Epigraph is a book publishing company dedicated to a spirit of partnership, innovation and transparency with its authors and trading partners. We combine ‘old media’ experience and culture with ‘new media’ methods. We believe one of the best ways we can serve our authors is to remain devotedly committed to excellence in the book publishing arts. Because of this commitment, Epigraph has consistently been able to attract the most creative and experienced editors, designers, and publicists into the service of its authors. Epigraph is known in the self publishing industry for its high level of author satisfaction and personal expert service.  Epigraph is a d/b/a of Monkfish Book Publishing Company, LLC a traditional publisher since 2002 specializing in books that combine literary and spiritual merits.

Epigraph functions as a publisher-for-hire providing and/or integrating all needed publishing services under single management. Creative talent in the areas of editorial, design and marketing is drawn from Epigraph’s staff and the burgeoning ranks of highly accomplished free-lance publishing professionals. Authors retain all rights and full creative control while enjoying the benefits of being in relationship with dedicated and creative publishing professionals who are responsible for the day to day execution of publishing plans, leaving the author free to attend to bigger-picture issues. Though every book has its unique economics, as a rule Epigraph authors enjoy substantially larger royalty percentages and lower cost of books than found in traditional publishing. Epigraph authors can publish under the Epigraph imprint or an imprint of their own choosing. Some of Epigraph's larger clients are organizations who use Epigraph’s ‘private label’ publishing to establish their own imprint.

The Epigraph process

Our publishing process is called supported self-publishing. Epigraph’s supported system saves you a lot of time and money while helping you produce the highest quality book possible.  Our step-by-step individually guided process makes the inherently complex business of book publishing understandable and helps to ensure that you stay in full control of your creative rights.  The Epigraph supported process includes the following:

Book Format and Finance Process: This is where we help you determine the optimal length of your book, how your book should be priced and what kind of wholesale discount is most advantageous.  We’ll help you understand your book’s publishing finances including royalties and printing costs and how you can make money publishing with us, if that is one of your goals.   Visit our calculator and get some information for yourself.  (link to calculator pop-up)

Design Process: 

a. Your interior design:

If you have a design you like, we can duplicate it into a print-ready format while suggesting/adding finishing touches often found in traditional publishing including things like half title page, full title page, copyright page, distinctive chapter headings, and drop-caps for the first few words of new chapters. You’re the boss, so you don’t have to act on our suggestions, but we do caution you that you could break a ‘rule’ of book design if you don’t. It's totally up to you.

You can place any kind of graphics in your book, including photographs, illustrations and charts.  Alternately, you can ask us to design the interior from conception to completion. We will provide you with 2 to 3 mock-ups reflecting our best thoughts on design for your particular book. The mock-ups will show key features such as font selections, new chapter pages, page numbers and margins.  Once the key design features are approved, your Epigraph designer completes the design and submits a PDF proof for your approval.

Graphics: There are no set limits on the number of graphics you can use, including photographs, illustrations and charts.  We prefer graphics as TIFF's or JPG's but can work with native In-Design and Photoshop files. We can also scan images from old photographs, newspaper clippings, etc.

b. Your cover design:

Front cover: If you have a precise idea, we’ll work with you to make it become a reality. Alternately, we can provide mock-ups, typically between 2 to 3 concepts. You can include any art that you wish. We will also search for and procure art upon request for an additional fee.  If you have blurbs, these can also be placed on your front cover.

Back cover:  We’ll make sure the back cover design matches the themes and colors of the front cover. We encourage authors to include author photos on back covers or flap jackets.  We will also include marketing copy such as bookdescription, author bio, and blurbs. See Marketing section below for more information.

Spine: We make spines shine! The spine is often the only part of the book that shows on a bookstore shelf so why not dosomething unique like include a graphic on the spine!  Naturally we’ll also utilize the correct font size and type, and makesure the spine copy reads in the right direction – downward for US titles but upward for UK.

Your proofs: We supply two sets of proofs for text block and cover. The first proof is as PDF, and the second proof is aphysical copy of the book. Once you approve the final proof, your book is ready for printing and is made available forpurchase through Epigraph's distribution network.

3) Marketing/Design "Pre-pub" Process: Traditional book publishers view the entirety of a book’s cover as an ad for the book. If you are participating in an Epigraph publishing program that includes marketing or publicity services, you will have the option of bringing your publicist and/or copywriter into relevant Epigraph design processes such as writing back cover copy with your author bio.  You will also be given the opportunity to write marketing copy that will be uploaded to online bookseller sites such as Amazon.  Learn more about Epigraph’s marketing services on our marketing page. (link to Marketing/PR page)

4) Distribution and Sales Process: Upon final proof approval your book is made available for purchase through Epigraph’s distribution network which includes a wide range of online booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores. When a customer purchases your book on the Amazon site, for example, that order is printed and shipped for you, and you are paid a royalty on that sale.

