Frequently Asked Questions

Spellwings is primarily a selective hybrid publisher. We review submissions, publish under our own imprint, and contract accepted books through a defined publishing model. In rare cases, we may also undertake direct press-funded acquisitions for select titles. 

Authors retain full copyright and receive the majority of royalties. 

Yes! We have a sample here. It includes the price range. Keep in mind this is provided for transparency only, and the exact details will vary per situation.

We have compiled this table of some of the key differences in practices between the three models. Click here.

Traditional publishers pay all costs and keep most profits. Vanity publishers charge authors inflated fees with little transparency or marketing support.

Spellwings operates between those extremes: we share costs fairly, maintain industry-standard production, and split royalties equitably (usually 70/30 or 60/40 on net receipts).

Every cost, contract, and royalty is fully transparent and IBPA/ALLi compliant. 

Authors contribute a cost-share fee to cover production expenses such as editing, cover design, setup, and some advertising. Our standard hybrid tier is CAD $750–$1,500, depending on manuscript length and complexity. 

The press’s initial investment of time, labor, and distribution management is roughly equivalent, ensuring both author and publisher are equally invested in the book’s success. 

The author's contribution is not a fee for publishing rights — it offsets real, documented costs. 

Royalties are paid quarterly and based on net receipts (the actual revenue received from distributors after retailer and print costs). For any questions about the terms below, see the sample contract.

• Standard Hybrid: 70% Author / 30% Press

• Selective Investment: 60% Author / 40% Press (after cost recoupment)

• Distribution Only: 80% Author / 20% Press

Authors receive detailed sales statements each quarter.

Yes. We work with authors internationally.

Royalties are paid in USD via Wise or direct deposit.

Currency conversion uses the Bank of Canada daily rate at payment time. 

Royalties are reported quarterly and paid within 45 days of the following quarter’s close (to allow time for KDP and IngramSpark to finalize reporting).

Example: Sales from January–March are paid by June 15. 

This is the same as trad publishing models. Retailers like IngramSpark don’t pay publishers immediately — they report and release royalties 60–90 days after the month of sale. This lag allows them to account for returns, currency conversions, and print-cost reconciliation.

To ensure accuracy, Spellwings Press aligns its payments with that reporting cycle. That means royalties for January–March sales are reported and paid by June, once all finalized data from distributors has been received. This schedule prevents errors and ensures authors are paid on verified, cleared sales rather than estimates.

Yes. Spellwings Press can facilitate audiobook distribution for our international authors who do not have native access to ACX. 

Because ACX currently requires a U.S., U.K., Canada, or Ireland–based account, many international authors can’t publish directly to Audible. To solve this, Spellwings Press can claim your audiobook under our publisher ACX account and handle the distribution on your behalf.

Here’s how it works:

• If you want to produce through ACX:
  We can initiate and manage the ACX title, coordinate with your chosen narrator(s), and oversee the upload process. Once published, royalties flow to us from ACX, and we forward your share to you. For more information, see the Spellwings Audio pages.
  
  

• If you already hired a narrator outside ACX:
  As long as you own the rights to the audio, you may submit the fully produced, final-ready audio files that meet ACX technical requirements. We do not offer audio editing, mastering, or production—files must be ACX-compliant and ready for upload.
  
  

• Royalties & Fees:
  ACX keeps its usual share depending on the distribution model you choose. From the remaining royalties you receive, Spellwings Press takes a 10% administration & distribution fee for managing the account, compliance, uploads, reporting, and ongoing royalty transfers.
  This keeps your cost low while still giving you full access to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.
  
  

Audiobooks are optional, but for many authors they’re a powerful expansion into a high-growth market, especially when geography might otherwise prevent access. If you’re an international author who needs Audible distribution, we’ve built a streamlined, fair system to help you get there.

Yes — always.

Spellwings holds a temporary publishing license for the term of the contract (usually 3 years, renewable).

All rights revert automatically to the author if the book goes out of print or upon contract expiration. We can also insert a 60-day notice escape clause so that you can cancel your contract with us with 60 days notice.

