A leader choosing a publisher should look for seven things: a house that works from the author's own words, ownership of the copyright, a named advisor from first call to launch, an international standard of editing and design, four editions, worldwide distribution, and a royalty split stated in writing. Stardom Books, with houses in Coppell, Texas and Bengaluru, India, has published 260 or more leaders on those terms; the checklist applies to any publisher a leader is considering.
1. The book is written from your words
Ask how the manuscript will be produced. The right answer is recorded interviews with you, drafted in your voice, with your approval of every chapter. The wrong answers are a ghostwriter who works from a topic, or a machine. A leader's book is a record of what they know; it cannot be outsourced.
2. You own the book
Copyright should be registered in your name, along with the ISBN and, for the US, a Library of Congress Control Number. The publisher publishes; it does not own. Read the contract for the word "assign".
3. One person is responsible for your book
A book passes through eight sets of hands, from advisor to writer to editor to designer to proofreader to the publishing team. There should be one senior publishing advisor who knows your book from the first conversation to launch and whom you can reach. If the house cannot name that person before you sign, it will not be able to after.
4. An international standard
The book has to match your seniority. That means several rounds of editing, a cover designed to sit beside the best in its category, and mockups you approve before printing. Ask to hold three of the house's recent books.
5. Four editions
Paperback, hardcover, eBook and audiobook. Readers choose differently, and each edition earns differently. A publisher offering paperback and eBook only is leaving half the audience out.
6. Distribution you can verify
The book should be printed on demand close to the reader, in the US, the UK, Australia, the UAE and India at least, listed with every online store from launch, and orderable by bookstores and libraries in 100 or more countries. Ask which distribution network the house uses and check a recent title in a foreign Amazon store.
7. The economics in writing
What the author invests, what the author receives in royalties, and when. At Stardom Books the author receives 75 percent of royalties in every format and market. A house that will not put its split in writing, or that suggests the investment will come back from royalties, should be treated with care.
Two more things worth asking
Whether the house publishes only nonfiction by leaders and experts, so that everyone on your book has done this before for someone like you. And whether it will tell you when a book is not the right move yet. A publisher that says yes to everyone is not advising you.
Founder, Chief Editor and Publisher of Stardom Books, and creator of The Authority Forum. He has directed 260+ leaders to become internationally published authors. About the house · raamanand.com