astronaut publishing
exploring the universe,
one story at a time
FAQ
Here are the most common questions we're asked, but if there is anything at all you're unsure about, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Q: How do I know if hybrid publishing is right for me?
A: We think it's important to make publishing decisions that are right for you, so we've written a helpful guide HERE that explains all the different types of publishing and offers a pros and cons list for each. Hybrid publishing isn't the right path for everyone, and we want you to be fully informed before you decide to commit.
Q: How much is it to publish with Astronaut?
A: Currently, our first publication will be a TRADITIONAL publishing deal, meaning no cost to the author.
Once we formally introduce our hybrid model in 2025, all of our prices will be displayed clearly on our website. You'll be able to make your decision there and then without having to go through the whole submission process.
Q: Are you hiring artists and/or editors?
A: Not currently. We have a full roster of staff right now. Should we open up our rosters, there will be a notice on our website and social medias.
Q: How much will I receive in royalties, and when are they paid?
A: Royalties are paid quarterly (every 3 months) on the 5th of each month (February, May, August, November), except where the 5th falls on a Saturday or Sunday or UK bank holiday, in which case you will be paid the next working day.
Royalties are paid directly into your bank account.
You receive royalties at a rate of 75% net for print books and 85% net for eBooks.
We'll explain everything in more detail if you are offered a contract and before you sign anything so you're fully appraised of the way royalties work.
When we say paid on 'net' we mean you are paid the royalty percentage based on the profit after all other costs have been removed, for example printing, shipping, and discount costs. As a quick example, if we sell your paperback book for £10, and the printing and shipping costs are £3.75 and the retailer has a discount of 40% (of the asking sale price), then the remaining costs are £2.25 profit. Of that £2.25, you receive 75% (£1.69).
Q: How long will it take to be published?
A: That depends on the type of book you submit. A book with 50,000 words will take a shorter time to produce than a 150,000 word book. However, you should expect a 6-12 month turnaround. When you are offered a contract, we will provide an estimated date of completion. As a bit of guidance, let's take an average length book of 80,000 words:
1 month for each style of editing (3 months total)
1-2 months total for editing revision (developmental and line)
1-2 month for all design work (covers, formatting, etc)
1 month for marketing planning
Design and editing may run concurrent.
Then we need several months to build up ARC readers and register the book with multiple retailers and submit for various reviews and pre-sales.
Q: Do you help with marketing?
A: Yes. As part of your publishing deal with us, we want to ensure you feel supported in your marketing efforts. As the author, YOU are the brand. Readers want to hear from you, interact with you, so it’s important for every author to put their best foot forward in marketing themselves and their book. This can be one of the hardest aspects of publishing a book, so we provide a in-depth guide to help give you some ideas to maximise your success. Along with this guide, you will receive several marketing graphics, a press release kit, and some other bits to help you on the way.
For our own marketing, we focus on the more traditional routes of marketing, such as PR, awards lists, media, events, etc. Marketing is a collaboration between a publisher and an author, so we're here for you to help in any way we can!
Q: What if I've already had professional editing by someone else?
A: That's great, and we're always happy to hear authors have sought professional advice. However, editor opinions can vary, so when you publish with us, we want to ensure that the quality of editing meets OUR high standards. 3-stage comprehensive editing is included in ALL of our packages.
Q: I already have professionally designed elements, like chapter art. Can I use them?
A: We are certainly open to using art you've already had professionally made. It must be human made (NOT AI) and you must have permission from the artist addressed to us for it to be used in our publication. The artist can be credited.
Q: What are the next steps if my manuscript is selected?
A: If you've have been offered a publishing deal, congratulations! Before any contracts are signed, we'll arrange for you to have a video call with our CEO to welcome you but to also talk through all our publishing deal entails. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions but also be appraised of how everything works so we can both be confident that you are sure about your decision to publish with us.