CONTACT US

Unlike many other publishing houses, we do not make our authors wait a year for the entire process to be completed after submitting and contracting a finished manuscript. In fact, many of our releases are fast-tracked and published in as quickly a month’s time! Dark Moon encourages the input of authors regarding cover designs, photos, and graphic images. Our staff consists of authors who understand that creative insight lends to the soul of a book. Just the same, we are a collective of business-minded people who strive for the very best sales of your books, and have worked closely with the public at hundreds of events, stay in touch with store owners, and keep an eye on design trends in the industry. As a publisher, we reserve the rights to the final approval and design of our covers in order to maintain the ever-growing Dark Moon Press brand.

Creative authors and their passion is what keeps us moving forward. If you are interested in submitting a manuscript for potential publication with Dark Moon Press, please email us at darkmoonpress@gmail.com with “SUBMISSION” in the subject line.

Please include the following information:
Your detailed proposal of the suggested work should include a synopsis and, if not a complete manuscript, at least the first two completed chapters in a Microsoft Word.doc or. docx file. We will only ask for the complete manuscript if your proposal is under consideration.

In the body of your email, please include the following:
• Your legal name and pen-name (if applicable)
• Mailing address (please include a street address for use by UPS or FedEx)
• Contact information including phone number and email address
• Your author website (if applicable)
• Proposed book title
• A brief description, a synopsis of your book, and the key features that will set it apart from other titles. Think of this as an “elevator pitch” – how you’d describe the project in 30 seconds
• Why are you writing it?
• What is your background in the field?
• Why did you choose to submit your project to Dark Moon Press?
• Table of Contents (conveying the organization of your book)
• Which existing books are similar to your own, and how will your book be innovative?
• What are the demographics of your target audience?

If we are interested in your proposal, we will contact you to further discuss the project. Please note that due to the volume of submissions received, it may take up to 12 weeks to receive a response.

All submissions should be typed up using legible fonts, such as Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, or similar.

Please note that plagiarized material, as well as material produced by Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is strictly prohibited and will not be accepted.

Why Write for Dark Moon Press?
We are a hybrid that combines the very best attributes of traditional publishers and self-published work. Self-publishing can often be a struggle for new authors because they are overwhelmed by the task of formatting, marketing, and designing their own product from the ground up. Self-publishing carries additional costs, including finding and paying for a professional editor.

Unedited self-publications can be seen as unprofessional, and even authors who know grammar and punctuation do not necessarily know their way around formatting and layout.

Hybrid publishers such as Dark Moon Press carry out the publishing processes described above – but we approach things differently. We are like the micro-breweries of the publishing world, producing smaller quantities of high-quality work for enthusiasts and connoisseurs. We also provide a huge range of specialized and genre-specific works catering to particular niche markets, while still distributing our books to mainstream stores like Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and direct sales to readers and independent bookstores.

Our authors have the advantage of direct contact with Dark Moon Press, instead of working through a literary agent. We work closely each of our authors to locate appropriate promotional avenues for published work, including podcasts, conventions, and local-to-the-author bookstores for signings and author events.

Independent, hybrid presses like Dark Moon Press will run the production and distribution processes for you. One of the largest benefits of working with a publisher is that they undertake the editing, proofreading, layout, and cover design. Publishers also take on expensive, often intensive work like typesetting, which is necessary to produce a high-quality published book. An independent author can’t necessarily afford to invest their time and money into publishing their book, but connecting with an independent or hybrid publisher can do it for you.

Small presses can kickstart your marketing plan without being afraid to think outside the box. If you’re not amongst their highest-earning authors, many traditional publishing houses slot your title into their most basic, standard marketing package.

Publication with traditional publishers doesn’t guarantee high-level, personalized marketing plans. Authors might be limited to a few small ad placements for their first titles. For self-published authors, publishing can be even more difficult than the traditional route, as marketing becomes a one-person job.

As an independent, hybrid publisher, Dark Moon Press can offer authors better payments, faster turnaround times, and more attention to detail. We pride ourselves on direct interaction and a close working relationship with authors.

Dark Moon Press welcomes authors’ input on the cover designs, photos, and images included in their books. As authors and creatives, we understand the importance of giving creators insight into the very soul of their work. We are also business-minded individuals who strive for the very best promotion and sales for our authors. We work closely with readers and retailers, and always maintain an eye on new publishing or sales trends to keep our authors going forward with us. Creative authors and their passions are what keeps us moving forward.

 

If you are interested in submitting a manuscript for publication, please send us an email at darkmoonpress@gmail.com with “SUBMISSION” in the subject line.

 

Editing your manuscript before submission
Editing your manuscript before its publication means reviewing and revising your written work, and correcting its grammar and style. Editing can also mean having others read through your work to help spot any potential mistakes before submitting it for consideration or publication.

Proofreading is vital, and something to consider before submitting your manuscript to Dark Moon Press for consideration. Readers will always notice your mistakes, and an error-filled manuscript just isn’t professional.
We suggest using Microsoft Word, Spell Check, and Grammarly to review your book before submitting your pitch or sample chapters to us. We also recommend authors use a beta-reader, or a reader who reads and reviews the book before its publication.

These steps are vital to ensure a high-quality submission and enjoyable final published product.

Once your manuscript has been accepted into the Dark Moon Press family, it will undergo further “light editing” by our team. This means working with the author to check for grammatical errors or punctuation flaws. We also work with authors to improve the overall structure, flow, and formatting of the book. After this process, we send authors a proofing copy in PDF format for final approval.

When will I hear from you?
Please allow 2 to 3 weeks (up to 12) for your proposal or manuscript to be considered. We value your time and will notify you once our final decision has been made. If you would like to inquire about your proposal or manuscript after its submission, please email us a query.

Thank you for your time and effort, and thank you for considering Dark Moon Press!