So you’ve written your book. First of all: kudos. They say everyone’s got a book in them, but not everyone has the work ethic to get that book onto the page. But what about the next step, getting it from the page and into print? It’s often the case that prospective authors find this stage as daunting as the writing process itself.

Of course, there is a well trodden path that authors can take: finding yourself an agent and letting them pitch your work to publishers. But of the literally thousands of literary agents out there, which is the best fit for you? And how can you guarantee that the publishers they approach are the right ones for your work? Authors are a dime a dozen to agents and publishers; there’s no guarantee that they will share your vision for your book, let alone give it the attention and care that it deserves. Perhaps they love it, but the next gap in their publishing schedule is in two years time; or perhaps instead of X, the main character did Y and Z instead? Oh, you don’t agree? Well, that’s a shame…

So that’s it. You’ve slaved over your manuscript, crafted it into something you’re proud of, and now you have to hand it over to a group of people you’ve met perhaps once or twice, to do with what they will, to release when it suits them, over which to exercise executive control in regards to the final text, cover art, illustrations, marketing, etc. etc.

Remember when I said, ‘So you’ve written your book’? Well, it’s not your book anymore…

Of course, many authors who pursue traditional publishing routes have positive experiences; but all of them, regardless of how happy they are with the final product, have to relinquish direct control of their work in the very early stages of the publishing process. It is this control that self-publishing seeks to return to the author. Authors who self-publish have the final say over every single aspect of their book: the text, the art, the design, even the blurb.

Of course, it is also the job of a self-publishers to advise you in your decisions. Here at Jelly Bean, our experienced industry professionals offer their guidance every step of the publishing process, from initial editing through to marketing. But that’s the key word: guidance. While guaranteeing that your book is professionally viable,  we will never forget that it is very personal to you. We will ensure your book reads how you want it to; that it looks just as you imagined it; that it is ready to be sold in the kind of environments you envisaged; that it will appeal to the people that you want it to buy it — all through a process tailored from the get go to your specific requirements, and costed accordingly.

Simply put, Jelly Bean Self-Publishing puts you, the author, first.