Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of our Frequently Asked Questions.

General

Why should I publish with Rowanvale Books?
As a company, we have five values: Ambition, Efficiency, Trust, Enjoyment and Energy.  These core beliefs, alongside our infectious passion for helping authors reach their potential, means that Rowanvale is able to deliver top-quality books over and over again. In the online world of today, it is fair to say there are limitless self-publishing opportunities, though some are a lot more reliable than others. Having a relationship of trust between us and our authors is extremely important, therefore we ensure you maintain complete control over the entire publication process.
What makes you different from other companies?
In contrast to the majority of our competitors, we think it is extremely important to create a close relationship with our authors. We do this by offering continuous one-to-one support from a personal Project Account Manager, who will be available to answer your every question and tackle your every wish. Your vision is our vision, and we aim only to exceed what our authors have imagined for their writing. Finally, an outstanding factor within Rowanvale’s self-publishing services is our ethos that every author and book are unique and should be treated as such. We are determined to tailor our packages to each individual author, ensuring that all budgets are met and manageable for our authors. This is possible through flexible payment options. Furthermore, authors have the flexibility to pick and choose exactly what services they need, so packages are adapted to be entirely bespoke.
What is an eBook?
An eBook is an electronic version of a regular, physical book, that can be read on a computer or eBook reader such as Kindles or iPads. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry saw a dramatic increase in eBook sales. This occurrence made it an attractive and flexible option for self-publishing authors, due to the eBook’s adaptability to a variety of markets. At Rowanvale, we agree that eBooks are a brilliant option for self-publishing authors, and we offer a variety of eBook Publishing Packages to suit and assist your individual needs throughout the self-publishing process.
For more information about eBooks and what they can do for a self-publishing author, check out Rowanvale’s recommended blog post: A Beginner’s Guide to eBooks.
What are the advantages to publishing in eBook format?
If you find yourself believing the rumour that the paperback market is dead in today’s technological world, we urge you to think again. Despite the undeniable popularity of eBooks, paperback sales are still growing. The latest statistics clearly indicate that making physical copies of your book is fundamental to self-publishing authors, especially early-career writers trying to reach their target audience. It is important to remember that many people don’t own an e-reader or an Amazon Kindle account, meaning that paperbacks remain the preferred method of choice for a majority of readers.
Feeling inspired? Find out more about our Paperback Publishing Services here.
What is an ISBN number?
An ISBN Number is a 13 digit number that identifies a specific book within the global retail market. The shortened name is an acronym for International Standard Book Number and every edition, form (e.g hardback, audiobook) and translation requires a new, unique number to categorise it within the publishing sphere.
Do you have many retained authors?
At Rowanvale, we pride ourselves on our exceptional author care, prioritising great customer service over anything else. These aspects of the company are continuously recognised by our authors, and is reflected in our 30% return rate from over 160 published writers! Our clients often publish sequels and trilogies with us, trusting our publishing process with their work time and time again. Alongside this, we also have a few authors who consistently publish standalone books with us, ranging from 5 to 20 titles each! Check out our published authors page to explore the shining successors who trusted us with their work, and if you can see yourself there in the future, get in touch with a Publishing Advisor to make it happen with Rowanvale.
How are books printed?
Rowanvale’s Online Book Store uses the Print-on-Demand method, meaning that the royalties are calculated after the cost of printing has been deducted. One of the main advantages of the POD method is that it allows for unlimited printing. There is no longer any need for reprints or storing surplus stock as each book is printed only in response to an order. This is the same method that is used to supply retailers, making the distributing process completely hassle-free for our authors. You’ll also never find your work “out of stock”, as every time someone orders your book from us, we will get printing right away!

