Services - Wildhouse Publishing

Wildhouse Publishing Model

Wildhouse Publishing (WHP) curates books for unconventional people with adventurous spirituality. We publish a variety of genres, and maintain several imprints, but WHP focuses on trade publication (so not academic tomes or textbooks for classrooms) and always keeps our target audience in mind. We want to support gifted authors who also intend to address the WHP audience, even when it is financially risky to do so. We publish in the traditional mode, where the publisher carries all of the financial burden of bringing a book to reality and authors are paid through royalties. We do not consider hybrid publishing proposals. We do not consider fee-for-service publishing projects.

All WHP books are fully vetted through WHP‘s editorial advisory board.

For information about author submissions and the WHP publishing and acquisitions model, visit the Submissions page.

Find out about WHP services below.

WHP Services

All WHP publication projects are supported by an array of services that are best of class in traditional publishing.

WHP Principles

In both its traditional and flexible hybrid publishing models, to the same degree:

WHP is all about the author relationship: WHP does more than publish books; it supports authors and makes them more influential.
WHP is all about its audience and mission: supporting adventurous spirituality for unconventional people.
WHP is all about the highest standards, from design and production to editing to the quality of ideas. There are no quality differences between the traditional and hybrid publishing models.
WHP stands out: WHP offers traditional publication, and the contrasts between WHP’s flexible hybrid publishing model and typical hybrid publishers are pronounced.

The Acquisitions Experience

WHP acquires publishing projects in two channels.

In the conventional acquisitions channel, authors generate and submit book proposals with no input from WHP acquisitions editors or developmental editors. Proposals are considered as they arrive and, when a proposal inspires editorial support, it is submitted to a periodic meeting of the WHP editorial advisory board for consideration. Author royalties are higher for projects birthed through the conventional acquisitions channel (see below for details).

In the partnership acquisitions channel, WHP developmental editors are partners for authors. These gifted communicators support authors through visioning, proposal advising, manuscript coaching, and developmental editing. They help authors present the most persuasive proposal and the most compelling book manuscript possible. This innovative approach to acquisitions sends an important message from the outset: we are focused on our authors, on high quality communication, and on connecting to our audience. The partnership acquisitions channel is a lot more expensive for WHP so author royalties are lower for projects birthed in this way (see below for details).

The choice of acquisitions channel is the author’s. Authors focused on maximizing royalties and less concerned about getting a proposal accepted or having a trusted advisor for their work will choose the conventional acquisitions channel. Authors wanting a gifted partner to produce the highest-quality product and a proposal customized to the WHP ethos will prefer the partnership acquisitions channel.

The Editing Experience

WHP’s emphasis on quality begins with great author ideas. But that emphasis is abundantly evident throughout the publication process, and especially in editing: line editing if necessary, followed by copy editing and proof editing. Authors who come to WHP through the partnership acquisitions channel benefit from extensive developmental editing.

The Design Experience

WHP authors have serious input on cover design, interior design, and book title, which are then produced by gifted professional designers. WHP offers design advice on diagrams and photographs and offers an add-on design service to recreate diagrams and skillfully edit photographs if authors need help.

The Production Experience

WHP uses the highest quality materials and printing. We offer a variety of trim sizes, multiple paper options for B&W or color printing, and high-quality hardback and paperback binding. Some elements of WHP’s production process are handled the same by all reputable publishers: ISBN assignment, metadata management, e-book conversion. WHP also registers copyright with the US Copyright office for US authors.

The Marketing Experience

A critical aspect of any book project is getting the word out. WHP handles basic marketing activities and offers authors training materials to help them become effective advocates for their own books. If you hire your own publicist, WHP will work closely with them throughout the publishing process. WHP can also help you find a suitable publicist.

Author Royalties

Author royalties are set depending on the acquisitions channel (see The Acquisitions Experience above for details). For the conventional acquisitions channel, royalties are set at 15% of net revenue on each print copy sold and 30% of net revenue on each e-copy and audiobook sold. For the partnership acquisitions channel, which is much more expensive for WHP, author royalties are set at 5% of net revenue on each print copy sold and 20% of net revenue on each e-copy and audiobook sold.

Remember: All WHP books, regardless of acquisitions channel, are fully vetted through WHP‘s editorial advisory board.

Distribution

Wildhouse Publishing is proud to partner with IngramSpark, one of the publishing industry’s largest global book distribution networks, which provides access to over 40,000 well-known book retailers and wholesalers across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, including:

Independent bookstores
Large chain stores such as Barnes & Noble, Walmart, etc.
Libraries
Schools
E-commerce companies, such as Amazon, Walmart.com, Target.com, etc.
Chapters / Indigo (Canada)

E-Book Distribution: WHP titles are made available to all the major players in global e-book distribution network (retailers, libraries, apps, subscription services, and more), such as Apple, Amazon, Nook, Bibliotheca, BibliU, Bolinda, Booktopia, Chegg, De Marque, eBooks.com, EBSCO, fable, Findaway, Google Play, Kobo Plus, Scribd, Snapplify, Storytel, Wook, and YouScribe.

The Distribution Revolution is Print on Demand (POD). IngramSpark is a front-runner in print-on-demand production for boutique publishers. Both use a worldwide network of printers to produce individual copies of books as needed, delivering each book to customers directly, or to distributors or wholesalers who in turn supply bookshops, other retailers, educational institutions and libraries. POD is superior to traditional offset publishing for another reason as well: it greatly lessens carbon footprint/climate crisis concerns because of precision printing on demand. Furthermore, manuscript errors can be easily and almost instantly corrected.

How POD Works: Independent bookstores browse Ingram’s inventory and order however many WHP books they want, at discounted wholesale prices, to sell in their stores. Major retail giants like Amazon and Barnes & Noble can sell any WHP title by utilizing Ingram’s network; online retailers simply transfer an order to Ingram who prints and ships the book to the customer. In this model, there is no need for large print runs which often result in costly warehousing and even waste when books don’t sell. This allows publishers to take more risks on publishing new authors.

Advice about Other Services

WHP helps authors embarking publishing journeys by curating information about the highest quality services available. For queries about any additional help you need, please contact us using the form on the contact page or by emailing your WHP contact. We can point you in the right direction.