Publish A “Nimble” Book With Us

After much experimentation with formats, page lengths, and styles over the past few years, we think we have found a “sweet spot” that delivers good value for money.

This new format for “nimble” books is color interior, 32 to 120 pages long, 8 x 10. For examples, visit the Nimble Books store. (I should add that we are entirely willing to entertain proposals for “traditional” format books.)

The price to the customer varies with page length, but we use a pricing algorithm that results in author compensation of about $3 per book. (Here is our standard contract).  Of course, sales vary from book to book, so  royalties do too.

The manuscript should be 7,000 to 40,000 words long minus approximately 400 words for each image. Excluding the front and back matter, that works out to 23 to 111 pages for the body of the manuscript (including images, which are typically presented in full-page format). The sad truth is that many (if not) most full-length books today are padded. Sometimes it can be more artistically effective to work within constraints.

Images must be 72dpi resolution or greater; color, if at all possible; and provided with either explicit permission to use from the owner or with a strong “no copyright” rationale.

To be clear, the availability of color images is not a requirement; it’s a nice-to-have. This format does work with straight text or with B&W illustrations, but color helps differentiate the book and add value for the customer.

The “content package” that seems to motivate purchase best is a substantial number of beautiful images plus pointed, insightful commentary on a topic that is attractive to enthusiasts.

These are some of our series and titles (current and planned):

Ideas for other topics are quite welcome.

The important thing to understand about the financial side is that this is micropublishing. I will be quite happy with a book that sells 10 copies a month. This is not a way to get rich; I would suggest that you think about it more like adding a revenue stream to your blog. By that measure this approach stacks up pretty well. Each book purchased (anywhere in the world) is like a $3 ad click. There are no fees to the author, ever, and we bear all costs of publication.

Incidentally, I have no objection if you wish to compose your book as a series of blog entries, then turn a manuscript over to me for “nimble” publication. Our standard contract gives Nimble exclusive rights to publication in book form, but all other rights are reserved to the author.

This format should work for you if:

  • You have pointed, interesting text in hand that you want to “repurpose” or try out in print, or
  • You have beautiful color photos or art in hand, or
  • You pick a topic that is easily illustrated with high-quality public domain images (e.g. space, ships, history before 1922)

and …

  • You have a blog or some sort of platform that gives you the ability to drive traffic or…
  • You pick a topic that is keyword-friendly or …
  • You pick a topic that is beloved by enthusiasts.

Our Nimble Books Marketing Playbook provides advice on how to maximize your online sales.

Please use the proposal form below and we will respond promptly. A paragraph or two is enough description, but if you already have a book proposal or sample chapters ready, feel free to attach them.

Submit a Proposal for a Nimble Book
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