I contacted the publisher with similar questions, and also got permission to post them here! Hope this helps anyone interested in publishing with them - I know I'll be submitting my adult paranormal mystery romance
=============================================
Hi Magali,
Thank you for your interest in potentially submitting to FVP, and for reaching out with your questions. I understand that anything from cover art to rights can lead an author to hesitate, and understandably so when you've spend hundreds of hours on your literary baby. As explained on our FAQ page on the website (
http://www.fillesvertespublishing.com/faqs/), we open ourselves to questioning and scrutiny within the industry to assure a positive experience, quality reputation on all sides, and adequate representation. The answers to your questions are below. Should you have any additional questions, let me know.
Best,
Myra Fiacco
- Is it mostly authors who do their marketing, or does the publishing press have a marketing design? If so, how much reach does the press have in "who they know" in order to make it a successful marketing? Like, do they have an established name and readership yet? I know the press is brand new, but does the staff have reach within the publishing world?
As explained in our FAQs, we do not expect our authors to do 100% of marketing. We spend a lot of time getting to know an author’s web presence, niche markets, and reach before we structure a marketing plan to them. FVP is very hands on with marketing, starting with a Go-to-market strategy upon contract signing (I’ve been allowing authors to review it when presented with a contract in order to best make decisions on their career paths). We have a marketing plan, sales team, and active PR team. I am currently building relationships with wholesalers and distributors for sale of our books in bookstores, we are building our reach online, as well as with literary journals, university presses, and libraries nationwide.
- Are there any samples for book cover designs? I know there aren't any books yet, but what could I expect in terms of what my book cover would look like? Would I have any say in it?
A reader spends an average of 2 seconds glancing at the front cover of a book. If they like it, they will flip to the back, giving an average of 7 seconds before they decide to keep reading or to replace it on the shelf. That gives the cover designer 9 seconds to secure a sale. That's how important covers are. That being said, I cannot send you any examples right now. The book covers being designed are under contract with my designer and not yet finished. Our authors DO have a say in the design, and have the right to veto it in the end, though the standards we hold for covers are just as high as the standards we hold for manuscripts. If you keep check back on the website, you’ll get to see some examples soon.
- For the owner, Myra, it says on her blog that she has a book coming up - who's publishing her book? And apart from her blog, she doesn't seem to have much presence on social media - would this affect who she knows in the "publishing world" in order to make the press and the published books become more known?
I am publishing my book, with plans to put it out in the first or second quarter of the year. I’m publishing my nonfiction with my company instead of going elsewhere because that is how much I believe in FVP. Apart from my blog
https://fromzerotowriter.wordpress.com/ I am active on twitter @MyraFiacco and facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMyraFiacco/ as well as our ever-expanding team of social media for FVP. A lot of my connections are made with people in person, at conferences, and over email, so you would not see into the scope of my dealings in the publishing world by lens of social media alone.
- How's the publishing press' capital for marketing and printed books or anything else?
In regards to the publishing company as a business, I can only print as many copies in the first run as I know I can sell. For now, that cannot match the big companies at 30k, and looks more like 1k-2,500 copies for initial run. However, with a printer that runs for me whenever I want them to, I can go back to order more at any time with a turnover of only a few days (as long as no changes are made to the manuscript). My capital, though confidential, is not something my authors will have to worry about. Signed authors are better aware of the exact numbers to assure they are managing their career alongside FVP. We work very closely with our Authors, making sure they know what they need to grow, be that financial or otherwise.
- Is it just eBooks or is there also the print on demand? Or is it automatically printed as well?
eBook and softcover, with hardcover and audio following as soon as 2018
- Is there anyone else involved in the press apart from the staff?
I have interns (under contract for NDA/Non-Disclosure Agreement), my mentor, and several other contracted artists and editors. Authors have full scope into who they’re working with, and who is handling their materials at all times.
- Would the contract have any details about what would happen if (_and I'm hoping it really doesn't!_) the press closes? Would I get my book rights back? Is that in the contract?
Yes, that clause is in the contract. All rights are returned upon bankruptcy or dissolvency of the company.
================================================================
When I asked about sharing the answers here, I received this kind response:
Thanks Magali,
I am happy to have you share any/all answers and encourage anyone to email me with additional questions. As a small press, it is unlikely we will take more than 12 titles a year, which, by having a small FVP family, means I want everyone to be very well taken care of and informed. That goes for people submitting to me, too, because those are potential FVP family members. I appreciate your encouragement to help shed a positive reputation on the company and wish you the very best in your publication efforts!
Best,
Myra