"I sent them a 320-page memoir in rough shape. Six weeks later I had 150 perfect-bound copies in my garage. The editing tightened the prose without losing my voice, and the cover still gets compliments at readings."
— Hélène Tremblay, GatineauYour book deserves the right hands
We help authors, small publishers and organisations in Gatineau and across Quebec turn manuscripts into finished books. From developmental editing to short-run printing, every step happens under one roof at our Arden Trace workshop.
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What we do for your book
Most authors juggle three or four freelancers to get a manuscript printed. We keep the whole chain in-house so you deal with one team, one timeline and one invoice. Here is a quick look at what that chain includes.
Editing and proofreading
Developmental edits, line edits, copy edits and a final proofread. We work in English and French, and we return tracked changes so you keep full control of your voice.
Layout and typesetting
We set your interior in InDesign, choosing typefaces, margins and running heads that match your genre. You receive print-ready PDF files and the working source files.
Cover design
Front, spine and back cover designed to your specifications. We supply files for both print wraps and ebook thumbnails, including ISBN barcode placement.
Printing and binding
Short runs from 25 to 2 000 copies, perfect bound or saddle stitched. We print on our Konica AccurioPress, so turnaround on a 200-page paperback is about seven business days.
Why authors choose us
We opened in 2016 as a two-person copy-editing outfit on Boulevard Gréber. The printing press came a year later, and the bindery the year after that. Today four full-time staff handle roughly 140 book projects a year, most of them for self-publishing authors in the Outaouais region.
Because editing, design and printing happen in the same building, we catch problems early. A cover designer who sits ten feet from the press operator knows exactly how colours will shift on uncoated stock. An editor who can walk downstairs and hold a proof copy spots margin issues that a screen review would miss.
We price by the project, not by the hour. After an initial manuscript review (free, usually done within 48 hours), you receive a fixed quote that covers every deliverable we agreed on. No surprise invoices at the end.
What our clients say
"Pricing was clear from day one. They quoted $2,400 for layout, cover and a run of 75 copies, and that is exactly what I paid. The only extra cost was the second proof I asked for myself."
— David Faulkner, Ottawa"Our non-profit needed 500 bilingual activity booklets for a literacy program. Book Compact handled the French-English layout, printed on recycled stock, and delivered two days early."
— Maude Larose, Chelsea QCReady to start your book project?
Send us your manuscript or even just an idea. We will review it for free and reply within two business days with a detailed quote and timeline.
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