Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to Clare Songbirds family of authors and poets!  Now that you have signed your contract you probably have a bunch of questions.  Below is a list of FAQ and our best answers. 

•  What do I do now?  Gather up everything you need once your book goes into the formatting stage, this includes deciding on an author photo, writing your author bio, putting together your acknowledgements of where your poems were previously published, getting back cover blurbs if you wish to include them, and doing any revisions to the manuscript.  Remember though, that we accepted the work as it is, so try not to fiddle too much. ?   Put all the extra stuff (except the photo) in a word document.           
• How long before my book goes into formatting?  This time frame can vary widely depending on how many books are before yours in the queue.  Laura will inform you where you are in the queue and what the expected wait time is.
• What about the cover?  To expedite the formatting process and to ensure that no copyright infringement takes place, Clare Songbirds creates the cover for your book.  If you have an image that you feel strongly about using, you must supply an artist’s release, a high-resolution image (300 dpi) of at least 9x12 inches for a full cover or 4 x 6 for an inset image, and the attribution for the image.  If we feel that the image is appropriate, we will accommodate your request, but the final call is ours.
• Does CSPH submit for awards?  Yes, we do!  We have submitted works for the Pushcart prize, Central NY book awards, Independent Book Awards, and the Firecracker Award in past years.  Our first year Rachel Ikins’ Just Two Girls won the Independent Book Award for poetry.
• Will my book be available on Amazon?  Yes, your book will be available for global distribution through IngramSpark.
• Can I buy copies of my book to sell?  Yes, authors are always able to buy their book at a minimum of 50% off the cover price to sell at their readings and other events.  This is the most financially rewarding option for selling books.
• Is there a minimum number of books I must buy or sell?  No.  CSPH does not require you to buy a minimum number of books or have a certain number of books presold to get published.  We feel that your book is worth publishing if you are accepted and will do what we can to help you sell your book. 
• What is the best way to sell books? Self-promotion is the best way to make money.  Our marketing director, Brianna Walsh-Horn, will create social media posts and press releases for your book.  CLMP (Community of Literary Magazines and Presses), which CSPH is a member of, will also announce the release of your book on their website upon request.  Follow us on Facebook & Twitter to get updates on readings, anthologies etc.
• How long does the formatting take?  Once your book cover is designed your book will go into the formatting process.  How long it takes is dependent upon several factors.  Chapbook manuscripts that are clean and free of errors can take as little as a few days.  Full-length manuscripts or manuscripts with poems that require special shapes, lots of spelling or grammatical issues can take a couple of weeks to complete. Be conscientious of the other authors in the queue and make your manuscript as clean as possible before formatting.
• What is the proofing process?  Once your manuscript is formatted for publication, you will receive a proof copy.  Proofing is for spelling, spacing, and other formatting errors, it is not a time for revising.  Revising your work once we have formatted it can cause the book to become bogged down and slow down the production queue for other authors waiting their turn.  We are now limiting the proofing process to one proof.  You will have as much time as you need to proof your book, so be meticulous.  When you find an error, note the page, stanza or paragraph, and the change that needs to be made.
• Will I have an author page?  Yes, CSPH will provide you with a dedicated author page on our website as either a featured author or a fresh voice.  This page will include your author photo, brief bio, and a link to purchase your book(s).
• Can people pre-order copies?  Yes, once the book proof has been sent to you, the book will be made available for pre-order on the CSPH website.  We generally delay the wider distribution of the book for 2-4 weeks so that you as the author and CSPH can receive the initial orders.  Remember that the royalties on books sold through Amazon or Barnes and Noble can be as much as 80% less than what you make selling directly to your friends, fans, and family.  Online retailers are great for global distribution though, as shipping to other countries can be prohibitively expensive and difficult. 
• How are royalties paid?  CSPH pays royalties twice a year based on sales January 1- June 30 and July 1-December 31. Royalties are paid via PayPal or check. You will receive a royalty statement in August and February if any books are sold. IngramSpark holds royalties on books sold through online retailers for up to 90 days so royalties on those sales can be delayed to the following royalty period depending on when the books are sold.

If you have any questions that were not covered here, please reach out to Laura at operations@claresongbirdspub.com