Does Cedar House accept manuscripts for publication?

We are currently not publishing other authors' works, but in the future we may consider exceptional manuscripts that have a good market and are consistent with our objectives. We will evaluate your book-length manuscript or proposal, regardless of genre, and advise you of its relative merits in our opinion. Keep in mind that Christian nonfiction is our particular strength; however, we will be publishing children's books in the future and are also considering an educational imprint for middle and high school history textbooks.

Must I have a completed manuscript for Cedar House to consider helping me?

No, we will be happy to look at a partial manuscript, but we recommend that you also submit a complete chapter outline with a brief synopsis of the remainder of the book so that we can see where you are going. We can then make suggestions that may help you develop the entire book. In fact, if you have only an outline or even an idea that you feel strongly about, we can help you develop it or prepare a proposal for you to submit to publishers.

What will automatically disqualify my book manuscript for consideration? What are the major stumbling blocks?

Many would-be authors do not take the time to understand or research their intended audience or determine what other books are competing with theirs. This is step one, period. Any cover letter or proposal must address these points. You must be willing to answer the question, "Why does this book deserve to be published and what will make people want to buy it?" Beyond that, your qualifications for writing the book must be a consideration. Obviously, you must have the skills to write in clear, concise, grammatically correct language and to connect your thoughts into coherent, readable chapters that build upon each other. The only exceptions to this rule are high-profile "experts" in their field or celebrities who use a co-author or ghost writer to put their thoughts and ideas into publishable form.

The manuscripts we reject most often are poor attempts at fiction from people who simply have little or no idea of what it takes to write a story. Do your homework. Above all, read good books in the genre that you wish to write in. Learn to recognize good writing and get the skills you need. Take a writing course. Read books that teach fiction-building skills. Sloppy writing and little attention to detail mean you don't have the necessary discipline or skills to be a published author. Someone somewhere may publish a poorly written book for you, or you may self-publish. Seeing it sell will be another matter.

What is POD publishing? Is that a good option?

POD stands for print-on-demand, which refers basically to digital technology used to produce books in smaller quantities as an alternative to large offset press runs. Sometimes also called PQN (print quantity needed), digital printing is a valid option for publishers or self-published authors who don't want to invest lots of dollars or space to inventory larger quantities of books. It also allows for a gradual introduction of a book into the marketplace to test it or provides the ability to print books as needed to fill orders. While offset print runs can take four to six weeks or longer to complete, POD runs of one copy to several hundred copies can be ready in a matter of days. While up-front printing costs are minimal, unit costs per book are higher than with traditional offset printing. That means you will manage cash flow more easily, but realize less profit per book if you are self-publishing. Most digital POD books printed by reputable companies that specialize in this technology are barely distinguishable from offset books.

POD publishing refers to a business model that some independent publishers use to publish or produce books. It is generally subsidized or partially subsidized by the author and is often not much different from the "vanity" publishing of old. For a fee that covers production expenses (and then some) and an offer to enter books into wholesalers' data bases or provide limited marketing assistance ( a press release or two or perhaps sending out some review copies), these companies will take your manuscript and turn it as is, with little or nor editing, into a finished book, often using a basic cover template. One should consider this option with caution. Read the article about POD "aggregators" by Jim Cox on our web site for some additional insight (see the For Authors section). If you are willing to pay outside vendors to have your manuscript professionally edited and designed, if you have the wherewithal to promote and market your book and are fortunate enough to sell a fair number of copies, you might make POD publishing work. Click here to see a comparison of POD publishers worth taking a look at. A few are trying to separate themselves from the pack.

Why would I want to consider self-publishing? Isn't it better to have an established publisher produce and market my book?

It depends on your viewpoint and your ultimate plans. True, self-publishing is not for everyone, but it is increasingly becoming the option of choice for many authors. It also doesn't automatically brand you as an "also ran" or one who couldn't cut it in the "real" publishing world. The good news is it allows you to control more of your own destiny. The bad news is ... well, see the previous sentence. Let's face it: some of us were not cut out to be entrepreneurs. Others thrive in this independent environment. You'll have to decide which type of person you are. By all means, give yourself the opportunity to be discovered by an established royalty publisher. Stack the deck as much in your favor as possible and go for it. You must realize that there are no guarantees, no matter how well you have done your job. Publishing is a highly competitive and subjective process. It can hinge on something as fickle as what kind of day an acquisitions editor is having when your manuscript comes across his or her desk. If you want to know more about the self-publishing option, read the "Nuts and Bolts of Self-Publishing" section of Debbie Thurman's A Basic Guide to Writing and Publishing for Authors ... and Those who Want To Be, available from Cedar House Publishers.