We offer four distinct levels of editing, and most manuscripts need at least two of them. A developmental edit looks at structure, pacing and character arcs (for fiction) or argument flow and chapter organisation (for non-fiction). This is the big-picture pass. It usually takes 10 to 14 business days for a manuscript under 80 000 words.
Line editing comes next. Here we tighten sentences, fix awkward transitions and smooth the rhythm of your prose paragraph by paragraph. Copy editing follows, catching grammar, spelling, punctuation and consistency errors (did your character's eyes change colour between chapters three and nine?). The final proofread is a cold read of the typeset pages, not the Word file, to catch anything introduced during layout.
Your cover sells the book before anyone reads a word. We design front, spine and back cover as a single wrap, ready for print. The process starts with a creative brief where we discuss genre conventions, comparable titles you admire, and any imagery you have in mind.
You receive two initial concepts as low-resolution mockups within five business days. After you choose a direction, we refine it through up to three rounds of revisions. The final deliverable is a CMYK PDF at 300 dpi with bleed, trim marks and barcode placement, plus an RGB version sized for Amazon, Kobo and IngramSpark thumbnails.
If you need original illustration (rather than stock photography or typographic covers), we quote that separately based on complexity. A simple silhouette or pattern-based illustration typically adds $150 to $300 to the base cover price.
We set your text in Adobe InDesign. For a standard prose book (novel, memoir, essay collection), we choose a readable serif typeface, set appropriate margins for your trim size, add running headers and page numbers, and style chapter openings with drop caps or small ornamental breaks depending on your preference.
Non-fiction with tables, footnotes, sidebars or images takes longer because each element needs careful placement. Cookbooks, textbooks and poetry collections each have their own layout challenges, and we price those individually after reviewing the manuscript.
Once layout is complete, we generate a print-ready PDF and send you a digital proof. We also hand over the packaged InDesign files so you own the source and can make future changes with any designer.
We print on a Konica AccurioPress C14000, a production-grade digital press that handles runs from 25 to 2 000 copies without the plate costs of offset. Colour accuracy is calibrated weekly using a spectrophotometer, so your cover colours match the proof every time.
Standard paper stock is 60 lb uncoated cream for fiction interiors and 80 lb white for non-fiction or illustrated books. We can source specialty stocks (recycled, high-bright, laid texture) with about a week of lead time.
Binding options include perfect binding (the standard paperback glue spine), saddle stitch (stapled booklets up to about 80 pages) and coil binding for workbooks or cookbooks that need to lie flat. Hardcover casing is outsourced to a partner bindery in Montreal; turnaround for casebound books is roughly three weeks after we deliver the printed sheets.
Most clients come to us with a finished or near-finished manuscript and leave with printed copies in hand. Here is the usual sequence, though we can start at any step if you have already completed earlier stages elsewhere.
Send us your file by email or bring it on a USB stick. Within 48 hours we read a sample (usually the first three chapters), assess the editing level needed, and reply with a written quote covering every service you requested.
After you approve the quote and pay the 40% deposit, editing begins. You receive your manuscript back with tracked changes and margin comments. Accept or reject each suggestion, then return the file for the next editing pass.
While final edits settle, our designer starts on the cover concepts and interior layout. Cover and interior design often run in parallel, saving about a week compared to doing them sequentially.
We print a single proof copy and mail or hand-deliver it to you. Check every page. Mark corrections on the proof or in a shared PDF. We make the fixes and generate final print files.
Once you sign off on the proof, we schedule your job on the press. A 200-page, 100-copy run typically prints and binds in five to seven business days. We notify you when copies are boxed and ready for pickup or shipping.
These bundles give you a discount over purchasing each service individually. All prices below assume a prose manuscript of up to 80 000 words and a print run of 100 copies. Longer manuscripts, illustrated interiors or larger runs are quoted separately.
| Feature | Edit only | Design bundle | Full package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy edit and proofread | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Developmental or line edit | — | — | ✓ |
| Interior layout (print PDF) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cover design (print + ebook) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| EPUB conversion | — | — | ✓ |
| 100-copy print run | — | — | ✓ |
| Proof copy | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Typical timeline | 2–3 weeks | 4–5 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
| Starting price | $1 400 | $2 600 | $4 200 |
We convert your typeset interior into a reflowable EPUB 3 file compatible with Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play and Amazon (via KDP upload). The conversion preserves your chapter structure, table of contents and any inline images. Turnaround is three to four business days after the print interior is finalised. Pricing starts at $250 for a standard prose book.
Canadian authors can obtain free ISBNs through Library and Archives Canada, but the application process can be confusing. We walk you through it, fill in the metadata fields correctly, and make sure the barcode on your back cover matches the assigned number. This service is included at no extra charge with any cover design order.
Sold out at a reading? We keep your print files on our server for 12 months after delivery. Reorders skip the prepress stage entirely, so turnaround drops to three or four business days and the per-copy cost is the same as your original run. Just call or email with the quantity you need.