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Get Published

Get Published

Christopher Matthews Publishing is a hybrid imprint
of First Steps Publishing. We look forward to serving you.

Because we work extensively with our authors, we are highly selective with our acquisitions. This ensures the proper amount of time and attention is given to foster the growth of each project.

We provide comprehensive publishing services including editorial, design, distribution and ebook conversion. We are a small press with a reputation for quality.

RJ McRoberts
Submissions
First Steps Publishing | CM Publishing

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
—Richard Bach, author, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

We are currently seeking the following Clean Reads:

  • Mystery, Thriller or Suspense novels
  • Historical fiction
  • Fantasy & Magic

PRICING: $2999

Publishing Package includes:

  • Proofreading of final manuscript (one-time read through)
  • Professionally designed interior layout
  • An original, professionally designed book cover
  • Purchase and assignment of ISBNs
  • Metadata management
  • Inclusion in catalogs to libraries and the book trade internationally
  • Hardback, paperback, and ebook formatting
  • Free copies of the book (5 PBK, 1 HBK)*
  • Author book purchase at 40% above print cost* (Example: $5 print cost/book, Author price = $7/book
    • We want you to succeed in your writing career, so we keep your purchase price low.
  • 50% Royalties for Print and Ebook (net sales)
  • Worldwide sales and distribution to brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries. Through Ingram Spark / Lightning Source, we are connected to the ordering systems of 40,000 independent and chain bookstores, libraries, and online retailers worldwide, plus every major e-book retailer (including iBookstore, Kobo, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, etc.)
  • Promotion through Social Media, our newsletter
  • Media Kit. We work with you to create a base media kit:
    • Print/Web headshots (S, M, LG)
    • Print/Web cover (full, flat, and 3D)
    • Interview Questions / Answers
    • Sales sheet handout
    • Social Media Banner Ad
    • Press Release

*HB for US shipping addresses only.

What are the criteria for selection of titles?

We base our initial decision on the QUERY LETTER and your writing sample, then decide whether to request the full MS.

  • Quality of the writing: We are seeking well-written manuscripts that are engaging, well-structured, and well-edited. We also consider whether the writing style is appropriate for the intended audience, such as thrillers, suspense, cozy, historical, contemporary, etc.
  • Marketability of the book: FSP wants to work with authors whose books will be able to sell well in the market. They consider factors such as the book’s genre, the target audience, and the competition in the market.
  • Author platform: FSP may consider an author’s platform, which is the author’s visibility and reach in the market. This can include an author’s social media following, their reputation in their field, and their previous publication credits. While not a requirement, FSP strongly recommends some form of online presence.
  • Feasibility of the project: FSP needs to consider whether a book project is feasible from a financial standpoint – considering factors such as the length of the book, the potential market for the book, and the production costs.
  • Fit with our publishing list: FSP has a specific focus and set of goals for our publishing program, and will consider whether a particular book aligns with those goals.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES!

  1. We DO NOT accept attachments. Place ALL content directly in the body of an email ONLY
  2. Submitted MS must be BE ORIGINAL, UNPUBLISHED
    Novels should be within 65,000 to 120,000 words in length
  3. Submit the following into the BODY of an email
    • A one-page QUERY LETTER. We make our initial decision based on the query letter. See help tips below about Query Letter.
    • CAREFULLY and PROFESSIONALLY edit your submission
      The first ten (10) double-spaced pages of your manuscript
    • Where we can find you on the web (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.)
      A brief synopsis (no more than 1 page) that describes the plot and tells us how it ends
  4. ABSOLUTELY NO ATTACHEMENTS
    Send Submission to: CMP@FirstStepsPublishing.com

We do not guarantee a response to every submission.
Replies are commonly within 8-12 weeks, depending on the number of submissions received, so your patience is appreciated. We look forward to hearing from you!

If your work is not accepted, it could be for a number of reasons, some or none of which may have anything to do with the quality of your writing: we may have too many books currently in the pipeline given our capacity and personal approach; it is not the right genre or right for our list at this time; it lacks proper editing.

Writing is a career and authors must be willing to spend a significant amount of time actively promoting their work. We are committed to bringing as much exposure to our authors’ books as we can: Social media, brick and mortar bookstore and libraries as well as online distribution, and book shows are a few of the ways in which we promote our authors’ books.

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