Professional publishing.
Transparent pricing.
No gimmicks.
Every Dilettante book meets professional standards — without vanity-press tricks or fine print
John Daughety
Core Publishing Agreement — Two Paths
Includes first year’s administrative costs. Author keeps 100% of net royalties, forever.
- One-time payment, no publisher percentage
- Annual admin renews at $300 after year one (optional)
- Clean, predictable, no surprises
Author receives 90% of net royalties; Dilettante retains 10%, capped at $1,500 per quarter. Anything above the cap is yours.
- Quarterly payouts at $100 threshold; annual sweep if below
- No hidden holdbacks or fees
- Same professional production as Path One
Tip: If you prefer simplicity and keeping every cent, choose Path One.
* Returns Reserve: We maintain a $250 reserve on every title to cover bookstore returns through Ingram. This fund is part of the Core Agreement. If it’s never used, the balance is refunded within 90 days if you choose not to renew your contract. If a return does occur, the reserve is replenished automatically from future royalties before payouts.
Every Dilettante book gets this, standard
Interior layout & typesetting
Black-and-white text with up to 10 images; 3 revision rounds included (then $75/round).
Print-ready PDFs
Preflighted for IngramSpark & KDP.
eBook formatting
Kindle + EPUB delivered and tested (images in EPUB are finicky; Core assumes text-first books).
ISBNs
Up to four: paperback, hardcover, Kindle, EPUB.
Cataloging
LCCN via the LOC PCN Program, PCIP block, and MARC record for the primary print edition.
Professional proofreading
Final proof included before publication.
Cover design (baseline)
Professional stock-based cover tailored to genre. We’ll use yours if it meets our standards.
Proof copies
Amazon + Ingram proofs managed for you.
Distribution
Domestic & international via KDP + Ingram under our imprint.
Complex projects (children’s, art/photo, coffee-table, >10 images, non-standard trim) may require additional setup and are quoted before signing.
John Daughety
Editing & Professional Standards
Every book under the Dilettante Press imprint must meet professional editing standards before it enters production. At minimum, this means a full copy edit to ensure clarity, consistency, and polish.
Proofreading is included in the Core Publishing Agreement. Copy editing is required but not included, since costs vary by manuscript length and condition. According to industry data (Reedsy, Editorial Freelancers Association), typical rates are:
- Copy editing: $0.02–$0.04 per word
- Developmental editing: $0.03–$0.07 per word
For example, an 80,000-word manuscript might cost $1,600–$3,200 for copy editing. Authors may hire their own editor (with proof of work) or work with one of our vetted freelancers.
Managed Services
Some parts of publishing are best handled by specialists. You’re always welcome to hire your own freelancers directly, but if you’d prefer, we can manage the process for you — sourcing, coordinating, and quality-checking the work.
Editing (required): Every manuscript must have at least a copy edit before layout. Proofreading is included in the Core Agreement. If we manage your editing process, we charge a flat $175 coordination fee, plus the editor’s fee at industry rates.
Other services: We can also arrange custom illustrated covers, translations, indexing for nonfiction, or special layouts (cookbooks, photo-heavy, or non-standard formats). These are quoted case by case.
John Daughety
Ready to see if your book is a fit?
How long is the contract?
All Core Publishing Agreements run for one year and automatically renew unless either party provides written notice (email is fine) at least 60 days before the renewal date.
What happens if I don't renew?
If you ever choose to move on, we’ll handle the wind-down professionally: books are removed from distribution, ISBNs are marked out of print, and files are returned to you without the imprint attached. Any remainder of your $250 Returns Reserve is refunded within 90 days.
Who owns my book?
You do. Authors keep full copyright. Dilettante Press only holds publishing rights for the duration of the contract.
How are royalties paid?
Flat-fee path: you keep 100% of net royalties.
Shared-upside path: you receive 90% of net royalties, with our 10% share (capped at $1,500 per quarter - you receive 100% of net after that). Payouts are quarterly once royalties reach $100. Any royalties accrued are paid out at the end of the contract term unless renewed.
Do you guarantee bookstore placement?
No publisher can promise that honestly. What we guarantee is professional production and distribution through KDP + Ingram, which makes your book available to bookstores and libraries worldwide.
How are returns handled?
Bookstores order through Ingram under returnable terms. To protect authors, we maintain a $250 Returns Reserve on every title to cover bookstore returns through Ingram. This fund is part of the Core Agreement. If it’s never used, the balance is refunded within 90 days if you choose not to renew your contract. If a return does occur, the reserve is replenished automatically from future royalties before payouts are made. More information about returns and how they work is available in the Returns section of the FAQ.
