FAQs

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.

If you have a question that isn't answered, please contact us.


AUTHORS PUBLISHED BY OUR IMPRINTS

1What do you do with all the submissions sent to you?
When we receive a submission we endeavour to read it and respond within six weeks. You will however, receive an automated response within 24 hours letting you know that your submission has arrived. If your book makes the grade and we think it will be a good fit for one of our imprints, we’ll get in touch. Successful authors will be contacted by our editorial team and the process of getting your book contracted and published will begin.

Even if you’re unsuccessful, we still encourage authors to keep trying. Authors receive constructive feedback on work they have submitted, with pointers on how to make improvements.
2Do I need an agent to submit a manuscript?
No, it’s not necessary to submit your work via an agency. We’re more than happy to work direct with you. In fact that’s how our business model is built. Some of our authors do have agents, but it is not necessary to have one in order to submit a manuscript.

The majority of our authors come straight to us. We do ask you to make sure you check our submission guidelines pages for essential information before you submit your books to us though. You can find that here:

Main Submissions Page

Submission Guidelines

Totally Bound Publishing submission calls

Pride Publishing submission calls

Finch Books submission calls
3What is your turnaround time on submissions?
We are conscious that authors are usually eager to find out if they have been successful, and do try our hardest to give you a speedy response. In most cases, submission turnaround time is approximately six weeks, however, timescales can sometimes be delayed, for example if we have a very busy period.
4What is the estimated time from submission to publication?
We are currently looking at a six month turn-around from acceptance to publish date.
5If I am contracted, when would my book be published?
We would agree a suitable date with you that fits with the current release schedule and enables us all to have enough time to promote it effectively. We are currently looking at a six month turn around from acceptance to publish date.
6What are your contract terms?
Our standard contract is for four years. Some anthology contracts may be longer.
7Do you negotiate contracts if I find something I'm not happy with?
We will look at your concerns and will always address them. For the most-part our authors are happy with the standard contract because it’s been designed to be fair for you and is written in plain English.
8Do you accept authors from other countries?
Absolutely. We work with authors from many different countries. Your stories must be written in English, and we would need to ensure that our payment methods are acceptable for you.
9Can I write as more than one pen name?
Yes you can. If you feel your genres cross over, or you’d prefer to write M/M as one name and M/F in another, then we’re here to accommodate you. If you wish to remain anonymous as your other names, and not have anyone know you write as two or more people, again, we can accommodate you. Only our staff will know you are more than one person, and never, under any circumstances, will we reveal your identity. We are very committed to helping you in your publishing journey, and that includes ensuring you have no worries over other people knowing who you are.
10I already have titles published in the mainstream; will Totally Entwined accept a submission from me?
Absolutely. Some of our authors work with a number of publishing houses.
11As a mainstream author, I require confidentiality. Can you guarantee that?
Yes. Although we think that it's nice if an author decides to share a little of their background with readers and other authors (as you can see from the author profile pages, blog posts and author spotlights), we totally respect an author's wish to remain private. You can use any pen-name and give as much or as little information for fans as you wish and for our part we will ensure that your identity is kept confidential.
12Do you publish in print?
Yes, we offer trade paperback print books and some mass market as well as electronic publishing.
13What can I expect from Totally Entwined as an author?
We offer 100% dedication and commitment to each and every author who publishes with our company. Our team are friendly and efficient and we believe that respect can only be earned. Communication and fast response times are essential to the relationships we forge with our authors. As part of the service and as a Totally Entwined author you can expect:

Solid marketing and PR strategy including but not limited to:
  • Individual banner packs created for every one of your books, including images for post cards, bookmarks, social media and email banners.
  • Regular ‘How To’ documents uploaded to the author portal to help new and seasoned authors alike to promote and market books alongside our own marketing and sales efforts on your behalf.
  • Fabulous cover art to reflect your individual book or series. We ensure that you have a say in how your cover looks.
  • Regular newsletters to our readers.
  • Regular competitions and promotions of your books.
  • Complete anti-piracy and fraud prevention system.
  • Maximizing social networking to the best advantage.
  • Work with numerous review sites and bloggers around the world.
  • Work with PR agencies to boost promotion of your titles and build brand awareness.
Selling your books:
  • Direct sales – your books will be sold direct from our website, be placed on pre-order six weeks before general release and always enjoy one month exclusivity at our shop before they are sold elsewhere. We provide the latest and most widely used download versions to your readers – ePub, Adobe PDF and Mobipocket. We also provide a send direct to kindle service.
  • Author portal – you'll get access to a private author portal where we provide a multitude of 'how-to' documents to aide you in marketing and promoting your books with us.
  • Distribution of your books – we work with a worldwide distribution platform to sell your books in multiple formats including eBook, Print and some Audio.
  • We have a trade and mass market print solution encompassing USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, Japan, Brazil and many more.
  • Work with international rights agents to enhance opportunities of your titles in different languages
Royalties:
  • We have some of the best royalty rates in the industry.
  • Without fail we provide monthly royalty payments, on time every month.
Full editorial support:
  • Content Editor – upon contract with us at Totally Entwined you are provided with your own knowledgeable, professional and dedicated content editor. They will work to build a strong relationship with one person who will work with you on all of your future edits.
  • Line Editors/Proofreaders – a second and third line edit takes place on all manuscripts before completion to ensure your book is edited to the highest standard.
  • We have an author support group that works as a community for staff at Totally Entwined and our authors to interact. It is a place where we can inform you of any important notifications and you can ask us and other authors any questions you may have.
14How often do you pay royalties?
Monthly. We realise that it is essential for authors to receive regular royalty payments and always ensure that our authors are paid on time every month.
15What happens if I'm not happy with part or all of the publication process?
We always strive to ensure you are happy every step of the way. However, should there be times when you’re not happy, we hope you will come to us immediately, as soon as any problem arises. We offer an open-door policy. We can’t help you if we’re not aware of any issues, and if we can discuss what’s wrong sooner rather than later, it saves you any anxiety and ensures that everything runs smoothly. There is always an answer to every problem and we’ll do our best to find a solution that suits both parties. Rest assured, we are here for you, and together we can make your publishing experience a positive one.
16How much do you help with marketing?
A lot! A big part of what we do is centred around marketing your brand and your books. An average day in the life of a marketing campaign will involve a solid marketing and PR strategy, including but not limited to:


• Individual banner packs created for every one of your books, including images for post cards, bookmarks, social media and email banners.
• Regular ‘How To’ documents uploaded to the author portal to help new and seasoned authors alike to promote and market books alongside our own marketing and sales efforts on your behalf.
• Fabulous cover art to reflect your individual book or series. We ensure that you have a say in how your cover looks.
• Regular newsletters to our readers.
• Regular competitions and promotions of your books.
• Complete anti-piracy and fraud prevention system.
• Maximizing social networking to the best advantage.
• Work with numerous review sites and bloggers around the world.
• Work with PR agencies to boost promotion of your titles and build brand awareness.