Writers’ Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you?
Cornucopia Press is a very small, very new indie publisher, with a focus on entertaining, intelligent historical fiction. We’re also a family of book-lovers.
The editor you’ll work with most is Angela Harms, a freelance editor and designer. We’re not a big corporation with lots of anonymous people to work through and a big mailroom to lose things.
Does my query go into a slush pile?
We don’t really have a slush pile. We have a pretty full inbox, though. Here’s how we sort inquiries.
- Within the first few days, we read the initial query letter and synopsis. If we know right away that the manuscript isn’t right for us, we send out a very brief email, and we do it quickly, so you can move on. If we think it might be a good fit, we’ll request that you send the manuscript by email.
- Within a few weeks, we’ll read the first 20-50 pages, and then decide whether to continue. If we decide to decline at that point, we’ll give you some feedback about why, if you ask. If we like what we’ve read so far, we’ll ask for a printed copy of the manuscript. This makes it much easier to read, and gives us a place to write editorial notes as we go. We don’t ask for them lightly, and manuscripts are not returnable.
- Within a month or two, we’ll write with feedback about your manuscript. This might range from “Let’s do it!” to “I have some concerns” to “Here’s why we can’t publish this.” At this stage, we consider you a friend, and we will make time to talk with you.
- Within a year
What’s it like publishing with Cornucopia Press?
If this is your first book with us, it’s unlikely that we’ll offer an advance, because we’re very small yet. We will offer competitive royalties, personal attention, and marketing teamwork.
Your book will be professionally edited (with your approval) and designed. You’ll get an advance copy to proof, and a few copies of the finished work.
And of course, we’ll never charge you a fee for anything. We make our living selling books. To readers, not authors. (Of course, you can choose to purchase books over and above your free author’s copies, for book signings or any other purpose, and you’ll get a nice discount, and royalties, if you do.)
Where can people buy my book?
Your book will be available through standard distribution channels for any bookstore to order. It should turn up on all of the big online retail sites, including Amazon.com, the Barnes & Noble and Borders websites, Powell’s, etc. We don’t run those companies, so we can’t promise, but work hard to make it happen. Our business depends on it.
With success, we may find that we can get a book stocked in local stores. Before that happens, though, we have a lot of promotion to do to get make the book an online best-seller.
I want to know more.
Please read the other parts of our website, and if you still have questions, drop us a line via our contact page.