SERVICES
Rather than provide an advance, the press invests in the production of the finished work in exchange for permanent digital distribution of the completed work to AADL cardholders via the library's website. The press provides the following services for every manuscript we accept and publish.
BOOK BASICS
We provide and register three ISBNs and a photoshoot for author headshots. We will solicit for book cover blurbs, and submit titles for reviews and awards where applicable.
EDITING
All of our books receive a full developmental edit, copyediting, and proofreading. A diverse team of freelance editors works with the press to help our authors reach their full writing potential.
GRAPHIC DESIGN, LAYOUT, and ILLUSTRATIONS
The team assesses the graphical needs of each manuscript and works with the author to determine what visual considerations are required. Our team of graphic designers handle formatting, layout, typeface, and format conversion. We work with freelancers when necessary to provide illustrations, cover art, photography, maps, indexing and more. We provide the files formatted for print, ebook and POD publishing. All production costs are paid by the press. The author is responsible for paying for printing costs.
Our authors will get the rare opportunity to have some input in the cover design.
BOOK PROMOTION & MARKETING GUIDANCE
As a taxpayer-funded institution, the press is unable to pay to market the books our authors publish. Our authors will have access to time with a local book publicist who offers advice and guidance on how to market their book. Due to all of the change and disruption in publishing, the traditional, NYC based publishing world does not pay for marketing the way it used to, and even best-selling authors frequently use their own social media platforms to greater success than their publishing house does.
We provide a Book Launch Celebration for the author when the book is published. Beginning in 2023 there will be one event held annually at the A2 Community Bookfest on Sunday, September 10 at the Downtown Library. Join us at 1:00 P.M. to celebrate the NINE new titles released in 2023! The event is widely promoted online, via social media, in print brochures and ads, and on posters around town.
Our authors retain their copyright and 100% of the profits from their work. The library is not involved in distribution beyond purchasing 11 printed hard copies from the author to be added to the library's collection. Decisions about distribution and the platform(s) used will remain with the author, with advice and guidance from the press.
GENERAL TIMELINE & PROCESS IF ACCEPTED
When you submit your manuscript to the press, you will receive an automatic email reply indicating receipt of your submission. The team meets monthly, and you will receive a "yes," "no," or "we’re investigating" from us via email within 2–8 weeks of the submission date.
If you receive a yes from us, we will initiate a meeting to start the publishing process and guide the author through the process. We provide a detailed author packet, and a team member will be a publishing coordinator. The coordinator will guide the author throughout the entire process.
The timeline for the completion of your book is dependent on a wide variety of factors, but in general, the more visual and technical requirements needed, the longer it will take to complete your book. All books will take a minimum of one year to complete, with the average timeframe being 18–24 months.
WHAT WE DON’T PROVIDE
We're not a printer, and we don't pay to print your book: Fifth Avenue Press is not a printer and does not do printing for our authors or other community members looking for similar services. During the process of working with our authors, we guide them towards the best printing options for their book. Print-on-Demand (POD) is the the most popular option such as Blurb, IngramSpark, Lulu, Amazon,and more. IngramSpark is the best source for free distribution to libraries and bookstores locally, nationally and internationally. Our authors have printed locally with Sheridan as well. The library is not involved in distribution beyond purchasing 11 printed hard-copies from the author to be added to the library's collection. Decisions about distribution and the platform(s) used will remain with the author, with advice and guidance from the press.
Many of our authors have done crowd-funding and pre-orders to pay to print copies of their books.
We do not offer advice on partial works: We do not offer feedback or suggestions for works in progress or partial manuscripts. However, the library does offer monthly writing workshops and meet-ups that are perfect for writers who need advice on next steps, structural feedback, etc. The Emerging Writers Workshops and Meet-Ups happen monthly on Mondays at the Westgate Branch. There are also publishers and writing services for hire.