FAQ
What is a publishing company?
The sole purpose of a publishing company is to produce a finished book and ensure that all necessary steps have been completed to release it into the market. The author is required to pay for the services rendered by the publishing company and the fee required covers the costs of services such as editing, interior and exterior book design, printing and binding, and limited promotional services. The three common types of publishing services are traditional, non-traditional, and self –publishing.
1) Traditional Publishing Company
•Buys the rights to an author’s manuscript
•Selective with accepting manuscripts
•Has the final say on every aspect of the author's book, from editorial content to cover design to the number of books in the first printing.
•Makes the determination, based on declining sales, as to when to allow a book to go out of print - this could be as short as a year or even less
2) Non-Traditional Publishing Company (NTPC)
•Does not have rights over author’s manuscript
•Selective with accepting manuscripts
•Marketed primarily on the web
•Offers services such as editing, interior and exterior design, printing and binding, and limited promotional service.
•ITP is a NTPC
3) Self-Publishing
•Author does everything or can outsource all or part of the process to companies that offer these services.
Does ITP accept every manuscript?
ITP does NOT accept every manuscript. As a Christian-based publishing company we must remain true to the standards and integrity of our core values. Also, manuscripts should be unique and of high-quality. ITP reserves the right to reject any work that we may find to be unsuitable for our company.
Do I need a completed manuscript?
If you are in the process of finalizing your manuscript, you may reach out to us for a consultation to determine if we are the right fit for you. At this consultation, we will also need the first 10 pages of your manuscript to determine if we show initial interest. We can only offer publishing contracts for completed manuscripts; therefore, it is the responsibility of the author to return a completed manuscript for the approval process.
How does the process work?
Once your completed manuscript has been submitted, our team will review it. If approved, a detailed publishing proposal will be emailed with the suggested package that will suit your need. If you accept our proposal you will return the signed contract along with the first payment. Then the publication process will begin!
Does my book need to be copyrighted before I submit it to ITP?
No. Once the publication process begins, we will file your book in your name with the Register of Copyrights of the Library of Congress to obtain a Certificate of Registration of Copyright. The copyright information will be registered in your name only, not Ink Trails. Manuscripts and unpublished works are protected by common law and statutory law from the point of creation. There is no need to obtain a formal copyright registration before submitting it to ITP.