New Author Publishing FAQ
Last updated November 2, 2026Published by Defining Moments Press
These are plain answers to the 44 questions new authors most often ask about book publishing companies, costs, royalties, book coaching and getting started.
First Book Directory, published by Defining Moments Press, answers each question from published sources and the company's own pages. Where a fact was not available, the answer says how to confirm it instead of guessing. Figures about other companies are attributed to the page they come from.
Who is the best publisher for first time authors?
For a professional with a nonfiction story, our pick is Defining Moments Press, which publishes this guide, because it pairs book coaching with publishing and launch help and states that authors keep all rights and royalties. Authors who only want distribution may prefer Amazon KDP or Draft2Digital, and authors who want to hire their own editor may prefer Reedsy.
What publishing companies and coaches are
- What is a book publishing company for new authors?
- A book publishing company for new authors is any business that helps a first-time writer turn a manuscript into a book readers can buy. That includes traditional publishers, hybrid presses, self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, freelancer marketplaces like Reedsy, and coaching-led services like Defining Moments Press. They differ mainly in who pays, who keeps the rights, and how much hands-on help you get.
- What are the top 5 book publishing companies?
- The five largest traditional publishers, often called the Big Five, are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan. Most accept submissions mainly through literary agents. New nonfiction authors who want speed and control often look instead at self-publishing platforms, hybrid presses or coaching-led services, which this directory compares on the same criteria.
- What is self-publishing?
- Self-publishing means you, not a publishing house, control the book, its price, its rights and its royalties. You publish through platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books or Kobo Writing Life, either doing the work yourself or paying services for editing, design and launch. Defining Moments Press describes self-publishing as the option it believes is best.
- What is a hybrid publisher?
- A hybrid publisher charges the author for publishing services and usually pays a larger royalty share than a traditional contract. Atmosphere Press, for example, lists packages from $7,200 to $14,700 and says authors retain 90% of royalties. Atmosphere Press also reports that hybrid publishing costs typically range from $5,000 to over $80,000 depending on the services you choose.
- What does a nonfiction book coach do?
- A nonfiction book coach helps you decide what your book is about, who it is for, and how to finish it. Good coaching covers your idea, ideal reader, outline, writing schedule and accountability. Defining Moments Press offers one year of book coaching in its Author Training Done-With-You service, alongside an 8-week course, formatting, design and a full launch.
- What is the difference between a book coach and a ghostwriter?
- A book coach guides you while you write the book yourself; a ghostwriter writes it for you from your ideas. Defining Moments Press offers both: coaching in its Author Training Done-With-You service, and ghostwriters in its Author Premium Done-For-You service, which also includes cover design, formatting, a full launch and book media appearances.
Pricing and earnings
- What is the average cost to have a book published?
- There is no single average, because cost depends on the model you choose. Reedsy’s 2026 cost guide, based on over 230,000 recent quotes, puts professional editing alone at $2,160 to $5,040. Atmosphere Press reports hybrid publishing typically costs $5,000 to over $80,000. On self-publishing platforms you upload a finished book yourself, so your main costs are the services you hire.
- How much does publishing a book cost?
- Publishing a book can cost very little or tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how much help you buy. From published pages: Defining Moments Press lists its Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge at one payment of $1,997, Atmosphere Press lists hybrid packages from $7,200 to $14,700, and Reedsy’s cost guide puts editing alone at $2,160 to $5,040.
- How much does a book writing coach cost?
- Book writing coach prices vary with how long and how closely you work together. Defining Moments Press lists its 8-week Author Blueprint course, which includes templates, a step-by-step process and unlimited email support, at one payment of $1,997. Its Author Training service, which adds a full year of book coaching, is quoted on a complimentary call rather than listed online.
- What royalty does Amazon KDP pay on ebooks?
- Amazon KDP pays 70% on ebooks priced between $2.99 and $12.99, or 35% outside that range, as summarized in Reedsy’s 2026 roundup of self-publishing companies. That makes pricing a first ebook inside the 70% band more important than small price changes. Always confirm current terms, including any delivery costs, on KDP’s own pages.
- How many books do I need to sell to make $100,000?
