Verdant Publishing — Frequently Asked Questions
What is Verdant Publishing?
Verdant Publishing is a small, independent press built around one idea: books that come out of a real relationship with the natural world. We work with authors from editorial through design, production, and launch, and we take on a limited number of manuscripts at a time so every author gets real attention.
We're a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and follow their Hybrid Publisher Criteria. That means it's not self-publishing, and it's not the traditional model either — it's a cooperative model where you invest in your book alongside us, and in return get a professional production process, full creative rights, and a home within a press built specifically for this kind of work.
Why should I publish with Verdant instead of self-publishing?
You can absolutely self-publish, and for some writers that's the right choice. Here's what publishing with Verdant gives you instead:
Expertise you don't have to build yourself. Book design, formatting, ISBN registration, and distribution logistics take years to learn. We've already done that learning.
Real distribution. Verdant titles go out through Amazon and IngramSpark, along with inclusion in Books in Print through Bowker and Library of Congress registration for titles 60+ pages.
An imprint that means something. When a reader, reviewer, or bookstore sees Verdant Publishing on a book, it signals that someone else believed in the work first, and that it went through a real review process.
Your time back. You get to be the author. We handle layout, cover design, formatting, and the logistics so your energy goes toward writing and readers, not spreadsheets.
A press with a mission, not just a service. We started Verdant Publishing to give a home to authors and work that's genuinely rooted in nature and ecology. That's not a tagline, it's why we exist.
What kinds of manuscripts do you accept?
Every submission has to have a real connection to nature or ecology — central to the book, not just a backdrop. Within that, we publish:
Nonfiction: how-to and instructional (beekeeping, foraging, nature journaling, land stewardship, homesteading), self-development where nature or a creative practice is the vehicle, books on creativity and creative process, nature writing and natural history, and books about close kinship with the non-human world.
Poetry: all styles and forms, as long as the subject matter meets the nature/ecology bar.
Short story and essay collections: fiction or nonfiction.
What we don't publish: novels or other long-form fiction, children's books, memoir, cookbooks, academic/scholarly work, multi-author anthologies (these go through a separate process), general self-help unrelated to nature or creative practice, previously published or self-published work, and translations.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is based on length and complexity, not genre:
Short Format (under 60 pages) — poetry chapbook or short collection: $800
Standard (60–150 pages) — full poetry collection, story/essay collection, shorter nonfiction: $1,395
Long-Form (over 150 pages) — how-to, self-development, longer nonfiction: $1,795
Illustrated or photo-heavy manuscripts carry an additional $400 for expanded design work and color printing. A $15 submission fee applies to all manuscripts, to cover the cost of review.
Short Format titles are produced in a fixed format (5"x8" trim, standard interior layout and cover treatment) — that's what keeps this tier affordable, and it isn't something we can customize per book. If you want a different trim size or a fully custom layout, the Standard tier is a better fit.
What's included in that price?
Every accepted manuscript receives:
ISBN procurement and assignment under the Verdant Publishing imprint, with formatted EAN/ISBN barcode
Inclusion in Books in Print via Bowker
Library of Congress registration for titles 60+ pages
A proofreading pass
Professional interior layout and typesetting (IBPA and Chicago Manual of Style standards)
Professional cover design (custom/premium design available as an add-on)
Perfect-bound print-on-demand paperback (ebook conversion available)
Distribution setup through Amazon and IngramSpark
A physical author's proof for your review before anything is finalized
3 complimentary author copies, plus the option to buy more at 50% off
A dedicated page for your book on the Verdant Publishing website
40% net royalties, reported and paid annually
Not included: developmental editing, manuscript coaching, ghostwriting, or custom interior illustration (author-supplied art or photography is required for illustrated works). Professional copyediting is available as a paid add-on.
Do I keep the rights to my work?
Yes — the cooperative model means you retain full creative rights to your work.
Do I earn royalties on sales?
Yes. Print royalties are 40% net, reported and paid annually. Ebook royalties are 50% net, since there's no print cost built into each sale.
Do you offer ebooks?
Yes. Ebook conversion is available as an add-on for every tier:
Simple, text-based manuscripts (most poetry, short prose, straightforward nonfiction): $150
Illustrated or layout-heavy manuscripts: $350
Ebooks are distributed through Draft2Digital, reaching Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers, along with a direct KDP listing for Amazon Kindle.
How long does the process take, and when can I submit?
It depends on your manuscript's length and format:
Short-Form Track (poetry collections and short story/essay collections under ~60 pages) is open year-round. Submit any time.
Full-Length Track (manuscripts over ~60 pages, or anything illustrated/photo-heavy) opens for two windows a year. Check current dates on our submissions page — we only review Full-Length manuscripts during an open window.
Both tracks accept a limited number of manuscripts per cycle based on production capacity. A closed window or a full cohort isn't a reflection of your manuscript, it's simply what we can take on well at a given time.
We aim to respond within 45 days of a Short-Form submission, or within 45 days of a Full-Length window closing. From a signed agreement to publication, expect roughly 8-15 months, depending on manuscript complexity, editing needs, and where your project falls in our production calendar.
What marketing support do you provide?
We promote every title on our social media channels and in our newsletter. We also share our marketing handbook with every author, a practical guide covering the basics of promoting your own book, so you're not starting from scratch. Beyond that, marketing is largely in your hands as the author — we're a small press, and we'd rather be upfront about that than promise more than we can deliver.
Can I make changes after my book is published?
Small changes to your book's listing (like your author bio or a link) are free. If a change requires us to edit and republish the interior file itself, a fee applies, quoted based on the scope of the change.
Are launch events included?
Launch events aren't a default part of every package — you choose what fits.
Going DIY? You're welcome to run your own launch. Postcards, bookmarks, and posters are all available separately (see Upgrades & Add-Ons) to help you promote it.
Want it coordinated? — $450 flat gets you a 90-minute event at a venue in Portland or The Verdancy Project Property, event coordination and hosting, and light refreshments.
Add a Signature Activity — +$150. For a hands-on element tied to your book (for example, bookmark making).
Will you help me develop or restructure my manuscript?
Every package includes a proofreading pass. Professional copyediting is available as a paid add-on. We don't offer developmental or substantive editing — please submit a manuscript you consider complete and carefully revised. Manuscripts needing significant structural or content work won't move forward in review.
How do you decide which manuscripts to accept?
Every submission is read by our Review Committee before it reaches a final decision, so the process stays consistent regardless of who's submitting. We're selective, not because of budget or gatekeeping, but because we take on a limited number of titles at a time so every author gets real attention. We're looking for work that's genuinely rooted in nature or ecology and needs a home outside traditional publishing.
How do I submit my manuscript?
Purchase the $15 manuscript submission fee from our shop.
Fill out our submission form.
Not sure if your project is a fit? Reach out to info@verdantpublishing.com before you submit, we're glad to help you figure it out.