kickstarter campaign, allowing us to offer some of the most generous royalty rates in the industry.
How much does it cost to publish with you?
There are no upfront costs to the author. Instead, we work with you to create a production budget for your book, which typically ranges from $2,500 to $4,500, depending on the manuscript's length and editorial needs. This budget becomes the funding goal for the Kickstarter campaign. The funds raised cover all professional editing, cover design, formatting, and distribution setup.
What are the Royalties?
We believe authors should earn a significant majority from their work. Our royalty rates are designed to be author-first:
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70% Net on Paperback & Ebook sales
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60% Net on Hardcover sales
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30% Net on Audiobook sales
Do I have to crowdfund?
Crowdfunding through Kickstarter is our recommended and primary model. This is a strong method for proving your book has an audience, creating an eager fan base before publishing, and funding the creation process without you paying anything. Although authors can fund production themselves, we feel a Kickstarter campaign's community-building is key to a successful launch.
Do you do any marketing?
Our marketing philosophy is one of empowerment and partnership. We focus on equipping you, the author, with the tools to build your own platform, which is the most effective long-term marketing strategy. We provide guidance on audience building and will help you identify and prepare submissions for relevant awards; entry fees are typically covered by leftover campaign funds or by the author.
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As a publisher, we actively promote your book through our own channels, including our newsletter, social media platforms, and at in-person events and conferences.
Will my book be in bookstores?
Yes. All of our full-length novels are distributed globally through IngramSpark, the industry's largest distribution network. This makes your book available to be ordered by thousands of bookstores and libraries around the world. While we can't guarantee that a specific store will choose to stock your book on their physical shelves, our distribution ensures it is accessible to them if they or a customer requests it.