ARGYLE FOX PUBLISHING FAQs

Have questions about what we do and how we do it? We’ve got answers. Look below for some publishing FAQs. Don’t see your question? Email it to us.

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What printer and distributor does Argyle Fox Publishing use?

At Argyle Fox Publishing, we use Ingram Spark for the printing and distribution of most of our books. In fact, quite a few publishers use Ingram. How can you know if Ingram is being used? When publishers say they distribute your book internationally, via 40,000 retailers and libraries, they’re likely using Ingram. Few print-on-demand companies have that kind of reach.

Occasionally, an author prefers to use Amazon’s KDP. This causes a book to only be available via Amazon. However, if that’s what the author wants, we oblige!

Is there anything you do that I can't do myself?

In a word, no. If you’re a great editor, have time to master design programs, and know best practices to ensure your book gets accepted by the printer of your choice, you’re free to publish your book 100 percent on your own. Plenty of people do.

Why use Argyle Fox Publishing if you can do it yourself? Two reasons.

1) We’ve been at this for a while. So we know how to make your book look how you want it to look. This allows you to kick back and relax while we get your book ready for shelves.

2) Using Argyle Fox saves you time. And that’s one thing you can’t put a price on.

How long does the publishing process take?

The typical Argyle Fox Publishing contract gives a six-month timeline for publishing. In most cases, we publish books within half that time. In some cases, we publish in a month.

Longer books take longer. Books that require extensive editing do as well. Additionally, because we require author approval throughout the process, publishing will take longer if the author is slow to respond. If you move fast, we do also!

How much profit do I really get?

This is one of the most important publishing FAQs. Unfortunately, many are embarrrassed to ask. So we did it for you!

Other publishers claim to give authors the highest royalty structure in the industry. We really do.

Once your book is published, we step out of the picture. Your profits don’t run through us. We don’t give you a cut. It all goes to you—every single penny.

How much money can you expect to make on your book sales? If you sell a 200-page paperback book (5×8″) online for $9.99, you earn approximately $3.20. The hardcover version of that same book will earn you $2.60 if sold for $14.99 online.

Want to sell them to people, face to face? You’ll make even more. 

So if you’re wondering what publisher pays the highest royalty, it’s us. Because you deserve it.

What happens if my book becomes a best-seller and I make $1 million?

We hope your book is a smashing success! And don’t worry. No matter how successful it is, all rights, royalties, etc., belong to you.

That’s right. If a Hollywood executive wants to make a movie based on your book, congrats! All negotiations and earnings are yours!

Who determines the price of my book?

While we give pricing suggestions, the final price of is up to the author. We suggest our authors research similar books to determine an appropriate price for their books. We also tell how much profit your book will make at different price points. But we never force our authors to use a certain pricepoint.

Our goal is to educate authors. We want them to be empowered to make the best decision for their books.

If I publish with you, can I use my own cover artist?

While we love designing covers, some authors prefer to have someone else do it. That’s totally fine. As long as the end product meets our quality standards, you can have anyone in the world design your cover. We’ll work with you and your artist to ensure the cover is designed appropriately, at no extra cost.

Why don't you offer marketing services?

Simply put, we’re not book marketers. We’re book publishers.

We have considered bringing on a marketing expert, but it’s cost-prohibitive. So instead, we encourage you to use all the money you save by publishing with Argyle Fox to hire bona fide book-marketing experts, who may or may not utilize press releases.

Why do you talk to authors who aren't going to publish with you?

Sometimes, authors think they want to publish with Argyle Fox. Then they change their mind.

No big deal. Different strokes for different folks.

However, even in these situations, we offer a listening ear. We even encourage authors to call us before signing a publishing contract with another company. No, we’re not trying to steal anyone’s business. We’re trying to protect authors from getting ripped off.

Whether you publish with us or not, we hate the thought of you being tricked out of your money. So we treat you as we want to be treated—not as a potential customer, but as a person.

Does this mean we waste time talking to authors who will never publish with us? Yes. But that’s okay. We were founded to help authors, and that’s one way we do it.

Why is this included in our publishing FAQs? Because we want you to contact us, even if you’re unsure if we’re the right publisher for you.

What size can my book be with Argyle Fox Publishing?

You have a lot of options when it comes to the size of your book. Any size that Ingram Spark offers, we do too. Go here to see the various book trim size options (you’ll need to scroll down a bit). Just make sure to choose the appropriate type of book (paperback, hardcover, standard or premium color).

What questions should I ask a publisher before signing a contract?

Great question! And we’ve got an answer. Just read this post about questions to ask a book publisher.

I've never published before. Can I trust you with my manuscript?

It can be scary to send your book to someone you don’t know. But have no fear! When you submit your manuscript to us for consideration, it’s in good hands. We’re not going to steal your book for illicit gain. The same goes for all reputable publishers. Believe it or not, you already own the copyright to your book. You did the moment you typed those words on your computer.

Who owns the illustrations in my children's book?

If you publish a book with Argyle Fox Publishing, you own everything, including illustrations for your children’s book. Want to reprint them for marketing purposes? Go for it. Want to slap them on t-shirts or bumper stickers to sell? No problem. Just let us know what images you want, and we’ll send them to you. Just remember that high-resolution images are big, so they’re often too large to be emailed. We’ll get them to you via Dropbox, Google Drive, or some other cloud-based storage.

Should I use a pen name?

We recommend against it. There are legitimate reasons to use a pen name, but it can cause some annoying or serious headaches. 

“Argyle Fox Publishing made publishing so simple.

They were easy to work with [and] contact. They responded quickly, walked me through the process of getting my book published, and patiently answered all my goofy questions about publishing. Kudos to the team at Argyle Fox Publishing.”

—Lynn McCarty, Author of Financial Game Changer

My journey through the Valley