Author Resources
Everything you need to know as a Futures Publishing author
| This guide is for authors who have signed with Futures Publishing. If you are looking to submit a manuscript for the first time, please visit our Submit a Manuscript page. |
1. Welcome to Futures Publishing
Congratulations on becoming part of the Futures Publishing family. We are committed to supporting you at every stage of the publishing journey — from the moment you sign your contract through to the day your book reaches readers and beyond.
This resource hub brings together everything you need in one place: editorial timelines, royalty information, marketing support, rights guidance, and contacts for your dedicated publishing team.
2. Your Publishing Team
From the moment your contract is signed, you will be assigned a dedicated team. Here is who you will work with and what they do:
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Commissioning Editor | Your primary contact. Oversees your manuscript from acquisition to final delivery. |
| Developmental Editor | Provides substantive feedback on structure, narrative, and content. |
| Copy Editor | Checks grammar, consistency, style, and language clarity. |
| Proofreader | Final review before the book goes to print or digital distribution. |
| Publicity & Marketing | Plans your book launch, media outreach, and promotional campaigns. |
| Rights Manager | Handles translation rights, foreign editions, and licensing enquiries. |
| Royalties Team | Manages your royalty statements, payment schedules, and account queries. |
3. The Editorial Process
Understanding what happens to your manuscript after you submit it helps set expectations and reduces uncertainty. Below is a typical timeline from signed contract to publication.
Stage 1 — Manuscript Delivery
Submit your completed manuscript to your Commissioning Editor by the agreed delivery date. Accepted formats: .docx (preferred) or .rtf. Please follow the style guide provided at contract stage.
- Use double-spacing throughout with 1-inch margins
- Number all pages and chapters clearly
- Include a title page with your name, working title, word count, and contact details
- Submit any images, tables, or figures as separate, labelled files
Stage 2 — Developmental Edit
Your Developmental Editor will read the full manuscript and provide detailed notes on structure, pacing, character (for fiction), or argument clarity (for non-fiction). This stage typically takes 4–8 weeks. You will be given time to revise before the manuscript moves forward.
Stage 3 — Copy Edit
Once the revised manuscript is approved, a Copy Editor works through the text line by line. You will receive a tracked-changes document to review and respond to. Most copy-edit rounds take 2–3 weeks.
Stage 4 — Typesetting & Design
The interior of your book is laid out by our in-house design team. You will have the opportunity to review page proofs — usually one or two rounds — before the design is finalised. At this stage, only essential corrections should be made; significant text changes may affect your production timeline and incur costs.
Stage 5 — Proofreading
A proofreader reads the typeset pages against the copy-edited manuscript to catch any remaining errors. You may be asked to review proofs at this stage as well.
Stage 6 — Print & Digital Production
Approved files are sent to the printer and to digital distributors. Physical books typically take 4–6 weeks to arrive from this point. E-books are usually available within 2–3 weeks of final approval.
| Typical total timeline from manuscript delivery to publication: 9–18 months, depending on genre, complexity, and the publication schedule. |
4. Royalties & Payments
Understanding Your Royalty Rate
Your royalty rate is specified in your contract and varies by format. Typical rates at Futures Publishing are:
| Format | Royalty (Net Receipts) | Payment Cycle |
| Hardback | 10–12.5% | Bi-annually |
| Paperback | 7.5–10% | Bi-annually |
| E-book | 25% | Bi-annually |
| Audiobook | 15–20% | Bi-annually |
| Translation Rights | 50% of net income | Upon receipt |
Royalty statements are issued every six months (January and July) and payments are made within 60 days of the statement date. Your advance must be earned out before royalty payments begin.
| For queries about your royalty account, payment details, or statements, contact: royalties@futurespublishing.com |
5. Marketing & Publicity
We believe great books deserve great visibility. Our Marketing and Publicity team works closely with each author to develop a campaign suited to their book, audience, and platform.
What We Provide
- Dedicated publicist for the launch window (typically 6–8 weeks)
- Press release and review copy distribution to media contacts
- Listing on the Futures Publishing website with author bio and book page
- Social media promotion across our channels
- Inclusion in our seasonal catalogues distributed to booksellers
- Support with book launch event planning
- NetGalley listing for advance reader copies (where applicable)
What We Ask of Authors
Author participation is one of the most powerful tools in a book’s campaign. We encourage you to:
- Maintain an active presence on at least one social media platform
- Share your author page and book links with your own network
- Respond promptly to interview and event requests forwarded by your publicist
- Inform us of any speaking engagements, awards, or press coverage you arrange independently
- Complete your Author Questionnaire (sent at contract stage) in full — this informs our entire campaign
Author Questionnaire
The Author Questionnaire is the single most important document in your marketing campaign. It covers your biography, key themes of the book, potential interview angles, comparable titles, your personal network, and any existing media relationships. Please complete it as thoroughly as possible and return it to your publicist 6 months before your publication date.
