Books & Smith Publishing
Professional Publishing Begins with Editorial Evaluation
At Books&Smith, we review each manuscript before recommending a publishing path. This allows us to match your book with the right level of editorial, design, and production support.
How Our Process Works
We do not ask authors to choose a package before their work has been reviewed. We begin with a professional editorial evaluation.
1
You submit your manuscript
Complete our submission form and upload your manuscript or a representative sample. We ask for genre, length, language, publishing goals, and timeline.
2
We evaluate the project
Our review considers manuscript readiness, editorial needs, genre fit, project scope, and publishing goals. Not all manuscripts are accepted.
3
We recommend the right path
After evaluation we recommend APP, the Professional Publishing Package, or further revision. This ensures authors receive the support their manuscript actually needs.
Our Publishing Paths
Choose the publishing path your book deserves. We do not believe in one-size-fits-all publishing — our options are carefully structured to meet authors where they are.
PACKAGE 1 — FLAGSHIP
Professional Publishing
Full-service hybrid publishing for committed authors
For authors seeking a professionally managed publishing process, including editorial oversight, design, distribution, and print production. This is the authority package.
Price Range
🇺🇸 $1,800 – $3,500 🇩🇴 $900 – $1,500
What's Included
- Editorial (Full Scope) — Full proofreading & copyediting, structural feedback, clarity & tone refinement, final editorial pass.
- Premium Cover Design — 3–4 custom concepts, multiple revision rounds, market-aligned design, full print & digital assets.
- Interior Formatting (Advanced) — Professional layout, enhanced typography, section styling, print-ready files.
- Publishing & Distribution — Amazon KDP setup, IngramSpark (upon discussion, extra fees apply), ISBN strategy, metadata optimization.
- Printing — 🇺🇸 Print-on-demand setup + 30 copies included | 🇩🇴 50 copies included, managed local printing, quality control by Regional Manager, delivery coordination.
- Basic Launch Support — Launch strategy, blurb refinement, Amazon-ready sales description, author positioning via localized social media.
- Project Management — Fully guided, timeline management, one point of contact.
Not included: Paid advertising • Guaranteed sales • Ongoing marketing • Unlimited rewrites.
PACKAGE 2 — APP
Assisted Publishing Program
Guided publishing for prepared manuscripts
For authors whose manuscripts are ready or near-ready, and who want professional support without full delegation.
Price Range
🇺🇸 $600 – $900 🇩🇴 $450 – $700
What's Included
- Editorial (Light) — Light proofreading (grammar, punctuation, clarity), minor corrections only (no rewriting), clean manuscript preparation.
- Cover Design — 2 professional concepts, 1 revision round, final print & digital files.
- Interior Formatting — Professional layout, clean typography and spacing, ready-to-publish files.
- Publishing Setup — 🇺🇸 Amazon KDP setup, author-controlled account, metadata + categories | 🇩🇴 Same + local print coordination.
- Printing (DR Only) — 50–100 copies, standard trim (5×8 or 6×9), matte/gloss cover, local printer coordination handled.
- Author Guidance — Step-by-step explanation, basic launch guidance, do’s and don’ts.
Not included: Developmental editing • Heavy rewriting • Marketing services • Distribution beyond Amazon • Unlimited revisions.
Add-On Service
Manuscript Assessment
Professional Editorial Evaluation for Works in Progress
A focused editorial review designed to help authors understand what their manuscript needs before publishing.
This is not editing. This is direction.
Pricing
🇺🇸 U.S. Standard
Up to 30,000 words → $100
30,000 – 70,000 words → $175
70,000+ words → $250 – $300
🇩🇴 Dominican Market
Up to 30,000 words → $50
30,000 – 70,000 words → $125
70,000+ words → $175 – $200
Optional Add-on: Inline manuscript comments → +$50 – $100
Turnaround: 5–7 business days | Rush (3 days) → +$50
What the Author Receives
A 2–4 page structured written report covering:
- A. Overall Assessment — General evaluation, strengths and current limitations, readiness level for publishing.
- B. Structure & Organization — Flow of ideas or narrative, chapter/section coherence, pacing (fiction), logical progression (nonfiction).
- C. Language & Clarity — Sentence clarity, tone consistency, readability, repetition or confusion points.
- D. Market & Positioning — Who the book is for, alignment with reader expectations, potential positioning strengths.
- E. Readiness for Publishing — Clear classification: ✅ Ready for APP | ✅ Suitable for Professional Publishing | ⚠ Requires revision before publishing.
- F. Actionable Recommendations — What to fix first, what to ignore for now, suggested next steps, priority order.
Why We Begin with Evaluation
Many first-time authors are encouraged to choose a publishing package before anyone has reviewed their manuscript. We do not work that way.
A manuscript’s level of completion, quality, complexity, genre, and publishing goals all affect the kind of support it should receive.
Beginning with evaluation protects the author, the manuscript, and the publishing process. It also allows us to recommend services honestly and responsibly.
Who We Work With
We work with authors who value professionalism, editorial clarity, realistic expectations, and thoughtful publishing decisions. We serve a range of projects including:
- Poetry
- Fiction & Short Stories
- Memoir / Autobiography
- Nonfiction & Self-Help
- Bilingual works
We work with authors in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I choose a package before submitting?
No. Publishing recommendations are made only after editorial evaluation.
Do I need to submit the full manuscript?
You may submit the full manuscript or a representative sample (minimum 15 pages), but more complete submissions allow for more accurate evaluation.
How long does the review take?
Most submissions are reviewed within 5–7 business days.
Does submitting guarantee acceptance?
No. Submission does not guarantee acceptance. Not all projects are a fit for our publishing model.
What if my manuscript is not ready?
If we believe the manuscript requires further revision before publishing, we will let you know. You are welcome to resubmit once revisions are complete.
Do you work with authors in the Dominican Republic?
Yes. We are actively expanding our publishing operations in the Dominican Republic and work with authors in both the U.S. and DR markets.
A Better Way to Begin
Publishing should not begin with guesswork. It should begin with a clear understanding of the manuscript, the author’s goals, and the support the project truly requires. If you are ready to take the next step, begin here.