Questions and Answers
At Harmon Press, we can get you into print easily. However, if this is your first experience in the publishing world and you haven’t found the answers you need surfing our site, here are some questions and answers that might help sum up your visit. If you have any specific question, please contact us throught the Contact Link.
How did you arrive at your name?
How long has Harmon Press been in business?
Why should I choose Harmon Press?
What is Print-on-Demand?
Who are the owners of Harmon Press?
What kinds of books do you publish?
Is there a process for reviewing my book during the Design phase?
How much time is involved to get my book in print?
Do I get to keep all the rights to my book?
How is Harmon Press different from other Print-on-Demand companies?
Will you return my phone calls?
Is there a minimum number of books that I have to purchase?
What is vanity publishing and how is Harmon Press different?
Will my book look good?
Will my book be stocked on the shelves of bookstores?
Will my book appear on Amazon.com?
Will I be listed in the Harmon Press Store?
How is the retail price of my book determined?
How do I pay for copies of my book when I purchase them?
Will my book have an ISBN and Barcode?
Will I own the copyright to my book?
What other costs can occur in addition to your submission fee?
Do you offer editorial services?
How did you arrive at your name?
Names are important. They help identify us to others. In our case, the name Harmon Press comes from Winn’s side of the family. Harmon was his dad’s name. So we named the company in honor of his dad who encouraged Winn from an early age to use his talent as a writer.
How long has Harmon Press been in business?
The idea for the company has been around since 2001. At that point in time, Print-on-Demand (POD) was just getting up and running. We waited for the business model of POD to find its way to success. We have now entered into the world of POD to help those authors who are not visible to the publishing world find a way into print that is easy and inexpensive as well as to help published authors who were in print once, but whose traditional publisher has decided not to reprint their work, to get back into print and never go out of print again.
Why should I choose Harmon Press?
Getting your book in print at Harmon Press is easy, fast, and is really affordable. When you have your mansucript ready, just send it to us and we will do the rest. We will Design your book’s interior and a full color cover. We will set it to print in such a way that you can get one book or thousands of books published as you have need. All rights are retained by the author. Your book will be listed in books-in-print for easy access to thousands of bookstores and libraries.
What is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-Demand means that an ordered book is printed at the time it is ordered. POD uses digital technology to print and then store your book. The avantage is that you only print when there is a market demand for your book. No more storing hundreds of boxes of books in you garage. With our technologically advanced printing system, we can produce a book of 500 pages in just about a minute. You get to decide the quantity.
Who are the owners of Harmon Press?
We are a Mom and Pop shop owned by Donna and Winn Griffin. Donna holds a Master of Education from University of Hawaii. She has taught in the public school system for over thirty years. She brings to this business a keen eye for syntax and grammar. She has proofread thousands of pages in the last thirty plus years. It’s difficult to get a mistake past her. Winn holds two Doctor of Ministry degrees, the first in Biblical Studies, the latter one in Leadership in the Emerging Culture. He has been publishing and printing since his first youth ministry job almost forty years ago. Having read hundreds of books, he knows what a page should look like in print, to invite the reader to feel comfortable and read with enjoyment.
What kinds of books do you publish?
We primarily publish Christian books. We also have imprints for Business and Technology. In the Christian book arena we publish books in many different categories including Theology, Bible Studies, Church Growth, Church Planting, Missional Church, Fiction, Biographies, and Poetry. Though some books just don’t easily fall into a specific category, we can also publish those kinds of books as well.
Is there a process for reviewing my book during the Design phase?
You will get to see both parts of your book, i.e., text, often called a galley, and cover in a PDF for your complete review before it goes to our printer.
How much time is involved to get my book in print?
For most book projects, it will take about three months from the time we receive your type-set ready manuscript. If you want to review a “hard copy” of your book before its final press appearance, you can add a minimum of one additional month in order to deliver the book back and forth between you and our office. Reviewing a “hard copy” has an additional cost associated with it. If you book needs to be scanned, it may take a minimum of an additional six weeks longer for your book to be published. As an author, you should not schedule any book parties, book signings, or promotions until you have your FREE copies in hand.
Do I get to keep all the rights to my book?
Absolutely! The publishing agreement that you sign is author-friendly. If you choose to take your book to another publisher, all you need to do is let us know in writing. Your manuscript remains your property and you retain complete ownership of it.
How is Harmon Press different from other Print-on-Demand companies?
