Publishing & Author Services from Tommies Guides.

Tommies Guides Publishing FAQ's -

Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers for your reference.  If anything is at all unclear or you have some unanswered questions, please do get in touch.  We are here to help.

Q. How do I get a book produced if it is not available in a file?
Simply provide us with hard copy which we can either type in or scan, or for reprints supply us with an existing book which we can disassemble and scan in order to produce a digital file ready for printing. This service will be quoted to you upon receipt of the book.

Q. What formats and bindings can you print?
Our books are produced in the formats and bindings listed here.

Q. What paper are your books printed on?
We use 80gsm offset for the text and 250gsm cover stock for soft covers. Full details can be found here.

Q. Can you reproduce line drawings and duotones?
Yes. Please note that these should be supplied at a minimum of 300 DPI resolution. The quality of reprint duotones will be dependent on whether the book was scanned from a hard copy or originally prepared for printing digitally.  If for example you have the text in a file and photos as hardcopy, we can scan these for you at an additional charge.

Q. What is the minimum and maximum number of pages?
The minimum is 48 and the maximum is 750.

Q. Who controls or decides which format the book is to be produced in?
As the author, you retain full control of format, pricing, etc. However, our recommended price for our 250 page specification is £11.95.

Q. Are there minimum and maximum quantities?
In choosing our services you automatically receive a set number of copies. Once the book is published orders can be from a minimum of one copy.

Q. How good is the quality compared to original books?
It depends on the quality of the original. If we are scanning from hard copy the quality of the finished book will not be better than your original.

Q. Can you reprint in a paperback edition if we only have a hardback edition available?
The text is no problem but the hardcover jacket will need to be reproduced to suit the new paperback cover.

Q. When reprinting from an old book, what happens to the disassembled book?
The book will be returned to you but obviously not in its original condition.

Q. What formats can you accept and how can I send it?
Ideally Microsoft Word format (or rich text format). Please see our production notes page for more details.

Q. What happens to the book file once it has been produced?
It is held it on a secure server with a back-up copy for three years. After this time you have the option to withdraw your title or re-list it with us.

Q. Will I get a proof copy to check before you print the first copy of the book?
Yes, we require you to sign off a proof copy to authorise printing.

Q. Do you ever refuse to print a book if insufficient quality?
We would alert you to concerns we may have, and ask for changes and improvements to be made before proceeding further.  This is of course your final  decision.

Q. How long does it take to set a new book up?
This varies, depending upon the amount of work involved. Setting up a digital file is much quicker than scanning hard copy, and pages received correctly laid out require less preparation than those not.  We usually anticipate a timescale of approximately 90 days from receipt of a file to publication.

Q. How quickly can you print orders?
Once the title is set up on the system, print on demand titles are usually supplied within 10 days of the order being received.

Q. Who controls the right to print?
As the author, you controls the right to print.

Q. Who controls the book rights?
You retains all rights at all times.

Q. How do I get paid?
At the end of each quarter, Tommies Guides provide you with a breakdown of sales for any titles and send you a statement and cheque for any royalties due.

Q. Can I make changes to the book?
You can make changes to the book up until the sample copy is printed. If any changes are required once you have received your sample copy, other than errors made by us or by the print set-up, an additional charge will be made. Therefore, to save yourself additional expense it is imperative that the initial manuscript is as near perfect as possible.  For further editions of the same book the same rules apply.

Q. Who is responsible for advising Whitaker, Book Data etc.?
Tommies Guides look after this for you when using any of our packages.

Q. Can digitised text be used in other formats?
Yes. If the file is supplied in digital form this is a straightforward exercise. If we have produced a file by scanning a book the file will need to be reformatted which could take up to 30 days. This will incur an additional charge.

Q. How can I reuse the digital file you supply?
It can be reformatted to enable it to be used electronically and downloaded via the internet to a PC or to other e-book readers for example.

Q. Who is responsible for clearance of digital rights?
It is the author's responsibility to obtain clearance for all text and illustrations for digital use. Our contract requires that you indemnify us against any infringements of other people's copyright, and where appropriate supply us with written proof.  If you are unsure of anything we will provide help and contact information for guidance.

Q. Can I change the price?
The price is partly dictated by the cost of production, i.e. the bigger the book the more the cost and we always recommend a suitable price.