The go-to place for every step of your publishing journey
Wherever you are in your publishing journey, Softwood has you covered.
We're here to help at every stage of production - from design and illustration, to print and distribution - our team of experts can help bring out the best in your book.
Have a look at our extensive services below! Design Print Audiobooks
Is your book cover doing your story justice?
They say people don't judge a book by its cover, but it's the first impression that entices readers to pick up your book. A well-crafted cover captures the essence of your story, evokes emotions, and communicates the genre and tone at a glance.
It's a great opportunity to include an endorsement and help your book stand out on the shelf with additional features such as a dust-jacket (hardbacks only), foiling, spot UV, and sprayed edges.
We've got your book's design covered, inside and out.
At Softwood, we specialise in crafting exceptional reading experiences through our comprehensive range of services tailored for both novels and picture books. Our team of skilled designers is dedicated to bringing your stories to life from cover to cover.
Whether you're an established author or a debut novelist, we understand that the presentation of your work is as essential as the words within. That's why we offer top-notch cover design and interior formatting services that not only capture the essence of your narrative but also enhance its readability. A correctly formatted manuscript is the cornerstone of a professional and engaging book.
Looking to have your book illustrated?
Whether you're publishing a children's picture book, a fantasy novel, a memoir, or a non-fiction title, the right illustrations can bring your book to life and enhance the reader experience. At Softwood Books, our talented design team includes eight professional illustrators, each offering their own unique artistic style. From full-colour children's book artwork and character design to bespoke maps, chapter headings, and decorative interior illustrations, we can match the perfect illustrator to your project and help create a book that truly stands out.
Download our illustrator portfolio here.
Why is interior formatting important?
A well-formatted book is a mark of professionalism that not only respects your art but also respects the time and investment of your readers. Clear typography, appropriate spacing, and consistent styling ensure that the focus remains on the story itself, rather than on distractions or inconsistencies.
Depending on how you are printing and distributing your book, there will be lots of options for book sizes - for both paperback and hardback. We also have extensive experience in producing landscape picture books and eBooks, ensuring your work is presented in the most effective format for your audience.
Elevate your special edition book with bespoke fore-edge painting!
Since the 10th century, artwork has been used to decorate the edges of books, and now you have the opportunity to ignite the imagination of your readers with Softwood's brand new service. Whether it's a beloved classic, a contemporary bestseller, or your very own title, our Fore-Edge Painting elevates each edition into a cherished treasure, destined to captivate hearts and minds for generations to come.
Meticulously designed and hand-painted by our in-house artist, Holly, you now have the opportunity to create a beautiful special edition for your readers.
How does our print-on-demand service work?
Print-on-demand publishing allows authors to sell books that are only printed when ordered, reducing upfront costs, storage needs, and financial risk while keeping titles available to online retailers worldwide.
We encourage authors to see publishing as a business enterprise. Therefore, by setting an attractive discount for retailers and being conscious of printing costs, together we can set a competitive Recommended Retail Price (RRP) that establishes the book as an attractive product for retailers to list and for your readers to purchase.
Talk to us first to discuss your ambitions and expectations for your book. Is print-on-demand the right route for you?
Complete the book design and register for your own ISBN from Nielsen (we'll complete the registration for you before publishing). Owning your ISBN underlines the control and ownership you have of your book.
If you're having a paperback and hardback edition, you'll need to purchase two ISBNs - cheaper still if you purchase a block of 10!
eBooks published through Amazon KDP do not require an ISBN, though if distributing through alternative sources, your eBook will require one.
ISBNs are owned in perpetuity and there is no deadline for using one that you buy.
Complete a print-on-demand agreement with Softwood that confirms your unit cost, retail discount, RRP, and profit margin. This also confirms that authors are in full ownership of their books at all times and that Softwood does not claim a royalty share.
Once the author has approved the print-ready PDF files, Softwood will create the metadata (for example, allocated THEMA category codes) and register not only the ISBN but also the book with our EU Authorised Representative to comply with EU GPSR (General Product Safety Regulations).
The book is now ready to be published.
The book's metadata (description, size, RRP, categories, keywords, etc.) are released into the book feed. We would usually expect online retailers to react to and list newly published books within 14 days of publishing.
A retail listing can depend on a competitive retail discount offered and the subsequent RRP.
Disclaimer: Retailers have their own criteria for listing books, and whilst we can ensure correct metadata, we don't have any control over how books may be displayed with individual retailers.
Softwood authors benefit from having 24/7 access to their own Author Portal where they can view monthly sales reports. This can be advantageous for those looking for regular data to assist a marketing strategy. Royalties are paid on a monthly basis.
Why having a stock of books can boost your success
Having a stock of books boosts your success by making your title immediately available to retailers, distributors, event organisers, and reviewers, removing delays that can cost sales opportunities.
Bookshops are far more likely to stock books that are readily available and returnable, which increases visibility, discoverability, and credibility in the market.
Stock also enables you to respond quickly to media features, bulk orders, school visits, festivals, and signings, helping you turn momentum into sustained sales rather than missed chances.
It's worth remembering that bulk printing lowers the cost per book, enhancing potential profits.
Give your book a premium touch with bespoke options that captivate readers and elevate its design. From luxurious covers to unique interior elements, our special edition enhancements add value and make your book truly stand out.
Please note, special features such as Spot UV, foiling, sprayed or digitally printed edges are only available through a printed stock and not via print-on-demand.
Ensuring you have a stock of books in advance of your book launch is a great idea.
Keeping a small stock to introduce to retailers, use for book signings, and local fairs can also be valuable.
Turning readers into listeners
Physical books? eBooks? Audiobooks? Softwood can help with them all.
The audiobook market is bigger than ever, and authors are increasingly looking at ways of getting their books out to the largest audiences they can. The more ways you can share your book, the more ways people have to enjoy it.
That's where Softwood comes in.
We can help you as you look to evolve your book into an audio experience and open up new channels for sharing your work to the world.
As the fastest growing format in literature, audiobooks offer a new route that allow your book to be not only seen, but heard by the world. The more ways you distribute your work, the bigger the audience you can cater for.
The Softwood team will work with you directly to ensure your audiobook is created and distributed to it's fullest potential. We specialise in supporting independent authors, and our audiobook services are built with authors at the heart of them.
Talk to us and find out more about our audiobook services. Let's find out if audiobooks are right for you.