We offer the new first-time author a way to get her/his book into print with the least amount of hassle and at the most affordable price. Most POD companies have a tiered “pay” platform. You usually get to choose between three, and sometimes more, packages to you as an author. Harmon Press takes what you usually get in the hightest price package and gives it to you for one low price. Why should you pay more for the same thing?
Will you return my phone calls?
We try to work with authors using email. We have discovered that it is the quickest and most efficient way to do business. Using email leaves a “paper trail” of all communications so there is little possibility to have a misunderstanding. However, if we need to talk via phone, we can do so or we can use electronic conversation using Skype. Our main goal is to service you at the fastest rate possible so you can hold your printed masterpiece in your hands as quickly as possible.
Is there a minimum number of books that I have to purchase?
No! There is absolutely no obligation for you to ever purchase even one book. Thousands of authors have thousands of copies of their books stored in their gargages. Our advanced technological printing equipment and storage allows you to order your book when you want to, even if you choose a minimum order of one book. Your book will be printed and shipped usually within 2-4 business days. Larger orders may take an additional 2-3 days. We ship all our orders via UPS.
What is vanity publishing and how is Harmom Press different?
A vanity publisher will often charge you to print a minimum number of books, sometimes as many as a thousand, and you have to store and distribute them however you can. The technology that is used by Harmon Press allows you to print your book when someone wants to buy your book. No bulk stored in a storage area. In addition, we help by providing distribution of your books for you on the Net, through bookstores. You also get a royalty for the books that we sell for you from the Store at Harmon Press. You drive your customers there and we do the rest.
Will my book look good?
The books published by Harmon Press will look and feel like any book you see and buy in a bookstore or hold in your hands in a library. The paper we print on produces eye-ease. It is printed on acid-free paper. The cover is printed on laminiated high-quality stock. We can print books with a minimum of 48 pages and a maxium of 500 pages. Some larger books may be printed for an additional cost.
Will my book be stocked on the shelves of bookstores?
Each individual store makes that decision. We don’t promise that any store will stock your book. Having said that, most bookstores in the USA will be able to search for your title, find it, and order it for their stores.
Will my book be stocked on the shelves of bookstores?
Harmon Press works with amazon.com so that your book will be listed and can be purchased online. It will also be listed in Google Books, Barnes and Noble, and lots of other online businesses.
Will my book appear on Amazon.com?
Harmon Press works with amazon.com so that your book will be listed and can be purchased online. It will also be listed in Google Books, Barnes and Noble, and lots of other online businesses.
Will I be listed on the Harmon Press Store?
Yes, we will design your very own book page for your book. Authors receive a royalty from all books sold from the Harmon Press Store
How is the retail price of my book determined?
The retail price is determined by your book’s page count. The retail price is imbedded (hidden) in the bar code, so retailers will know how to price your book. But the price is not printed on your book. This way you may offer your book at whatever price you choose.|
Retail Price Chart 2007-2008
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| Book Page Count | Trade Paperback Retail Price |
Oversize Paperback (8.25 x 11) Retail Price |
Hardcover Retail Price |
| 48-104 | $10.99 | $14.99 | n/a |
| 105-124 | $12.99 | $15.99 | $26.99 |
| 125-199 | $13.99 | $17.99 | $28.99 |
| 200-249 | $14.99 | $18.99 | $29.99 |
| 250-299 | $15.99 | $19.99 | $28.99 |
| 300-349 | $17.99 | $21.99 | $30.99 |
| 350-399 | $19.99 | $23.99 | $32.99 |
| 400-449 | $23.99 | $29.99 | $38.99 |
| 450-500 | $25.99 | $31.99 | $40.99 |
How do I pay for copies of my book when I purchase them?
Harmon Press accepts checks, money orders, and payment through PayPal. We do not invoice authors for their books. Payment must be made when an author places an order for her/his book. Check orders take additional time for processing.
Will my book have an ISBN and Barcode?
Harmon Press assigns an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) which is required by book distributers so they can track and order your book. Harmon Press also supplies a machine-readable Barcode to the back of your book cover.
Will I own the copyright to my book?
Yes! To accomplish this, you will need to contact the U.S. Copyright Office for information on how to copyright your work. However, when you wrote your manuscript, the material is automatically copyrighted. Registering the book through the U.S. Copyright Office is a formal way to secure copyright and will provide you better recourse if there is an infringement on the copyright.
What other costs can occur in addition to your submission fee?
Other fees can occur if you choose other services by Harmon Press. As an example, if you were to choose for Harmon Press to proof your manuscript, there would be an additonal fee. Or, if an author should request a change to be made in the interior of their book or on their cover while the book is in its production phase, there would be additional fees.
