Are you strictly e-book, or are you print as well?

     While I do offer electronic publication, I prefer to avoid what is currently little more than a 'racket'. Very few actual ebooks are sold, and there are too many formats for this market to currently be competitive. While I think that a segment of the population, and perhaps a growing segment as technology changes, will purchase ebooks, the vast majority of book readers/buyers would rather walk through an aisle, pick a tome from the shelf, and flip through the pages. This being, I prefer to concentrate more on print publication and (my original purpose for opening this company) audio books.

Does your company accept returns?

Every book published by AIB is eligible to be returned for full credit, provided the tome remains in saleable condition.

For any product from which the cover has been removed or damage has occurred prior to its return will be charged the wholesale price. You cannot remove wiring from a television and expect the company to refund the purchase price; I will not accept damaged goods for return credit.

For any items damaged during shipping, AIB will exchange the damaged item for an identical item.

How does your editing process work?

     The first round of editing is handled during the submission/acceptance process. The full manuscript is returned to the author with hand-written notes for correction and/or rebuttal. The author then returns the completed item for a line-by-line, chapter-by-chapter deep detail edit. The author is assigned one editor to work with, but all decisions are passed through the editorial board.

I've been doing research and heard about this thing called Print On Demand, What does it mean, and why should it concern me?

     The term Print On Demand means just that: books are printed one at a time, as they are ordered. This technology is mostly used for keeping backlisted titles in print. However, many newer publishers use this method for distribution. Many bookstores will only order through proven channels rather than through the publisher's sales office. For those bookstores, the only means for small publishers to have their titles available is through POD printing. However, it can also be used for short run printing for the publisher's stock. This allows a small publishing house to maintain a shorter stock of titles and not have the need for an extensive warehouse.

     AIB uses both methods of POD for the above purposes. While AIB does utilize POD printing for the trade paperbacks, mostly we use short press runs from a reputable printer. This way, we can control the discount price for bookstore shelves.

How important are grammar skills? If I have trouble with knowing all of the grammar rules, how detrimental is this to my possible acceptance?

     I have seen submissions come in which the author apparently had no concept of the English language. This author had his/her work returned with a simple notice not to submit anything further until he/she had completed and passed high school level English courses. AIB is willing to work with authors, within reason. The scale of within reason is based on the editorial board and the time availability of our staff.

Should I use a professional editor prior to submission?

     Every manuscript needs editing. However, I would not recommend hiring a professional editor unless you feel you need the assistance for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

     Every manuscript accepted by AIB will undergo a thorough editing process for all of the above mentioned items, as well as flow, reality/believability, and "loose ends".

What sort of input do I have on the editing process?  The cover art process?

     The author is not only part of the editing process, the author is a MAJOR part of the editing process. No structural changes are made without author consent.  Minor changes (such as improper word usage, spelling, small grammatical errors) are made and the author is notified of the changes and the reason behind them.

     The same is true for the cover art. AIB is centered around author participation and reality. Publishing is not a game. It is not easy money. There are literally thousands of authors whose work is on the shelf with which every book must compete. AIB does not take this lightly. The cover art must fit the contents of the book. The cover art must be approved by both the author and AIB, or the process will continue until such agreement is reached.

How are your royalties calculated?  Paid?

     Royalties are calculated according to the RETAIL PRICE of the book.

     Royalty statements/checks are sent every 3 months. Checks are only mailed AFTER the amount of royalties EXCEEDS the amount of the advance.

Do you offer an advance?  How much?

     The advance for each book is different. Advances are based on how well I think your book will sell. If I don't think you will exceed $200 in royalties, then you will not receive anything more than a $200 advance. Of course, if I don't think you will manage to receive at least $200 in royalties, you won't receive a contract in the first place.

What do I do if I have a question regarding a royalty statement/check I have received?

     The obvious answer to this is to either email or call AIB. Questions will be answered as soon as possible. If the answer is unacceptable to you, please continue to converse with the company. Most times, an amicable understanding can be reached. AIB has 4 conditions for everything and everyone: Honesty, Integrity, Trust, and Respect. As long as those 4 rules apply, this should be an enjoyable journey for all involved.

What should I do if I have not received a reply?

     Please ask again. Being such a small company, sometimes things get overlooked in the daily running of the business. While I try to keep up, I am bound to miss something.

What can you do for me that other publishers can't do?

AIB is dedicated to serving our authors and producing quality products. Above and beyond that, though, we want our authors to know that we are available for any concerns at any time, and we am not spread so thin between thousands of authors that we cannot even remember the name of their work. Again, we are not only investing in ink on paper; we are investing in our authors. These are the people who have done the work, and AIB is trying to showcase it. If we have too many projects going all at one time, we are not able to concentrate on one project to make it succeed in the manner it should.