Most other self-publishing companies offer their clients a few templates of formatting styles and a few standardized cover designs to pick from. They also can take up to a year to actually print the book. Some of them advertise that they offer marketing support, but this usually consists of only a small space in their company’s catalog.

DRP works with authors to produce the book they have dreamed of writing and selling. We customize the format and the cover design to be sure it is exactly what the author wants, and our prices are often less than other self-publishing companies.

Yes, we will assign an ISBN number to your book and list it in Books in Print for you. Your book will then be in that publication in the reference section in every library in the country, as well as on the Books in Print web site for every bookstore. You, the author, will retain the copyright to your book.

To some degree, that depends on you. Some authors get bogged down in finalizing their manuscript. From the time we receive your finalized work, we generally have printed books to you in 3 to 4 months.

Here are the steps:

1. Call 404-273-4319, e-mail debbie@dreamreleaser.com, or fax 770-389-1782 us the specifications of your book. You won’t know the actual page count yet, but you probably know whether it will be 200 or 300 pages long. We need to know whether you want hardback or paperback, the page dimensions, and the number of copies you want printed. You can also tell us about any artwork or photographs which will be included in your book.
2. We will then get your specifications, we will work up a budget for you. That budget will be the basis of a written agreement, though the final page count and any other alterations will slightly affect the final cost.
3. We will then send you an agreement spelling out the cost of each part of the process: formatting, cover design, printing, and shipping etc.
4. If you have questions about the agreement, we will answer them for you. When you sign the agreement, we will then begin the process of publishing your book.
5. We will get detailed input from you on your desires for the format and cover design.
6. We will send you samples of our designs based on your input and let you choose the specific ones you prefer. When you are satisfied, we will proceed with the printing.
7. The printer will send you proofs (called bluelines) of the text for you to approve.
8. After about 6 weeks at the printer, the book should be ready to be shipped to you.

We will draft an agreement between DRP and the author with the expectations and commitments clearly outlined. The payment schedule is:

one-third when the agreement is signed by both parties,
one-third when the book is ready to be printed, and
one-third (plus the cost of any "overs" [no more than 10% and usually around 3-4% of the print run, and the shipping] when the books are shipped).

Quite often, a slight adjustment will be made in the total fee after the manuscript is formatted because the formatted book may be a few more or a few less pages than originally anticipated and quoted.

Occasionally, one of our writers is hired by someone who has a book concept but not the time or literary skill to turn that concept into print. The fees for writing vary according to the amount of research and writing which are required. A quote for ghost writing services will be provided to you if requested.

We also occasionally edit an author’s manuscript prior to publication. The fees here depend on the level of work required. Some require only proofing; others require extensive rewriting. A quote for editing services will be provided to you if requested.

Be sure your manuscript is thoroughly edited and proofed before you send it to us. Revisions in the text after the publishing process is begun can be time-consuming and expensive. Take time to read it over several times, and ask a very picky literary person to read it for you, too.

We need your text as an email file/attachment. In our conversations regarding your publishing goals and desires, we will find out what software you use and if it needs to be translated by you or us.

A few authors have written their manuscripts in longhand and need someone to transcribe it and create an electronic version of the manuscript. We offer that service at a reasonable fee.

A few authors do not have a written manuscript but have extensive speaking (teaching, preaching etc.) CDs and DVDs. We offer transcribing services which will take the spoken word and transcribe it into written word which then can then be adjusted into a written manuscript as well as create an electronic version of the manuscript. We offer that service at a reasonable fee.

Most of our books are by Christian authors and cover a wide range of faith-oriented topics. Some of our books are autobiographies, and some are humor. We have also published several children's books.

We reserve the right to decline any book that we find objectionable in content.

At every step in the process, you will give us your desires and then sign off on the proofs. These proofs come from DRP as well as from the printer, so there will be no surprises!

There are many details in getting a book published, so feel free to contact us and ask any and all questions you need to ask. Simply email at debbie@dreamreleaser.com.