6. Author Copies & Purchases
All Futures Publishing authors receive a set number of complimentary copies upon publication, as specified in your contract. Standard allocation is as follows:
| Format | Complimentary Copies |
| Hardback | 10 copies |
| Paperback | 20 copies |
| E-book | Unlimited personal use |
| Audiobook | 5 download codes |
Additional copies may be purchased at a 50% author discount. Contact your Commissioning Editor to arrange a purchase order. These copies are for personal use and events — resale is not permitted under the terms of your contract.
7. Rights & Permissions
Rights Retained by Futures Publishing
Your contract specifies which rights Futures Publishing holds, which may include some or all of the following:
- Print rights (hardback and paperback) in primary markets
- E-book and digital distribution rights
- Audiobook production and distribution rights
- Translation and co-edition rights for specified territories
- Serialisation, excerpt, and anthology rights
Rights Retained by You
Rights not specifically assigned to Futures Publishing in your contract remain with you as the author. These commonly include:
- Film, television, and dramatic adaptation rights
- Merchandise and character licensing rights
- Rights in territories not covered by your agreement
Translation & Foreign Rights
Our Rights Manager actively pitches your work to foreign publishers and literary agents at international book fairs including Frankfurt, London, and Bologna. You will be notified of any offers received, and your approval is required before any translation agreement is concluded.
Requesting Permissions
If you wish to use content from your own book (for example, excerpting a chapter on your website or in a keynote presentation), please contact rights@futurespublishing.com for written confirmation. This protects both you and the publisher.
8. Style Guide & Submission Standards
To ensure a smooth editorial process, please follow these standards when submitting your manuscript and any supplementary materials:
Manuscript Formatting
- File format: .docx (Microsoft Word), double-spaced
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Chapter headings: Heading 1 style; subheadings: Heading 2
- Page numbers in the footer, beginning from page 1 of Chapter 1
- Do not use automatic hyphenation
Images, Tables & Figures
- Supply all images at minimum 300 DPI in TIFF or high-quality JPEG format
- Label each file clearly (e.g. Fig_3_2_MapOfIndia.tiff)
- Insert figure captions and credit lines in the manuscript at the correct position
- Obtain written permission for any third-party images before submission
House Style
Futures Publishing follows a house style guide based on the Oxford Style Manual with selected local adaptations. Key points:
- Spelling: British English throughout
- Dates: 15 May 2026 (no ordinals: not 15th May)
- Numbers: spell out one to nine; use numerals for 10 and above
- Quote marks: single quotes primary; double quotes for quotes within quotes
- Ellipsis: three dots with no space before (…)
| A full Futures Publishing House Style Guide will be sent to you by your Commissioning Editor at the start of the copy-edit stage. |
9. Events & Author Appearances
Author events are a vital part of building your readership and celebrating your work. Futures Publishing actively supports author appearances at literary festivals, bookshops, schools, and corporate events.
Events We Facilitate
- Book launch events (in-person or virtual)
- Literary festival appearances (Jaipur, Kolkata, Delhi, and international fairs)
- School and university visits (coordinated through our Education team)
- Podcast and radio interview connections
- Webinars and panel discussions on publishing and writing
Your Responsibilities
When booking events independently, please:
- Notify your publicist at least 6 weeks in advance
- Confirm whether you require stock supplied by Futures Publishing for sale at the event
- Share any confirmed media coverage with the team
- Avoid making announcements about forthcoming titles before the agreed embargo date
10. Key Contacts at Futures Publishing
| Department | For Queries About | |
| Editorial | Manuscript, edits, proofs, timelines | editorial@futurespublishing.com |
| Royalties | Statements, payments, account queries | royalties@futurespublishing.com |
| Marketing & PR | Events, press, social media, campaigns | marketing@futurespublishing.com |
| Rights | Translation, licensing, permissions | rights@futurespublishing.com |
| General | All other enquiries | info@futurespublishing.com |
Futures Publishing
Shaping the stories of tomorrow.
futurespublishing.com | info@futurespublishing.com