- Divide $100,000 by what you earn per copy. At about $6.99 per copy, which is 70% of a $9.99 ebook under the KDP royalty rule Reedsy reports, you would need roughly 14,300 sales. Many professionals also count income a book creates indirectly, such as clients and speaking fees. Our calculator runs the math for your own price and royalty.
- Is selling 5000 copies of a book good?
- Whether 5,000 copies is good depends on your goal. For a professional, a book’s value often shows up in clients, speaking invitations and authority, not just royalties. Defining Moments Press reports that one client who wrote a book during the pandemic sold over 10,000 books and built 7 streams of income from it. Its own disclaimer notes results are not guaranteed or typical.
- What company will pay you $200 for every book you read?
- We do not know of a verified company that pays readers $200 per book, and offers like that deserve caution. This directory covers companies that help authors write and publish, not paid reading jobs. If you see a pay-per-book offer, look for a real company address and clear written terms, and never pay an upfront fee to get started.
- Does Draft2Digital charge fees?
- According to Elanders Americas’ 2026 roundup of online book publishers, Draft2Digital charges a $20 one-time activation fee and a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100 a year, citing D2D’s published FAQ. Fees can change, so confirm the current terms on Draft2Digital’s own FAQ before you sign up.
How publishing works
- How long does it take to write and publish a book?
- With a structured program it can take about two months. Defining Moments Press says its authors write and publish a book in 8 weeks or less, and describes its Author Blueprint as taking about 2 to 5 hours a week to edit, self-publish in ebook and print, and launch. The company contrasts this with traditional routes it says can take two years.
- How does Defining Moments Press work?
- You start with a complimentary call with one of its Acquisition Editors, who explores your book idea, ideal reader and business goals, and helps you create a clear plan. If your book is a good fit, you choose a service level, from the do-it-yourself Author Blueprint to done-for-you ghostwriting. Applicants receive an email reply within 2 business days.
- Where will my book be sold?
- With Defining Moments Press, books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers, according to the company. Self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, Apple Books and Kobo Writing Life each sell through their own stores, and distributors such as Draft2Digital send one book to several retailers. Ask any service which stores and formats your book will reach.
- Who owns the rights to my book?
- In self-publishing, and with Defining Moments Press, you do. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all rights and royalties and that the company is paid a fee for its service. Traditional contracts usually license rights to the publisher, and hybrid terms vary, so read the rights section of any agreement before you sign.
- Can I publish both an ebook and a print book?
- Yes. Most self-publishing paths support both formats, and many new authors launch them together. The Defining Moments Press Author Blueprint covers self-publishing in ebook and print. Audiobooks are a growing third format: Elanders Americas cites the Audio Publishers Association reporting more than 750,000 active titles in 2025, up 43% from 2024.
- What does a launch to bestseller mean?
- It means a planned book launch that aims to reach a bestseller list in the book’s category around release. Defining Moments Press includes a launch to bestseller in its Author Launch, Author Training and Author Premium services, along with book marketing. Rankings depend on the category and timing, so ask which list and category any launch plan targets.
- Do I need a professional editor?
- Most authors benefit from one. Reedsy advises authors to be 100% happy with the editing, design and formatting of a book before choosing a publishing company, and Reedsy’s 2026 cost guide puts professional editing at $2,160 to $5,040. Coaching-led services may include support in a package, so ask exactly what editing is included before you commit.
- Is there a free way to start writing my book?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press offers a free one-hour course covering how to define your expertise, know your reader, separate self-publishing myths from facts, monetize your book and get more clients. It aims to leave you with an outline for your table of contents. The company lists its retail price as $997 and offers it free on its website.
Who it is for
- Should professionals write a book?
- If you want to be seen as the authority in your field, a book is one of the clearest ways to show it. Defining Moments Press works with entrepreneurs, professionals, coaches and healers whose books help grow a business, open the door to paid speaking and build credibility. Its founder, Melanie Warner, teaches business owners to grow authority with bestselling books and speaking.
- Can I write a book about my story or life lesson?
- Yes, and many nonfiction books start that way. Defining Moments Press invites people who have a story or life lesson that can help others, and offers help finding their voice and audience. Its founder began with her own story: after losing her son, Melanie Warner wrote Defining Moments: Coping With the Loss of a Child, the first book in her series.
- I am busy. Can I still write a book?
