PUBLISHING
What are my publishing options with Book Country?
On Book Country, you can choose to publish a print and eBook with the help of our professional styles with the Professional publishing option, or you can publish a print and eBook, or eBook only, with our user-formatted option. You also get your choice of distribution channels--you can sell your book on the wide network, on Book Country only, or keep your book private.
Why am I being charged a set-up fee?
Instead of nickel and diming you for services like many other sites, Book Country charges a one-time set-up fee. This fee includes wide distribution, ISBNs, interior design, use of our Cover Creator, and a vast array of step-by-step guidance and expertise from our experienced publishing team. This set-up fee allows us to offer no hidden charges—just one affordable upfront cost to create a professional self-published book that meets the high standards of traditional publishing. Additionally, at Book Country, we want to ensure that you get the highest quality product. To do this, we utilize a number of manual services where other sites are automated.
Why does Book Country take a per-book transaction fee if I already purchased the publishing service?
Book Country does not charge an ongoing listing fee for writers to have their book listed on our site and on all of our broad range of distribution partners’ sites. Book Country does charge an industry standard percentage of the list price when an author sells a copy of their book. This portion of the price a consumer pays allows Book Country to work hard to make sure your book stays on the map. Our sales, operations, accounting, finance, and website professionals are involved in making sure that your book is available for purchase as widely as possible; that readers have the experience you expect them to have during browsing, previewing, purchasing, and reading; and that sales of your book across channels are properly tracked and accounted for. The percentage of each book sale that Book Country takes goes toward keeping those systems in place. Instead of charging a flat monthly fee for carrying and distributing your title, you’ll only pay for maintenance and attention to your book when you sell a copy.
I read that there is a discount for opting out of Wide Distribution and choosing to sell on Book Country only. How much of a discount do I get?
If you opt out of Wide Distribution and want to sell your book on Book Country only, you will receive a $50 discount if you've chosen one of our print and eBook services and a $25 discount if you've chosen our eBook-only service. If you decide to upgrade to Wide Distribution at a later time, you will incur a $50 or $25 upgrade charge based on your chosen service.
In what formats can I publish my book on Book Country?
Book Country can help you self publish your book in print and eBook, or eBook only. Our eBooks are published in ePub format and are usable on most e-readers.
What is ePub?
ePub is a common format for an eBook file. It is an open source language that allows text to be rendered and read across many different types of eReading and computing devices.
What is DRM? Do I need to use DRM for my eBook?
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a technology that is used to protect copyrights in the digital environment; this is done by limiting distribution, sharing, and copying of the work. If desired, DRM is wrapped around an ePub file upon file conversion. It is an ever-changing controversy as to the pros and cons of using DRM, and we want you to be able to sell your book however you choose.
Book Country allows you to select whether or not you would like DRM included, if your book is priced at $2.99 or above. Below that price point, DRM is not permitted. Note, however, that if you are selling your book on the wide network, the eBook seller may wrap its own DRM around your eBook.
Am I allowed to publish books that are in the public domain?
No. Book Country only allows the self publishing of original content of which you are the copyright holder.
I have already published my eBook on (Kindle/Smashwords/PubIt/other). Can I still use your service?
Yes. Book Country is not exclusive, though we recommend that you check any and all prior agreements to confirm you are not violating their terms. You cannot, however, upload at already existing ePub file to sell on Book Country--you will need to purchase a publishing service and follow our process to have your book created.
I don't have an ISBN. Will you give me one or do I need to purchase one?
Part of our publishing service is to provide you with an ISBN, so don't worry. We've got it covered! We'll let you know what your ISBN is for your print book and/or eBook as soon as it is assigned.
I already own an ISBN for my book. Can I use it instead of getting a new one from Book Country?
Not at this time. An ISBN comes with your Book Country publishing service and is automatically attached to your work.
Do I need to register the copyright to my book?
Your ownership of the copyright to your book is established at the moment you create the manuscript. It is a good idea for you to include a copyright line, noting the copyright holder and the year. Registering your copyright with U.S. Copyright Office will provide you with certain advantages if you ever have to protect your book from infringement, however, it is not a requirement--no matter what you still own the copyright. If you choose to register the copyright in your book, it is your sole responsibility; Book Country will not do it for you.You can get more information on copyright at
http://www.copyright.gov.
Do I maintain the rights to my book if I publish with Book Country?
Yes. The rights to your book are completely yours and yours alone.
What happens to my subsidiary rights when I publish with Book Country?
Nothing! You keep all rights and claims to your book when you self publish with Book Country.
Can I print my book in hardcover?