We specialize in:

• Epic and high fantasy

• Fantasy sub-genres

• Dark romance, Paranormal, and Romantasy

• Science-fantasy crossovers

• Sci-fi

• Speculative fiction with strong worldbuilding

• Historical Fiction
  
  

We currently accept only select submissions that fit our brand vision and catalog tone. However, we may consider other books on a case-by-case basis with a conversation about the author's vision and goals.

Included in every publishing package:

• Professional editing and proofreading

• Custom cover and interior design

• ISBN registration and global distribution (IngramSpark + KDP)

• Basic marketing kit (cover graphics, blurbs, retailer links)

• Audiobook coordination assistance (note: see FAQ)

• Quarterly reporting and royalty payments

• Ability to ask us questions at any time, not just during the publishing phase (we don't gatekeep)

Optional add-ons:

• Sensitivity / Trigger Read by a certified sexual health specialist

• ARC & Reviewer Distribution

• Ad Campaign Management

For Spellwings books, yes. We coordinate metadata optimization, social media promotion, and optional launch campaigns. We will also promote the authors from our own socials accounts and website.

Authors are encouraged to maintain their own social media presence; we provide templates and guidance to help them succeed. 

Note: Spellwings is a publisher, not a stand-alone publicity service. We do not take already-published titles simply to provide marketing. 

• No. Spellwings is a publisher, not a stand-alone publicity service. We do not take already-published titles simply to provide marketing. 

1. Review our How It Works page and sample contract.
   
   

2. Submit a query, synopsis, and first three chapters to editor@spellwingspress.com
   
   

3. If your manuscript fits our catalog, we’ll request the full manuscript for editorial evaluation.
   
   

4. Accepted authors receive a contract outlining costs, royalties, and production timelines.

Typical production timelines:

• Editing & formatting: 8–12 weeks

• Cover design: 3–4 weeks

• Proofing & uploads: 2 weeks

• Total turnaround: 3–5 months from contract to release, depending on complexity and number of revisions.

This time is best used to promote the book.

Yes. We’re collaborative.

Authors may bring their own freelancers, provided final files meet industry formatting standards and are professional in appearance.

Your royalties and terms remain unchanged. 

Generally, no. Our focus is on books we are publishing under the Spellwings imprint, not books already released through another route. 

It is important to note that even if a backlist title were selected in a rare circumstance, it requires a new ISBN. Reviews on the old version will not be carried over to Amazon, Goodreads for the new edition.

We are genre-specific and creator-led, founded by an award-ranked and bestselling indie author who understands both sides of the publishing journey. Spellwings maintains a small, curated list to ensure every title receives individual attention and sustained marketing support. We have an extra hands-on and supportive environment including the ability to post snippets in our Discord for feedback while you work on your draft, joint promotional opportunities with other Spellwings authors, participation in anthologies, and we host midnight book release parties.

We are a press built by authors, for authors. 

Because we care about reputation — yours and ours. Spellwings Press only accepts manuscripts that meet a high editorial and storytelling standard.
We don’t publish everything that crosses our desk, and that’s intentional: our business model depends on quality books that readers genuinely want to buy.

Unlike vanity presses that profit from author fees regardless of results, we only earn when your book sells. That means we’re directly invested in your success. Each title under the Spellwings imprint reflects on the entire catalog, so we choose our projects carefully, curate a small list, and give every book the attention and marketing support it deserves.

Our selectivity isn’t gatekeeping — it’s partnership. When we take on a book, it’s because we believe in its potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with traditionally published fantasy and romance titles on the shelf.

All books are registered under Spellwings Press for professional distribution (KDP + IngramSpark). The author remains the copyright holder.

This ensures unified metadata, bookstore compatibility, and consistent branding. 

Of course.

Email editor@spellwingspress.com Alternatively, you can catch us on TikTok lives when we will be doing AMAs (Ask Me Anything).

Yes. Spellwings Press follows a model based on the IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria and ALLi Ethical Publishing Standards:

• Full transparency of costs and royalties

• Clear rights reversion

• Professional production standards

• Author ownership and choice

• No mandatory marketing upsells