FAQ:
Can I submit if I have an agent? Can I submit if I DON'T have an agent?
You can submit either way but if you are represented by a literary agent they should be the one to make initial contact with us. We will be delighted to work and correspond with them.
Do not expect us to work with an agent who takes you as a client after or because we extended an offer of publication.
Can I submit if I'm from Canada/Australia/Germany/etc.?
We are based in Texas and have the easiest time marketing and distributing to the US but we appreciate talent from around the globe, That being said, worldwide distribution can be a bit tricky when it comes to getting author copies to you, having your bookstores stock your book, etc. We are best at distribution in the US but we are perfectly happy to learn new things about distribution in different countries. If you're willing to work with us as we learn new things, send us your story! If we love it and want to publish it, we'll go from there.
How will you market my book?
Marketing is tricky as the market is ever-changing. We put a heavy emphasis on getting ARCs out to readers to get reviews up. Amazon will market your book automatically if it passes a certain review threshold (the number changes, but it's usually around 30.) We have a street team that helps us get the word out on social media.
We have a few podcasts we give you the opportunity to be a guest on and we love to help you get a free consultation with a marketing specialist who will help you build a plan for your book. We hope for a team effort on marketing between you the author and us the publisher. A lot of what you do--signings, giveaways, etc. -- should be initiated by you depending on opportunities in your area, your time, and your comfort level with putting yourself out there. We will gladly support you in your PR and marketing but how much you do will depend on you and your comfort level and availability.
Are all of your covers premade?
No. We use some premade covers and we have some custom-made covers. We have some covers heavily AI generated and some illustrated by human hands alone. We have found that some pre-made covers are phenomenal and the best part is that we know exactly what we're getting when we buy them. More on AI below.
How long will it take for my book to go through the publishing pipeline?
Depends on how many edits it will need. If your book requires extensive developmental edits, it will take a lot longer. If your manuscript is in excellent condition, we can get it through the pipeline much faster. In short it could be anywhere from 4-10 months.
Will you produce audiobooks for each book you publish?
No. We decide to pursue audiobook production based on several factors like length, marketability, and budget. If your book requires extensive editing then we may forego audiobook production to maintain the budget for your book's marketing. We love the idea of making each book an audiobook, but our priority is producing quality print and ebooks for wide distribution.
Do you just publish through Amazon/KDP?
No, but most of our sales happen through Amazon. We have printers in the US, UK, and Australia. We have a wide distribution and our books are available to Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo (Canada), Kobo, most independent bookstores, libraries, schools, and thousands more. Whether it ends up on shelves or not depends entirely on sales and demand. That being said the vast majority of our sales happen on Amazon.
Is that AI art I see?
Not all of our covers feature AI art, but many of them do. Many of our cover artists use AI as a creative partner. In short, we feel it's best to embrace the leverage the technology of today. We are in the business of publishing books and putting our authors first. As a small business we are working to be innovative with publishing and marketing so we can make sure our books have the best shot at success and finding a large reader base. AI art definitely has some drawbacks, but it enables us to create custom covers for our books, ensure unique cover design (stock images do not) and allocate more of our budget for editing and marketing.
If you have concerns or questions about AI art that you would like to discuss with us feel free to email Matt or Kevin at contact(at)stagbeetlebooks(dot)com
***
If you have questions we didn't address here, email us!
contact(at)stagbeetlebooks(dot)com
Can I submit if I have an agent? Can I submit if I DON'T have an agent?
You can submit either way but if you are represented by a literary agent they should be the one to make initial contact with us. We will be delighted to work and correspond with them.
Do not expect us to work with an agent who takes you as a client after or because we extended an offer of publication.
Can I submit if I'm from Canada/Australia/Germany/etc.?
We are based in Texas and have the easiest time marketing and distributing to the US but we appreciate talent from around the globe, That being said, worldwide distribution can be a bit tricky when it comes to getting author copies to you, having your bookstores stock your book, etc. We are best at distribution in the US but we are perfectly happy to learn new things about distribution in different countries. If you're willing to work with us as we learn new things, send us your story! If we love it and want to publish it, we'll go from there.
How will you market my book?
Marketing is tricky as the market is ever-changing. We put a heavy emphasis on getting ARCs out to readers to get reviews up. Amazon will market your book automatically if it passes a certain review threshold (the number changes, but it's usually around 30.) We have a street team that helps us get the word out on social media.
We have a few podcasts we give you the opportunity to be a guest on and we love to help you get a free consultation with a marketing specialist who will help you build a plan for your book. We hope for a team effort on marketing between you the author and us the publisher. A lot of what you do--signings, giveaways, etc. -- should be initiated by you depending on opportunities in your area, your time, and your comfort level with putting yourself out there. We will gladly support you in your PR and marketing but how much you do will depend on you and your comfort level and availability.
Are all of your covers premade?
No. We use some premade covers and we have some custom-made covers. We have some covers heavily AI generated and some illustrated by human hands alone. We have found that some pre-made covers are phenomenal and the best part is that we know exactly what we're getting when we buy them. More on AI below.
How long will it take for my book to go through the publishing pipeline?
Depends on how many edits it will need. If your book requires extensive developmental edits, it will take a lot longer. If your manuscript is in excellent condition, we can get it through the pipeline much faster. In short it could be anywhere from 4-10 months.
Will you produce audiobooks for each book you publish?
No. We decide to pursue audiobook production based on several factors like length, marketability, and budget. If your book requires extensive editing then we may forego audiobook production to maintain the budget for your book's marketing. We love the idea of making each book an audiobook, but our priority is producing quality print and ebooks for wide distribution.
Do you just publish through Amazon/KDP?
No, but most of our sales happen through Amazon. We have printers in the US, UK, and Australia. We have a wide distribution and our books are available to Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo (Canada), Kobo, most independent bookstores, libraries, schools, and thousands more. Whether it ends up on shelves or not depends entirely on sales and demand. That being said the vast majority of our sales happen on Amazon.
Is that AI art I see?
Not all of our covers feature AI art, but many of them do. Many of our cover artists use AI as a creative partner. In short, we feel it's best to embrace the leverage the technology of today. We are in the business of publishing books and putting our authors first. As a small business we are working to be innovative with publishing and marketing so we can make sure our books have the best shot at success and finding a large reader base. AI art definitely has some drawbacks, but it enables us to create custom covers for our books, ensure unique cover design (stock images do not) and allocate more of our budget for editing and marketing.
If you have concerns or questions about AI art that you would like to discuss with us feel free to email Matt or Kevin at contact(at)stagbeetlebooks(dot)com
***
If you have questions we didn't address here, email us!
contact(at)stagbeetlebooks(dot)com