Not at this time. We currently only print books in paperback.
At what trim size can I print my book?
We have three different trim sizes available for print books: 5 x 7, 5 1/2 x 8 1/4, and 6 x 9.
Can I choose my paper stock?
We currently have only one paper stock available, though hope to offer more as time goes on. We use a 40-lb groundwood paper stock that is commonly used by traditional publishers.
Do I get a copy of my final book files once my book is published?
While Book Country will not supply you with final files post-publication, you can save a copy of the PDFs of your interior and your cover in your desktop during the Final Review stage of the publishing process. At this time, final ePub files are only available to you if you purchase a non-DRM copy of your eBook.
Is there a limit to the size of the file I can upload?
Yes. Interior files and cover files cannot be larger than 4 MB.
Is there a minimum/maximum page count allowed?
There are no page count limitations if you are doing eBook only (eBook limits are based on file size and must be under 4MB), but there are page count limits if you are partaking in both print and eBook services. In such cases, your styled interior print file must be no shorter than 144 pages and no larger than 800 pages due to printer requirements.
How can I make my eBook/print book look more professional?
With Book Country, you are getting more than just a printed book and/or eBook file. You are getting a polished and professional book that you can be proud of. Our team of experienced publishing professionals has taken great pains to make the Book Country process as simple, streamlined, and "traditional" as possible, and we provide you with ISBNs, wide distribution, a professional interior design template and instructions, Cover Creator, and advice straight from industry insiders.
What is in the Book Country Publishing Kit?
The Book Country Publishing Kit is tailored to each publishing track. That is, User-formatted and Professional each have their own unique kits that will help prepare you and your manuscript for publication.
Professional publishing kit:
• Printable Self-publishing Checklist
• Interior Design Template Options and Descriptions
• Interior Design Samples
• Book Country Standard Front Matter Diagram
• Guide to Book Elements and Industry Standards
• Online Marketing Guide
User-formatted publishing kit:
• Printable Self-publishing Checklist
• Interior Design Template Files and Guides
• Book Country Standard Front Matter Diagram
• The Original Element Guide
• Formatting & Styling Guide
• Cover Design Tips and Recommendations
• Online Marketing Guide
I want to publish one of the books I have posted to my Book Country community page. Do I need to upload it here or will you import it from my Book Details page for me?
No problem! After you purchase your desired publishing service, you can choose from any of your community books to publish (or you can upload a new one--it's up to you!). We will automatically pull in any relevant content from the community to your publish flow, though you will always have the opportunity to adjust that data. You will, however, have to upload your interior file separately.
Can I edit my eBook/print book after it goes on sale?
No. Once you self publish on Book Country your book cannot be edited. If you want to publish a new edition of your book for a promotion or the like, you will need to purchase the service again and publish it as a new book.
What happens if I purchase Book Country self-publishing services and then change my mind?
Book Country services are non-refundable, so make sure you are prepared to commit before you purchase.
I'm paying for Professional (ebook/print book) services; why do I still need to download the templates? Can't I just upload my manuscript and let you do everything?
The templates in the Professional publishing kit are actually just samples so you can see the available design options--you have six different designs to choose from. You do not need to download the templates themselves. You do, however, need to select the template you would like our stylers to apply to your manuscript.
I'm using the Professional service and want to change my interior design style selection. Can I do that?
You can only change your interior design selection before you submit your interior file for formatting and styling. So be sure you've chosen the best template for your book before you confirm all your interior materials and they are sent to our team for processing.
I selected the Professional service and I already sent my interior file to the styler, but have changed my mind about publishing. What do I do?
We're sorry to hear that you have changed your mind. However, once you have submitted your files for processing, you cannot get them back until they are completed. You will have to approve your files once they are returned and then you can choose to set your distribution channel to PRIVATE, so no one can purchase your book except you. You can also simply not complete the process, though we don't recommend this tactic; you may decide you'd like to sell your book after all!
I chose the Professional service and I am having problems uploading my interior file. What am I doing wrong?
There are a few different reasons your file might not upload correctly. Please ensure that you are uploading an accepted file format (.doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt) and that you have removed all foreign characters, ornaments, images, and tables. If you have confirmed that all of these things have been done, you're welcome to email us at
support@bookcountry.com for assistance.
I'm using the Professional service. How long will it take to get my formatted and processed PDF?
It takes approximately 2-5 days for our stylers to format your interior file and return it to you for your review. You'll receive an email when it's ready.
I'm using the Professional service and would like to request changes. How long will it take to receive my updated file?
It takes approximately one week for our stylers to correct and update your file, though it may be faster depending on the extent of your changes. Remember, though, you are only allowed one round of changes, so the updated file you receive will be automatically approved as final.
