astronaut publishing
exploring the universe,
one story at a time
FAQ and T&Cs of anthology publishing
We are very excited to officially open Astronaut Publishing. Every publisher starts somewhere, and as we are small and boutique, we have to start from the bottom. By submitting to our anthology, you are part of an exciting new publishing venture. This model isn't for everyone, so we understand if you choose to not submit after reading all the information here.
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We very much have an 'acorns to oak trees' ethos, meaning everything starts life small and has the ability to grow and flourish into the best version of itself. That's Astronaut. Right now, we're just a speck in the cosmos, but we hope to grow into something formidable! With a successful background in pre-publishing with our sister company, Stardust Book Services, we are ready to take the next leap.
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By publishing with us, you agree that you understand this will be our first publication. As such, we will go through periods of trial and error. We do see this anthology as our launch into the publishing world, but there are still things that we won't know until we try. We are looking for authors with compassion, understanding, and kindness, who are willing to take this journey with us, authors who understand that sometimes things move slower or take a little extra understanding.
Our values are really important to us. As such, we expect any author we publish to align with and respect our values. Some we consider especially important are:
- Respect and dignity for all. We vocally support the LGBTQIA+ community, the BLM movement, the right to abortion, equality and justice for women.
- In science we trust: the earth is round, vaccines work, the climate crisis is real.
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Here's some questions we anticipate you'd like the answers to, but if there is anything else you'd like to know, please contact us!
Do I have to pay anything to you?
No. This is a traditional publishing deal. You as the author will be paid in royalties, however please note there is no advance payment offered.
While we will be operating as a hybrid publisher, this first book will be published under a traditional model.
How much will I receive in royalties, and when are they paid?
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.
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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). If there are 10 authors in the anthology, then you will receive £0.16 per sale. We will sell to a number of outlets, so royalty rates will vary between sellers. You'll receive a royalty statement with a breakdown with each royalty payment.​
How long will it take to be published?
We are a small team, as such, we anticipate a publishing schedule of 12 months from the point all authors have been decided.
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Do you help with marketing?
Yes. We will market the book, however as this is our first publication, we anticipate some trial and error. We will be testing a number of marketing methods, plus all authors involved in the anthology will receive marketing materials to post across their social media and websites.
Do you own the copyright to my story?
No. You retain full copyright to your story. We will register the story under our publishing imprint, registering under our own ISBN number.
Will I receive a copy of the book?
Yes, all authors will receive a copy of the book. If you'd like to order more copies for yourself or to sell at in-person events, then you will be able to do so at cost.