Winding Hall Publishers is a small press publisher with an ever-expanding number of imprints for every reader's taste. We help new authors become published authors and provide seasoned editors to help authors' work be the best it can be.
Winding Hall Publishers is a small press publisher with an ever-expanding number of imprints for every reader's taste. We help new authors become published authors and provide seasoned editors to help authors' work be the best it can be.
PO Box 2689 Eugene OR 97402
Please Note: Word Out Books is not currently accepting submissions. Due to the overwhelming response for our publishing services, we have paused acceptance of new manuscripts for now. Thank you.
Welcome to Word Out Books!
Word Out Books is based on a straightforward principle: Writers deserve to be read. We make it possible for writers of all genres, from all backgrounds and circumstances, to become published authors.
Inspired by inmate requests, our parent company, Winding Hall Publishers, launched a pilot program directed toward the large number of inmate authors who had no realistic way to publish their work. Word Out Books, created in late 2017, is the result.
When your book is published by Word Out Books, it is not “self-published”—it is published by a real publishing company under the Word Out Books imprint. By charging fair, transparent fees up front, Word Out Books allows authors whose works might otherwise never be published to see their books in print and made available to the world.
How It Works
Our services include formatting and editing your manuscript, book cover design, publishing your book, and making your work available for sale in print and eBook on Amazon and other online outlets. When you submit your manuscript by mail or by email, an editor will read your manuscript and contact you with the services we can offer based on your submission.
Services and Fees (Effective as of January 1, 2021)
Payment in full is required before we can begin work on your manuscript. We accept installment payments, but will not begin work on your project until full payment is received. Please note that to avoid possible rate increases you must complete payment within one year of your submission.
Our Publishing Service includes the following:
Registering your work with the United States Copyright Office. (You keep all copyright ownership to your work. Word Out Books is granted exclusive publication rights.)
ISBN – Every book sold commercially must have an International Standard Book Number assigned to it. Each edition and version of a book—for example, an eBook and a paperback edition of the same book—must have its own ISBN. We will purchase and assign ISBNs to the print (paperback) and eBook versions of your book.
Prior to publishing your book, Word Out Books will proofread your manuscript and correct basic punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. We look for and correct grammar and syntax mistakes, note inconsistencies, and provide other suggestions to improve the quality of writing.
Book cover design. (If you have a specific request for a book cover let us know and we will accommodate your request if possible.)
Publication of your book in both paperback and eBook versions.
Setup and management of sales on Amazon.com, the largest bookseller in the world. Your book will be available to other online outlets through Expanded Distribution.
One free copy of your book shipped to the address of your choice.
Publishing Service Rates:
Manuscripts up to 150 pages: $1,450 Manuscripts up to 200 pages: $1,700
Manuscripts up to 250 pages: $1,950 Manuscripts up to 300 pages: $2,200
Manuscripts up to 350 pages: $2,450 Manuscripts up to 400 pages: $2,700
If you think your manuscript will exceed 400 pages please let us know before you send it to us.
If you have a short manuscript (fewer than 80 pages) it may qualify for our Novella rate, which is $1,200.
Note: The length of your manuscript (or page count) will be calculated by Word Out Books. Page count is determined by the number of words per printed page, which is typically (but not always) 250 words per page.
Publishing Under a Pseudonym (Pen Name)
The Copyright Office requires an additional fee of $20.00 for publishing under a pen name. Please let us know if you would like your copyright registered under a pen name and we will add this charge to your invoice.
Manuscript Submissions
Manuscripts must be typed (and double-spaced if possible), or in electronic format. Word Out Books is unable to accept handwritten manuscripts at this time.
Royalties
Word Out Books will set the price at which your book is sold (“list price”). Royalties are based on the net proceeds from sale of the book, after all printing/distribution-related costs are deducted. Our authors receive 80% of the net profit after these costs are deducted. Royalties are paid twice a year, typically in March and September. You will receive a royalty statement showing how many copies were sold and the amount of royalties earned. We will pay royalties to the name and address specified by you. This can be you or someone you designate to receive the royalties.
How To Get Started
Send us a copy* of your manuscript.
Include any additional comments, questions or information you’d like us to have.
*VERY IMPORTANT: Please be sure you do not send us the only copy of your manuscript! Manuscripts cannot be returned, regardless of whether we ultimately publish them.
What We Will Do
Once we have received and reviewed your manuscript, we will contact you with an offer to publish your book and the cost for publication. We will enclose a Services Request Form for you to complete and return to us.
Rarely, we must decline to publish a manuscript, usually because it violates one of our publication policies.
Word Out Books does not publish the following:
Books that advocate the commission of crimes or incitement to commit crimes.*
Books that could be considered libelous.
Books designed to allow a person convicted of a crime to profit directly from that crime.*
Books which, in our exclusive editorial judgment, violate the ethical principles of our company.
*Please note that we do accept Urban Fiction for publication.
Invoicing
When we receive your signed Services Request Form we will send you an invoice requesting payment for our publication services. Payment may be made by check, bank draft, or money order. We do not accept credit card payments or cash. Checks/drafts/money orders must be made payable to our parent company, Winding Hall Publishers.
We will begin publication after payment has been received in full. Once publication work has begun, fees are non-refundable. If you wish to cancel publication, please contact us within 10 business days of payment, so that we can process your refund.
Please Note: If we do not receive your payment or a request for additional time for payment within 90 days of our receipt of your manuscript, we will assume the project is a no-go and will destroy the manuscript without further obligation to the author. We cannot keep unpaid manuscripts indefinitely. Again, please do not send us the only copy of your work!
Please let us know if you have any questions regarding our services or fees. We want to help you get your word out to the world with Word Out Books!