Welcome to the Foreshore Publishing Author Support Centre.
Publishing a book is an exciting journey and naturally raises lots of questions along the way. This resource has been created to answer the questions we are most frequently asked and to help authors better understand the publishing process.
If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, please contact our Author Support team at:
authorsupport@foreshorepublishing.com
We are always happy to help.
Once your publishing agreement has been signed, your book enters the Foreshore Publishing production process.
Every project follows a structured publishing journey, although the exact timescales and stages may vary depending on the individual requirements of the book.
Typically, the next steps include:
Throughout the process, you will receive updates on the progress of your project and information about key milestones.
Publishing a book involves a number of specialist stages and can take several months to complete. Our aim is always to ensure that each book is given the time and attention required to achieve the highest possible standard.
We understand that publishing a book is an exciting process and that authors naturally want to know how their project is progressing.
Throughout the publishing journey, Foreshore Publishing provides updates at key stages of production and when important milestones are reached. Authors will also receive regular progress updates to help keep them informed about the status of their project.
Publishing involves a number of specialist processes that often take place behind the scenes, and there may be periods where there is little visible activity while editorial, design or production work is being completed. This does not mean that your project has been forgotten.
If you have questions about your project, our Author Support team will be happy to assist.
Publishing is a collaborative process involving editing, cover design, typesetting, proofreading, production and distribution. Occasionally, publication dates need to be adjusted to ensure every stage is completed to the highest possible standard.
This may happen because of additional editorial work, author revisions, production scheduling, design changes or distribution requirements.
While changes can be disappointing, our priority is always to publish your book in the best possible condition.
Publishing schedules are not always strictly chronological. As a small independent publisher, we occasionally need to adjust the order of publication to respond to opportunities or practical considerations that arise during the publishing process.
For example, a book may be linked to a seasonal event, a festival, an important anniversary, or an opportunity that would be lost if publication were delayed. Equally, some books simply move through editing and production more quickly than others.
This does not mean those books are considered more important than yours. Every title on our list has been chosen because we believe in it. Our responsibility is to balance the needs of individual books with the needs of the publishing programme as a whole.
We appreciate that waiting can be frustrating, particularly when you see new titles being announced. If your publication schedule changes, it is never because we have lost interest in your book. More often, it reflects our commitment to publishing every title at the right time and to the highest possible standard.
Unlike large corporate publishers, independent presses have the flexibility to respond to opportunities as they arise. While this occasionally means adjusting publication schedules, it also allows us to make decisions that give individual books the best possible chance of success.
A fair question—and one we’re asked regularly.
The simple answer is that belief in a manuscript and the ability to fund every project entirely through a traditional publishing contract are two different things.
As an independent publisher, we can only acquire a limited number of books traditionally each year through Foreshore Books. Every season we encounter manuscripts we genuinely believe deserve publication but which fall outside the capacity of our traditional list.
Rather than reject those books outright, we may recommend Hybrid Plus—our editorial partnership model.
This allows us to publish more exceptional books while maintaining the same professional editorial standards, design, production and distribution that every Foreshore title receives.
Hybrid Plus is never offered as a substitute for editorial judgement. Every manuscript is first assessed on its literary merit. If we don’t believe in the work, we won’t offer publication under any model.
Because we are a publisher, not a publishing services company. Every manuscript is acquired through our editorial process, regardless of the publishing route.
Most submissions are declined because they are not the right fit for our publishing programme. This does not necessarily mean the writing is poor. A manuscript may fall outside the genres we publish, require more development than we are able to undertake, duplicate books already on our list, or simply not align with our editorial vision.
We only make offers on manuscripts we genuinely believe we can publish successfully. Whether the offer is traditional or Hybrid Plus, our decision is based on the same principle: we must believe in the book and be prepared to stand behind it as a publisher.
Publishing is not simply about producing books. It is about building a carefully curated list of books we believe deserve to find readers.
Yes. Our ambition is to build long-term publishing careers. Many authors begin their relationship with us through Hybrid Plus before progressing to traditional publishing when the right opportunity arises.
Every manuscript is assessed on its literary merit, commercial potential, the author’s publishing goals and the resources required to give the book the greatest opportunity to succeed. We recommend the publishing partnership we believe best serves both the book and the author.
It is a sensible question, and one we encourage authors to ask.
The publishing industry uses many different terms, and unfortunately there are companies that will publish almost any manuscript as long as the author pays. That is not our model.
Foreshore Publishing is an independent publisher. Every manuscript is assessed through our editorial acquisition process, and most submissions are declined. We only make publishing offers on books we genuinely believe deserve publication and that we are prepared to publish under the Foreshore name.
Hybrid Plus is an editorial partnership. We share both the investment and the ambition. We invest our time, expertise and publishing infrastructure, while the author contributes towards the cost of bringing the book to market.
We have every incentive to produce the strongest possible book because our reputation is attached to every title we publish.
If we do not believe a manuscript is right for our list, we do not offer Hybrid Plus. We simply decline it.
The question we ask ourselves is not, “Will the author pay?” It is, “Would we be proud to publish this book?”
Publication marks the beginning of your book’s journey into the marketplace.
Following publication, Foreshore Publishing continues to support authors by maintaining distribution, providing guidance, offering marketing resources and assisting with author enquiries.
However, no publisher can guarantee sales, reviews, media coverage or commercial success.
Long-term success is usually achieved through a combination of publisher support, author engagement and reader recommendation.
We encourage every author to remain actively involved in promoting their book and building their readership over time.
Book launches are not appropriate for every title and are only one of many promotional opportunities available.
Whether a launch is organised depends on factors such as the type of book, target audience, venue opportunities, marketing objectives and the author’s own promotional plans.
Many successful books are published without a formal launch event and instead benefit from signings, talks, festivals, local media or community events.
Every book is different and promotional activity is tailored accordingly.
Although your book is available through established distribution channels and can usually be ordered by bookshops, no publisher can guarantee that every bookshop will stock every title.
Bookshops have limited shelf space and select titles based on customer demand, local interest and commercial considerations.
Authors can often increase visibility by working with local bookshops, organising events and building awareness within their own communities.
Book sales vary considerably and are influenced by many factors including genre, market conditions, reader awareness, reviews, media coverage and ongoing promotion.
Publication is the beginning of a book’s journey, not the end.
Foreshore Publishing Services provides professional publishing support, distribution and promotional guidance, but no publisher can guarantee sales or commercial success.
The most successful publishing outcomes are often achieved when publisher and author work together to build awareness over time.
There is no reliable way to predict how many copies a book will sell.
Some books find a small but loyal readership while others gradually build momentum over months or even years.
Success means different things to different authors. For some, it means commercial sales. For others, it means reaching readers, building a profile or opening the door to future publishing opportunities.
Every publishing journey is unique.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact:
authorsupport@foreshorepublishing.com
Our team will be pleased to assist you.
