Questions about APBS

What is Authors’ Book Publishing Services?
We are a full-service book publishing company specializing in full-color children’s books. While we do other types of books, children’s books are our strength.

What we are not:
We are not a marketing firm, public relations company or distribution organization. We are not a sales organization, fulfillment house or warehouse. We do not print books for “books-on-demand.” 

What does ABPS do?
We will review your manuscript, make editorial suggestions, provide layout ideas and present them back to you for approval. If needed, we will provide illustrations. We will prepare the files for the printing process, add the illustrations, create the cover, and in general, get your book ready to be printed. Then we will send it to press, monitor the status, follow-through with the proofs and when complete, send the books to your door. We provide ISBN numbers and UPC codes on each book, list them with major wholesale companies and ship them to you.

Then what do I do with the books?
That is up to you as the author. Some authors have books printed for their own use or edification of their family and friends; others expect to make a return on their investment. As with any new author, it takes work to make your book a success, regardless of where or who prints the book. We will provide guidelines and ideas and can provide some marketing tools for your use. However, we don’t do the work for you.

What is the difference between ABPS and other self-publishing companies?
Because we are a true “publishing company” we won’t do short runs of less than 500 copies. Our prices begin at that level and go up. Consequently, you get much more for your investment dollars. Once you have your book printed with ABPS, you are the owner and all rights are yours, all selling responsibility and most importantly, all profits belong to you. There is not a royalty agreement—you get it all.

What exactly will ABPS provide for me?

1. A high-quality, paper cover or case bound (hard cover) book at a reasonable price. While other companies offer different “levels” of service, we provide the same level of service to each author. The only thing that changes is the quantity of books and page count that you order.
2. Provide editorial direction and suggestions
3. Provide layout and design for cover and interior of your book
4. Provide illustrations if necessary
5. Provide ISBN number and UPC number
6. Provide U.S. Copyright Registration
7. Provide 500 book marks featuring your book and information
8. Provide 500 business cards featuring your book and author information
9. Provide a Press Release custom written for your use and provided to your local media services
10. Guidelines and information on setting up book signings, events and other author activities to sell your book
11. Sales kit and ideas

How long does the whole process take?
Depending on whether you need illustrations or not, the editorial process, layout and cover design takes approximately 10 days, depending on our work load.  Your final approval is required and once it is approved and returned to us, and we send it to press, it takes an additional 7-10 days. If you are having a hard cover book, it adds a week to the time. Shipment to your house is generally 4-5 days. From start to finish on a book without illustrations takes approximately 30-45 days.
If you need illustrations, add an additional 30 days for the artist to complete the project. Sometimes it is sooner, but most often 30 days is standard.  All books are quoted based on domestic printing.

Who is ABPS?
We are a group of dedicated authors, artists and business people who have been in the publishing industry for more than 30 years. After seeing the need for “self-publishing” and the prices being charged by other companies, we believe we can do this more economically and provide more author benefits than the competition in the market place.