Our Service Offerings
Want to self-publish, but can’t seem to see it through? We offer bespoke services to help you along on your self-publishing journey, whatever stage you are in.
Important note on custom publishing! Your custom-published book does not bear the name of Starboard Press. It is your project entirely and you will be in control of it. Our role is assistive as we work to ensure that the final print publication meets your requirements. We do reserve the right to refuse any project we find unsuitable.
To get a quote, email us at contact@starboard.press.
Editing
We offer one or more of developmental, substantive, and line editing services. Every attempt is made to preserve the author’s voice.
Typesetting
This is where your manuscript starts to look like a book. Adobe Indesign is our preferred tool of choice for all typesetting and page layout.
Proofreading
Once typesetting is done, we collaborate closely with you to proof the book. This is a critical phase of the publication process because it precedes printing.
Cover Design
We can provide concept art by way of AI services to help you finalize your cover art. This stage also requires care to match the cover page with the dimensions of your book.
Custom Publishing
This includes all of the aforementioned services plus the acquisition of an ISBN to give your book a unique identifier across marketplaces. We will help procure your ISBN, configure it, generate a bar code for it and incorporate it into your cover art.
Our Team
Maryam Chida
Editor
Zaynab Chida
Creative, Copy Editor
Javeed Chida
Typesetter, Assistant Editor
If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, just send us an e-mail: contact@starboard.press
FAQs
I wrote my memoir and want to get it published. How do I begin?
There are two options you can choose from.
- E-mail us a proposal that includes a paragraph or two about why you felt compelled to write a memoir. Also include a biographical note on you or the author you represent, and the current version of the manuscript in Word of PDF format. We will add that to our queue. If we like what we see, we will take on your project and let you know. If we decide to pass, we will offer our custom publishing option to you, the second option below.
- Self-publish, but with our assistance. We call it custom publishing. Request one or more services from this page. The difference will be that Starboard Press will not appear on your copyright page. You will be in full control of the entire process, but we will be there to help you each step of the way. You only pay for the services you use.
What is your process?
If we like a query or proposal, we will move forward as follows.
- Once your work appears at the front of our queue of submissions, we read it as a team. This is likely the most critical step for us because it lets us determine if we can be fully invested in your book.
- If we like what we see (meaning, we are excited by your submission) we inform you by email and set up a first touchpoint meeting. If we don’t want to publish you, we let you know that as well.
- If the touchpoint goes well, then we will draw up a contract to take you on as a client. If we get to this point, we are saying “we want to publish your book.”
- We assess the work that needs to happen before we can get to a final proof. This includes the various stages of editing, followed by typesetting, proofreading, cover design and ISBN procurement and incorporation. There are a few minutiae that will also be addressed in these stages.
- We come up with an internal estimate for the work.
- We determine your target readership and perform some initial surveys to asses the demand for your book. We update the estimate with our findings.
- We arrange for funds and begin the work. We closely with you to ensure that you are good with any edits occurring to your work.
- Once done, we send you hard copy author proofs. If there are concerns, we address them here and produce another round of author proofs. We repeat this step until the hard copies have your approval and ours.
- Print!
- Market!
I know what I want and I have it all written up. Can you help me get it done?
Yes. That is what our custom publishing option offers.
If you decide to publish my book, how much will it cost me?
It would and should cost you nothing.
How much will custom publishing cost?
The final cost of custom publishing really depends on wihch services you use and to what extent. We would have to undertand your goals better and give you an estimate.
I sent in my book proposal. Why have I not heard back yet?
Making the decision to publish an author is a serious decision. Please give us some time to get back to you. It may be as quick as a few days, but can often take four to six weeks (or more) depending on how full our queue is. Twice a year, we expect to find ourselves in the middle of finalizing an issue of FLJ, our literary journal. But we will always get back to you. Thank you for your patience.
Are you ready to get started with a custom publishing request? E-mail contact@starboard.press and we will get back to you as soon as we can.