Services for Self-publishers
The needs of each book project are unique. Some authors need help with formatting a finished manuscript correctly, and choosing from a bewildering array of pre-press options. Others may want help earlier on, at the revision or proofing stage. Leap Year Press offers the following services, tailored to the nature of each author on a project to project basis:
Editorial Services
Basic editorial — once through “proof read” of a manuscript, with a focus on structure, grammar and consistency
Extended editorial — a deeper analysis of a manuscript, with carefully placed editorial suggestions, multiple levels of revisions and version control and management of electronic files (PDF)
Index generation
Format conversions for iPad, Kindle and other mobile devices
Layout and Design Services
Book design — transform your word processing file into a professionally formatted, beautiful looking, fully press-ready electronic file suitable for Amazon.com’s CreateSpace or similar print-on-demand service
Cover design — design of your book’s cover (front and back), using your art or other suitable material, professionally prepared to look its absolute best when printed to paper
Image services — high resolution scans, retouching, and color correction of images intended for print
Promotional materials, such as postcards and press kits
Websites and blogs for books and authors
Project Management
Particularly useful for books with multiple authors, project management services can free editors and writers to accomplish other things while continued progress is made toward project completion. Project Management can include:
Time line creation with deadline management
Scheduled reviews
Version control/revision tracking
Fee Structure
Budgetary restraints are a concern for everyone in the current market. While modern on-demand publishing has dramatically reduced the initial costs of self-publishing, there are still many factors to consider when planning a budget for a book project. Rather than provide a rigid schedule of fees for services, Leap Year Press uses a flexible bid-and-contract system. To initiate this, simply send us an e-mail describing your book—its content and where it lies along the road to completion. Tell us the kind of help you’re interested in and a rough dollar amount of what you are hoping to spend. We’ll reply shortly (often within a day), letting you know what options meet your budget. If you wish, attach a sample portion of your text to the e-mail, and we can return it as a formatted sample in Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) at no additional charge.