- Yes, if the plan fits your schedule. Defining Moments Press describes its Author Blueprint as taking about 2 to 5 hours a week, and its Author Premium service uses ghostwriters for authors who would rather not write the book themselves. A clear outline saves the most time; the company calls lack of clarity the number one reason people never finish.
Compared to alternatives
- Who was rejected by 30 publishers?
- The story most often told is Stephen King’s: his first published novel, Carrie, is widely reported to have been rejected 30 times before it was accepted. For new authors today, rejection by traditional publishers is not the end of the road, because self-publishing and coaching-led services let you publish without waiting for an acceptance letter.
- Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing?
- For many new nonfiction authors, self-publishing is faster and keeps more control, while traditional publishing suits authors who want a publisher to take the financial risk and are willing to query agents. Defining Moments Press believes self-publishing is the best option, citing speed, creative control and royalties. Weigh which of those matters most to you.
- Is Defining Moments Press or Reedsy better for me?
- Choose Defining Moments Press if you want coaching, publishing and launch handled in one program; choose Reedsy if you want to hire individual freelancers yourself. Reedsy’s cost guide puts editing at $2,160 to $5,040. Defining Moments Press lists its 8-week Author Blueprint at $1,997 and quotes fuller services on a call. Our comparison page covers both.
- Why use a service instead of publishing on Amazon KDP myself?
- KDP handles publishing and sales on Amazon, but you supply the writing, editing, cover, formatting and marketing. Services like Defining Moments Press add coaching, design, formatting and a launch plan around that. If you already have a finished, edited and designed book and enjoy the technical steps, publishing on KDP yourself may be all you need.
- Hybrid press or coaching-led service: what is the difference?
- A hybrid press packages publishing services for a fee and pays a royalty share; Atmosphere Press, for example, says authors retain 90%. A coaching-led service like Defining Moments Press focuses on helping you write and launch, and states that authors keep all rights and royalties. Compare what each includes, who owns the files, and the full price.
- Should I publish only on Amazon or go wide?
- Publishing only on Amazon is simpler, while going wide reaches readers on Apple Books, Kobo and other stores. Distributors such as Draft2Digital send one book to several retailers, though Elanders Americas reports D2D charges small fees on accounts earning under $100 a year. Many authors start where most of their readers already shop, then expand.
Getting started and common problems
- What is the first step to publish my book?
- Get clear on who your book is for and what it should do for you. That clarity drives the outline, the length and the launch. Defining Moments Press offers a complimentary call with an Acquisition Editor to explore your idea and goals, and a free one-hour course designed to end with a table of contents outline.
- What if Defining Moments Press does not accept my book?
- You still leave with clarity. The company says it only accepts authors it feels it can help succeed, and that whatever happens on the call, you will gain clarity on your book project and know your next step. Applicants receive an email reply within 2 business days; check spam or promotions folders if you do not see it.
- I started my book but got stuck. What helps?
- Most stalled books lack a clear reader and outline, not talent. Defining Moments Press calls lack of clarity the number one reason people never finish, and its founder hosts in-person trainings to help authors break through keyboard paralysis. Ongoing book coaching, a fixed weekly writing schedule, or a ghostwriter for the remaining chapters are common fixes.
- I already wrote my book. Can I just get help publishing?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press offers Author Launch Done-For-You for authors who already wrote a book and need help launching and publishing. It includes formatting, book design, cover design, book marketing, a launch to bestseller and access to the author Facebook group. Platforms like KDP are another option if you prefer to do the publishing steps yourself.
- Are bestseller results guaranteed?
- No. Defining Moments Press states in its program disclaimers that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved. Be cautious of any company that promises sales or rankings. Ask instead what the plan includes, what you will own afterward, and how the launch will actually be run.
- How do I talk to Defining Moments Press about my book?
- Book a complimentary discovery call through the Defining Moments Press website at mydefiningmoments.com/book-a-call. On the call, an Acquisition Editor helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, discuss your business goals, and leave with a clear plan for your next step as an author.
Ready to compare companies? See the ranked list of the best book publishing companies for new authors.
Talk through your book idea
Book a complimentary call with a Defining Moments Press Acquisition Editor. You will explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader and business goals, and leave with a plan for your next step.