I am choosing the user-formatted option; why do I have to pay a set-up fee if I’m doing all the work myself?
With Book Country, you are getting more than just printed book and/or eBook file. You are getting a polished and professional book that you can be proud of. Our team of experienced publishing professionals has taken great pains to make the Book Country process as simple, streamlined, and "traditional" as possible, and we provide you with ISBNs, wide distribution, a professional interior design template and instructions, Cover Creator, and advice straight from industry insiders.
I chose the user-formatted service but I'm having trouble formatting my interior. What do I do?
If you're having trouble formatting your interior, we suggest you re-read the Formatting & Styling Guide to ensure you are using the Template and Start-up document properly. Also make sure you are using the correct template for your version of Microsoft Word. You can also check out the Book Country forum to see if anyone else has had a similar problem and get help from your peers.
If you continue to have difficulty, you can contact us at
support@bookcountry.com. Additionally, you may want to consider upgrading to our Profressional service and have our stylers do it for you.
What happens if I purchase an upgrade to my self-publishing services and then want to downgrade again?
Book Country services are non-refundable, so make sure you are prepared to commit before you upgrade your services.
I have already designed my own interior file. Can I use that instead of a Book Country template?
No. We've designed a thorough and professional process for you to follow so your book can look like it's been traditionally published. Use one of our specially designed interior templates to take advantage of our expertise.
What formats do you support for uploading my manuscript?
For our user-formatted service, we only accept .doc or .docx files, as the template required to create your files properly is only compatible with Microsoft Word.
If you've chosen our Professional service, however, you can upload your file in any of the following formats: .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt.
What word processors/software programs can I use to style my user-formatted manuscript?
At this time, the Book Country formatting and styling process is only compatible with Microsoft Word versions 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2010. We are working hard to make more options available to you, such as OpenOffice, though have been encountering a number of technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience while we continue to make strides in this area.
What character sets are supported by Book Country? Can I use special characters (ie, á, â, ä, ê, ñ, ç, etc.) in my text?
Book Country only supports the Latin 1 character set, which encompasses your basic accented letters. Anything else--foreign characters, wingdings, etc.--will be stripped out of your file or returned to you to fix when you upload your interior.
I have illustrations for my manuscript. How do I add them?
Book Country does not support images in an interior file. All illustrations and graphics must be stripped out prior to uploading your file.
There's an error in my interior file. What do I do?
The process to correct errors in an interior file is different for our user-formatted and Professional services. If you are formatting the file yourself, you'll need to go back, fix the error in your file, and resubmit it to us. If you are having us format it for you, you have the opportunity to make 15 free formatting changes to your interior file, so you just need to request them using our webform. Any changes beyond 15, however, will have a $15 charge per change. Of course, changes to your interior file can only be made prior to approving your file.
How do I change my trim size?
To change your trim size, return to the "Download Publishing Kit" tab, which is the second section in the Publishing Checklist. Remember, though, if you have purchased professional formatting, you will only be able to change your trim size up until you've submitted your interior file. If you are formatting the file yourself, you will be able to change your trim size at any time, though bear in mind that any changes to your trim size will affect your cover and interior file as well. So, you will need to go back and make the appropriate adjustments to your project.
There are a lot of cover element options available. Are they all required?
No, most of the cover elements are optional. The only required elements are title and author on the front cover, contents (story description and/or praise) on the back cover, and the marketing description for eBook only. These areas are necessary for any external distribution feeds you may choose to explore now or down the road. There is also an exception for the front cover title and author requirement if you want to upload a fully designed cover that already incorporates those elements. You can check a box in the Cover Creator to let us know this is what you've done and we'll remove our front cover requirements.
I want to redesign my cover. What do I do?
If you have not yet submitted your book for publishing (at the Final Review stage), you can adjust your cover however you'd like. Just click on the Cover Design button in the Publishing Checklist and we'll redirect you back to our Cover Creator. You can make your changes and redesign as you see fit. Remember to mark your cover as complete though when you're finished!
Can I upload my own already designed cover art?
Of course. Just upload your cover as a full-bleed image (make sure it meets the appropriate image upload requirements though, noted below in this FAQ list) and make sure that you check the box letting us know that you've done so.
I'm choosing the eBook-only option. Do I need to have a cover?
Yes. Book Country requires a cover so that we can include your book in our Genre Map and other discovery tools. Our distribution network also requires a cover of some kind so that they can sell your book. Covers are marketing tools, and you'll want to do all you can to make your book memorable.
What image formats do you support?
