do i need an agent to submit my manuscript?

No! We accept manuscripts from un-agented authors all the time. However, agents are welcome to submit their clients’ manuscripts as well.

How does Intermundia evaluate manuscripts?

Each manuscript submitted for publishing under Intermundia Publishing goes through a number of steps before a decision is made:

1. We take a look at your query letter and your synopsis to determine if we are interested in reading the manuscript.

2. If we like what we see, we feed your manuscript through AI detection software. We only publish human-authored books and take steps to ensure we do just that!

3. Both our CEO and our Managing Partner will each read at least a few chapters of your manuscript. If they are in agreement that you and your book would be a great fit for Intermundia, our Managing Partner will contact you with a contract offer.

4. We will set up a phone call or a video chat with you to discuss contract terms. We highly encourage you to take some time to think things over and have an attorney look over your offer before you decide whether to accept.

5. We will always reach out if we need additional info at any time during the process. You can feel free to do the same.
   

How long does it take you to evaluate a manuscript?

Our timeframe depends a lot on everything else we have going on at any particular time. You can generally expect to hear from us with 4-12 weeks, and yes, we will let you know what we decide one way or the other. We don’t like being ghosted either!

What if intermundia rejects my manuscript?

Please keep trying! Just because we’re not able to publish your manuscript right now doesn’t mean it isn’t any good or that you’re a terrible writer. We may have too many projects right now, or we may be working on a similar title that would be direct competition for yours. Although your manuscript is personal to you, a rejection from us is simply a business decision, not a personal judgment.

If you don’t want to keep hunting for an agent or a publisher, we would love to help you self-publish with one of our self-publishing packages. And if you’re just not confident in your writing skills yet, we even offer author coaching to help with that.

If I purchase a self-publishing package, do I have to submit my manuscript for review first?

No, our self-publishing packages are completely separate from our traditional publishing services that require the manuscript evaluation process outlined above. With a self-publishing package, we aim to support you in your self-publishing journey. You keep all the rights and royalties, but you are also responsible for selling your book yourself, booking events, scheduling publicity, etc.

What’s the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing?

With self-publishing, the author owns all the rights and the profits but also all the work and the risk. It can cost a few thousand dollars to self-publish a book, and do it well. Authors can expect to incur costs for editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, professional reviews from Kirkus or Publisher’s Weekly, marketing, award applications, and even purchasing ISBN’s for each format. However, you also have complete control over how long the book is, what the art will look like, what parts of the story to keep or discard, and how you’ll go about the whole process. You also get to keep 100% of the profits.

Traditional publishing involves signing a contract with a publishing company who becomes the owner of your book’s rights. They now have a say in how to market, how to edit, and how to design everything for your book. Bigger publishers often hold all creative control and may not give their authors a lot of say in how their book is handled. Indie publishers, like Intermundia, tend to view publishing as a team effort in which the author’s voice carries just as much weight as, if not more than, the rest of the team. In trad publishing, the author typically only receives a percentage of the profits (royalties) that are paid out quarterly, but they also have the benefit of a team of publishing professionals to help them get the work done, both before and after the book is released. And you don’t have to pay us a dime!