Book and Publishing News! S&S Create Self Publishing Program

Simon & Schuster Create Self Publishing Unit Archway Publishing

Simon & Schuster has jumped on the self-publishing bandwagon by introducing a new self-publishing program called Archway Publishing. Teaming up with Author Solutions, Inc, who owns vanity publishing outfits like Xlibris, Trafford, AuthorHouse, iUniverse and more, Archway Publishing is following their lead with high fees and, more importantly, a high cut of author royalties.

Archway aims to lure authors by providing “exclusives” like book trailers and assistance in lining up speaking engagements in addition to editing, design, and promotion. Fees vary according to genre but begin around $2,000 for fiction and nonfiction work, $3,000 for business books, and $1,600 for children’s books.

“Self-publishing has become a viable and popular route to publication for many authors, and increasingly a source of content for traditional publishers, including Simon & Schuster,” said S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy.

While true, it is the self-publishing part that makes this route viable — the ability to inexpensively create and publish content to be available on the world market. Archway’s pricing schemes take away this viability by charging authors an excessive amount of money to do what individual freelancers can do far less expensively.

Arguably many may believe that the convenience of having a book edited, designed, and promoted by a single party is worth the price tag. However, one look at Archway’s cut of author royalties is sure to send most authors running: with Archway taking a 70% cut, how are authors ever supposed to make their money back?

As has been the case for sometime, it is supremely beneficial for authors looking to self-publish to do most of the legwork in order to retain profits and control. Freelance editing is wide ranging and a solid editing job will cost an author far less than $1000 in most cases. Promotion and marketing coaching will tailor your marketing effects to ensure you get the most bang for your buck instead of generic promotion that these types of publishers almost guarantee.