Author's Korner

Do you have what it takes?

AKW books is looking for authors who have real talent.

Deadlines*

Halloween: 9/30/08
Thanksgiving: 10/23/08
Christmas: 10/30/08
New Years: 11/30/08

Not all talented authors get published.

  There are several reasons for this:

1. Your subject matter doesn't fit the publisher's "list".
2. Let's face it, you might not be quite good enough compared to the competition.
3. The publisher's list is full for the year.
4. The editor who read your submission doesn't like your subject matter or style (in which case, go out and find one who does).
5. The publisher requires an agent and you don't have one, or at least you don't have one that they trust.
6. Your subject is not one they care to take a risk on.  It's not "comfortable" for the editors because it's groundbreaking or odd. Publication costs are high.
7. One of a dozen other reasons which have nothing to do with the worthiness of your manuscript.

Of course, there is the possibility that you're a lousy writer, in spite of what your mother says.  If that's the case, join a writing workshop and let them whip you into shape.  In fact, if you're a good writer, you should still join a workshop to get even better (and to help others improve).

If you're really a good writer, by all means, keep trying, and please consider AKW books for your project.

We contract exclusive electronic rights for a relatively short period of time, then revert to a non-exclusive relationship.  You still own the other rights including traditional paper-based rights.

Writing tips and advice.

Who are We?

AKW Books, an imprint of Kalar/Wade Media, is an electronic publisher of novels and pamphlets written by truly talented storytellers and non-fiction works by equally talented experts in various fields.

Not a vanity press.

You do not pay us anything to get published. We pay you in royalties on sales.

One of our founders, after six years in the publishing industry, felt that there is a lack of respect for talented authors who are not well known or who don't fit the mold of the current 'popular' authors.  We hope to change that situation to make their efforts available to all.

AKW Books has the same high standards of the mainstream presses, but with a twist.

We hope you agree and will consider placing your work with us.

No Porn or Erotica please

Our Basic Requirements

Get right into it: step through the Publishing Requirements for the complete story

We're a small outfit and we can't afford a big staff of editors and artists.  So, we decided to push some of the work back onto the author, but compensate by offering much higher royalties (big houses only pay "newbies" around 7 1/2% and up to a max of 15% for proven authors).

1. (optional) You should get the endorsement of someone or a group (not your relatives) who:
   • Has a reputation to risk
   • Is willing to risk it on your book.

   This could be your writing workshop, a professional writing coach, or someone else who can impress us that they know good writing when they see it.

   - OR -

Have published previous work in the same genre or field by a legitimate press (not vanity or POD).

2. If you are writing a non-fiction work, it would help if you have "credentials" to back up your subject matter.
3. Come with your artwork (cover art, internal illustrations) "in hand".  See Publishing Requirements .  We don't maintain an art department. If you need help here, ask.

In return, you'll receive royalties of 50% on net sales (after discounts).  You set the price of your book (we'll offer advice, but the final decision is up to you).

We'll convert your manuscript to the various reader formats and include it in our catalog.

For a complete explanation of our process, click here.