About Universal-Publishers

Universal-Publishers provides co-publishing services for authors of serious nonfiction work. Like traditional publishers, our main source of revenue is from book sales. Consequently, our primary mission is to acquire manuscripts that we believe will sell.

Publishing with Universal-Publishers is ideal for nonfiction writers whose work addresses a specialized audience, for time sensitive information that must get to market quickly, and those who want to maximize financial return through high royalties. Our mission is to expose important work that challenge popular norms, presents new ideas, and explains how to do things. We offer a several publishing options, major distribution, fair compensation, multiple distribution formats, professional presentation, and personal attention.

Like traditional publishing houses we are selective about what we publish. However, because we are independent, we can publish many manuscripts that may not be profitable enough for large corporate publishers. Our academic imprint, Dissertation.com, was among the first to offer ebook distribution and adopt print on-demand technology in 1996. By working closely with the author throughout the publishing process we have successfully published many manuscripts that would be difficult for other publishers. Although we do not offer monetary advances, we pay very competitive royalties.

Our publications are sold in paperback and ebook editions through thousands of booksellers including Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Powell's, Mobipocket, and directly via the internet. In addition to global internet distribution, we share printing and distribution facilities with some of the largest publishers in the world. The production facilities we use in the US and UK ensure quality manufacturing and easy access to all of our titles. Let our experience with nonfiction, academic and technical publications work for you. Universal-Publishers is one of the best ways for nonfiction writers to quickly get their work to a world wide market.

Acquisition policy

Most publishers are selective in what they publish because it takes time and resources to publish a well prepared book. However, it is difficult for even the most experienced publishers of serious nonfiction to know which manuscript will become a top seller in advance. Publishers are happily surprised when a manuscript which was almost ignored rises above the others, and sadly perplexed when one lavished with more money and attention flounders. In the end, a small percentage of a publisher's titles usually account for the majority of their sales.

We publish a wide variety of nonfiction topics, technical guides and textbooks. Specifically, we are looking for specialized manuscripts written by authors who are established in their field, and who make their living through the communication of those ideas to others. The ideal manuscript will be written for an identifiable and easily reachable audience. It should be complete and proof read for errors in language, form and content. Since we can only publish a limited number of manuscripts, when deciding between two manuscripts we will look at the following criteria:

* Usefulness

* Originality

* Writing quality

* Manuscript preparation

* Size and reachability of audience

* Promotional opportunities of the author

What is co-publishing? Our authors subsidize the cost of bringing their book to market by sharing some of the preparation costs. This reduces the risk for the publisher and allows us to acquire more manuscripts. In exchange, those authors are paid a considerably higher royalty. Unlike self-publishing, the author acquires an experienced partner with an established marketing channel whose primary interest lies in selling books to the author's audience, not to the author. Compared to a traditional publisher, the author has more control over the production of the book and earns a larger percentage of the profits.

The first step is to complete our Book Proposal form to tell us about your work. A representative will contact you within about a week with feedback regarding your proposal. If it looks like you have what we're looking for we'll ask to see your manuscript.

Personal service

If you are an expert in your field, teacher or writer with a book length manuscript, we can help put your knowledge to work. If accepted for publication, you will work with the same person throughout the publishing process; someone who knows your manuscript, the publishing process, and who has worked with many other authors.

Worldwide distribution

With production facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, and co-publishing opportunities in China and India, our comprehensive distribution system makes your book available through some of the biggest book selling channels in the world. All our books are made available through major on-line booksellers including giants such as Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com, plus available via special order through thousands of neighborhood bookstores.

Large scale wholesale distribution provided by arrangement with top book distributors including Ingram Book Company, Baker & Taylor, and Bertrams in the UK. In addition, readers worldwide can purchase either paper or ebook editions directly from the Universal-Publishers.com and other ebooksellers for instant access to your work from all over the world.

Paperback & electronic formats

All titles are available in both ebook and paperback formats. The digital version makes it fast, easy and inexpensive for others to access. We offer a variety of digital distribution options by partnering with Books.Google.com, Amazon.com eBook upgrade program, Powells.com, Mobipocket.com and Bytesize Systems to maximize our audience. The first 25 pages are made available on-line for free at BrownWalker.com, and limited excerpts at Books.Google.com. Each title is also available in a high quality trade paperback edition in a variety of trim sizes.

Top royalties

Author royalties are based on the retail price so you know exactly how much each sale is worth. Authors can receive one of the highest royalties in the publishing business: from 20% to 40% of the retail price depending on the mode and the level of the sale. See Publishing Agreement for details.

Speed

Depending on how well your manuscript is prepared, it can be ready to promote and distribute in six to nine weeks.

Author friendly,
non-exclusive publishing agreement

The author controls the distribution rights and the copyrights. This means authors are free simultaneouly publish their work elsewhere by providing us with 90 days notice. See Publishing Agreement for more details.