Please upload your image in one of the following formats: .jpg, .png, .tiff. See the FAQ below for specific resolution requirements depending on the type of image and trim size you've selected.
What are your image upload requirements?
All images uploaded to Book Country should be 300 dpi or higher. Each type of image (author photo, half-height image, full-bleed image), however, does have a specific minimum resolution requirement for each trim size. Resolution is listed as width in pixels by height in pixels. These requirements exist so that your image is not distorted upon upload to fit the available space:
Full-bleed images:
5 x 7: 1500px x 2100px
5 ½ x 8 ¼: 1650px x 2475px
6 x 9: 1800px x 2700px
Half-height images:
5 x 7: 1500px x 1109px
5 ½ x 8 ¼: 1650px x 1300px
6 x 9: 1800px x 1415px
Author images:
5 x 7: 364px x 449px
5 ½ x 8 ¼: 405px x 535px
6 x 9: 446px x 586px
I have a photo credit I'd like to add from my cover and/or author photo. Where should I put it?
We recommend adding any credits or permissions to your copyright page, where all the other legal information regarding your book will appear.
What are my Marketing Details used for?
Marketing Details are for use on Book Country only, with the exception of the genre and subgenre, which will influence the BISAC codes that Book Country feeds out to the wide network. The information inputted in this section (short description, genre, tones, etc.) will appear on your title's Book Detail page and help to educate readers about your book.
What is a BISAC code? Why does Book Country select them for me? Can I make changes?
A BISAC code is a series of numbers and letters given to a variety of different subjects pertaining to fiction and non-fiction publications by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). These codes are required by most retailers and will help them categorize and sell your book properly. It is an industry standard to include up to three BISAC codes per title.
There are a large number of subjects to choose from and in genre fiction, it's particularly important to attach the most useful and relevant BISACs to your book. That's why we've done it for you and automatically categorize your book the way traditional publishers would. There is no way to make changes to your BISACs at this time.
How long will it take to create my eBook? What about my print book?
It takes approximately three weeks from the time you approve and submit your book for publishing for it to become available for purchase. You will be notified via email when it is ready. Both print and eBook formats will go on sale at the same time.
Why does it take three weeks to create an eBook?
Rather than running your manuscript through ePub-creation software that often generates results that frustrate or confuse readers, Book Country offers professional eBook coding, in which skilled ePub-conversion specialists handle each eBook manually. This process is not instantaneous as it involves individual work to code an eBook file that communicates subtlety to readers that is key to a satisfying and immersive reading experience. Book Country eBooks include proper indenting, spacing, and alignment, as well as drop caps (when included in the chosen interior template). Our coders will also do their best to address any formatting issues that result in distracting irregularities in an “instant” ebook process. Every Book Country eBook file will contain an accurately re-sized and embedded front cover image, as well as a linked table of contents.
My fonts didn't convert with my ePub file. Why?
At this stage in digital reading, fonts are dictated not by designers or publishers but by the devices and the permissions that they have to use various fonts in the books they display and sell. As such, fonts don't always carry over when your files are converted to ePub format and you view it on an eReading device.
Book Country automatically generated a preview of my book. Can I get this taken down if I don't want it?
Book Country generates a 5000-word preview of your book automatically to help readers get hooked on your book and drive them toward purchase. It is an important marketing and sales tool that is used throughout the site, both for published books and for community books. It is not an optional feature. You can make your book private if you do not want anyone to read or buy it.
Can readers download or print my book or my preview from the Book Country website?
No. Readers can only read your preview material on their computer screen. At this time, we do not allow downloading to devices, and we have turned off printing and copy/paste functionality to protect your work to the best of our ability.
What happens if I deactivate my account or remove my book from Book Country?
If you deactivate or remove your book from Book Country, your book (plus any reviews associated with your book) will be taken down from the site. Your author profile page and Book Detail page will also be removed. It may take a few hours for this to occur.
If you had been selling on the wide network, we will also notify our distribution network of the change in your book's status so they too can remove it from their sites. Please note that it may take longer for books to be removed from the wide network--each site will be working within their own procedures and policies.
You will also be paid any outstanding earnings from your book sales at our next monthly payment cycle.
I don't plan on it, but what happens to my book if I am banned from Book Country?
If you are banned from Book Country, any reviews and content associated with your book (comments on review, Book Detail page, etc.), and your profile page will be removed from the site. Any outstanding earnings balance will be paid to you at our next monthly payment cycle.
If you are banned from Book Country within six months of the date you purchased our publishing services, you will be refunded the full service price. After that six-month grace period, however, no refund will be administered.