FAQs about STORIES TO TELL

How long has Stories To Tell been in business?

Nancy Barnes founded Stories To Tell in 2004. Since then we have helped hundreds of authors to independently self-publish their books.

Where is Stories To Tell located?

Stories To Tell is based in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. and our team is scattered all over the USA. We serve authors nationwide and even internationally. Although we frequently meet with clients who live locally and make new friends at book events, most of our communication is done by phone and email.

Can I see the Stories To Tell contract?

Here it is. http://www.storiestotellbooks.com/the-fine-print/

Do you have a privacy guarantee?

Absolutely! Our commitment to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of the intellectual property you send us is described in the Stories To Tell contract.

How do I send Stories To Tell my book files?

It is best to send us two separate files, one for your book’s text and a separate folder  for any images (photos, illustrations or graphics) you want to include. The text can be sent as a MS Word or Pages file. Images should be scanned and sent as .tiff, .psd, or .jpeg. Make sure you scan images at a high resolution. A minimum of 300 ppi is required for book printing.

Your files can be sent as email attachments, or if you have particularly large files, we will be happy to send you an invitation to share a Dropbox file with us. When the folder is set up you will be able to simply drag and drop you text and images into Dropbox. Also, if your draft is already designed with images it is likely to be too large for email, so it is best to ask us for a shared Dropbox folder.

When should I send my book files to Stories To Tell?

That depends on what you need. Some authors send us a pretty rough draft for a manuscript evaluation to help them make revisions before moving ahead to content or copy editing. Others prefer to have their draft read by beta readers and make revisions before sending it to us. If you need our design services only, you should have the text of your book edited and fully locked down before sending it. If you are not sure whether you are ready to send your files, drop us an email or call us. We will help you decide.

What if I already have an editor or designer?

That’s fine! We work with many authors who have had some aspect of their project completed before they contact us. We are happy to help you at whatever phase of the process of in publishing a book you may be in. Just let us know what you need and we will be happy to provide that service.

What if my book is not really for profit?

We work with many authors, especially family historians and memoirists, who have written books for a limited audience of family and friends. We often refer to this as a private printing. If you need a private printing, we’ll help you to choose a printer that will help you print a high quality book at the best possible price.

Can you help me sell my books even if I published with someone else?

Absolutely! We offer marketing services for all kinds of authors who have published in many different places.

What are Stories To Tell’s payment terms?

We offer a variety of payment terms. For services involving a relatively quick turnaround time and modest price like our manuscript evaluation we require a single payment when we begin work. For more complex projects of longer duration we usually divide the cost into three payments, one before we begin, one approximately midway through the project, and the final payment when you authorize us to print your book.

We understand that authors have budgets and will work with you to fit yours. If you have more questions about our payment terms, or would prefer smaller payments, let us know.

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What can I expect when I work with an editor?