Royalties

What rate of royalties do authors receive for sales via author copies?
At Rowanvale, we understand how excited your friends and family will be to get their hands on your newly published work. So, should you wish to order some of your own stock copies for this reason, you get to keep 100% of the royalties. This differs from royalty rates on sales made via the Rowanvale online store and through other retailers, as we know these copies will be bought directly by those who care about you most!
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding royalties or, for more information on book royalties for self-publishing authors, check out these recommendations:
What rate of royalties do authors receive for paperback or Hardback sales via retailers?
When selling paperbacks or hardbacks via retailers, Rowanvale authors have a royalty rate of 65% after the retailer has made their deductions. For an industry comparison, the world’s largest self-publisher only offers 10%! This highly competitive rate reflects our company’s belief in providing a fair self-publishing process for the authors that choose to work with us.
How much do retailers deduct from self-publishing author royalties?
The deduction rate of book retailers varies considerably between each distributor and the terms they have as a company. However, our self-publishing authors can maintain control by requesting a limit on the maximum deduction that can be offered to retailers. The common deduction rate for paperback sales tends to be around 30-40%, though retailers are more likely to stock your book in their bookshops if the royalty rate is higher, often around 55%.

Here is an example of a royalty calculation based on a book with an RRP (recommended retail price) of £9.99 and a unit cost of £2.50.
Retail Paperback sale example:
Paperback RRP = £9.99
Retailer Deduction = 40% 
Minus Unit Cost of £2.50
Net Amount = £3.49
Your Royalties (65%) = £2.27

Marketing

Is marketing important for a self-published book?
Though the main aim is certainly to publish your work, this is only half the battle for self-publishing writers. We know you’ve worked hard to get your novel to the publishing stage, but what remains in the process relies heavily on a successful marketing strategy. This stretches throughout the entire retail industry, not just in self-publishing, as management guru Peter Drucker once said, “Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two – and only these two, basic functions: marketing and innovation”. In the modern world, having a digital marketing strategy has become increasingly important, as over 3.6 million people worldwide now use social media. Ultimately, you will become what we call an ‘authorpreneur’, your book will become a product in the global retail market, and the indicator of an entrepreneur with a successful product is their sales!
How can Rowanvale help me market my book?
Luckily for you, here at Rowanvale we have a dedicated marketing team on hand to help our authors achieve their greatest potential. They can assist you in a number of ways, such as gaining reviews for your book, running social media campaigns, and even getting your work onto popular marketplaces like Amazon, and into big-name bookstores like Waterstones. We know that effective marketing guarantees more sales for our authors, and thereby we believe that investing in a successful marketing campaign is significantly important for those who wish to see good returns on their novel. As the largest self-publishing company in Wales, we think that every story is important, and through the varying marketing services we offer, we want to help others see this as well.
Make sure to check out our blog for more useful marketing info, such as:
Should I set up a social media account for my book?
In the digital landscape of today, having a physical marketing presence is no longer enough. We know that you want as many people to know about your novel as possible, so why limit your readership exposure to the conventional marketing strategies by ignoring the powers of social media? To avoid this aspect of modern-day marketing would be a crucial misstep as a self-publishing author, especially after working so hard on your novel. We appreciate that some authors struggle navigating the world of social media, therefore our friendly Marketing Advisors can do this for you via our Marketing & Aftercare Service. 
Do Rowanvale offer any social media management services?
At Rowanvale, we have an in-house marketing team with distinct social media talents that can certainly assist you in creating an online presence for your work. Be it through building an online website, or setting up a personal blog, our team can help you create a stable online fan base for your work. They also assist in running social media campaigns, providing lessons on how to market a book via Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram – the latter notably deemed the most important social media site for marketing, according to 90% of US marketers. With our help, we’re certain that you’ll have no trouble with building a glowing social media presence, and through this, a fanbase for your books! After all, we strongly believe that “you have to establish and build relationships with the people who’ve interacted” with your product, and where better to do this than on your own social media?
Before deciding whether to invest in our various marketing packages, why not check out our blog for more useful – and free! – tips and tricks for marketing your self-published book? Here are our recommendations to get you started:
When will my Marketing Advisor get in touch?
Within our Marketing and Aftercare Service, we offer our authors a personal Marketing Advisor to guide them through the process. When your novel is all ready to go, one of our team will get in touch with you - this is normally about a month before your book’s publishing date. Your Marketing Advisor will be ready and able to answer any questions you have, and together you will create a plan to market your book down your chosen avenues. These avenues vary from the physical shelves of brick-and-mortar bookstores like Waterstones, to the virtual shelves of Amazon, specifically the highly coveted #1 bestseller spot! Regardless of where you visualise the marketing of your work, our team are here to help!