5) Royalties: Epigraph pays royalties on a monthly basis.  Royalties are paid 90 days end-of-month (EOM) from the date of sale. For example, sales in January are paid in May, February sales are paid in June.

6) Print-on-demand: Print and ship any quantity of your book anytime. Epigraph’s book printing costs are among the lowest anywhere. Purchase bulk quantities (50 and up) and receive even deeper discounts.

Use fonts that are readily available - We recommend using Microsoft Word® fonts Times New Roman (Serif) and Arial (San Serif).  Use no  more than 2 or 3 font types throughout and a single font throughout is preferable. Keep in mind your book designer will be making recommendations on fonts and other stylistic choices.

DO NOT use double-spaces

DO NOT use double paragraph returns

Use just one space after all marks of punctuation (even after a period)

Paragraphs indented with a single 0.5" tab (not the space bar)

Twelve-point type, and no headers, footers, or page numbering

Avoid hitting the ENTER key several times to move the cursor to the next page. This will cause spacing problems when your book is designed. Your designer will automatically begin new chapters on a new page unless directed otherwise.

Files:

Submit a file that can be accessed through one of the following programs:

- Microsoft Word® either PC or MacIntosh platform. Manuscripts submitted in other programs may be subject to conversion fees at additional costs.

- Submit your manuscript in a single document, not in chapters

Images:

- Submit .jpeg or .psd images (DO NOT EMBED images)

- Submit a minimum resolution of 300 dpi files only

- Notate image placement (file name) within the manuscript text

Provide Images in a separate folder

Images should be submitted at 100% of size and no higher than 110% of original size

DO NOT EMBED Fonts or Images in manuscript text

- Do not submit compressed files in any format

- Do not submit any files requiring downloading and/or installing of software, plug-ins, extensions or other executables

- Do not submit any type of presentation files (e.g. PowerPoint) or any internet hyperlinks

Paul Cohen, Publisher, Founder

Paul Cohen is the owner and publisher of Monkfish Book Publishing Company, LLC, and president of Epigraph Publishing Service which operates as a DBA of Monkfish. Monkfish is a traditional small press company specializing in books that combine literary and spiritual merit. It is distributed to the trade by Consortium. One of its recent nonfiction titles was favorably reviewed in The New York Times and the Times Literary Supplement. Epigraph is a publishing service devoted to innovative approaches to publishing for self-financing authors and other publishers. It is open to any genre. Among the services provided are editorial, design, distribution, marketing, sales, rights and publicity. Prior to starting his own company in 2002, Mr. Cohen was a senior executive of sales and acquisitions for two distribution companies specializing in Body Mind Spirit publishing. He served in that capacity for 8 years and was responsible for acquiring new distribution contracts and for overseeing national and international sales and marketing. During that time, he acquired and negotiated over 200 distribution contracts and oversaw the release of more than 4,000 new titles, many by bestselling authors.

Georgia Dent, Book Designer, Founder

Tim Dillinger, Director of Marketing

Tim Dillinger has twenty years of experience in marketing and promotion. He climbed the ropes in corporate America during the .com explosion working for a Fortune 500 company. He was simultaneously working in the music industry as a consultant and artist manager. In 2003, he launched Icon's Pen Media, LLC which served as a springboard for his own career as a recording artist. Tim was one of a handful of artists and entrepreneurs pioneering in the Indie Soul Movement. By creating his own network of contacts in print media, social media and radio, he began working as a publicist and consultant for other artists. He has coordinated and promoted international tours and events, booked talent, hosted and promoted the top-rated Out the Box with Tim Dillinger (on Jazz Syndicate Radio) and found audiences for his own art and others all by staying on the cusp of what was happening in the ever-changing world of social media and as well as the buying trends of the public. He ventured into the world of self-publishing in 2008 with the publication of his own memoir and then began ghost writing and editing books for other authors. He came on board at Epigraph in 2011 and brings innovative and fresh ideas to the table as the publishing industry continues to change.

George James, Producer of Audio and Video

Maura D. Shaw, Editor

Maura Shaw has worked as an editor for more than 30 years and is the author of 14 published books. Former managing editor of the Yale University Press Maura adheres to the highest standards while encouraging her authors in innovative and exciting thinking and writing. She enjoys a collaborative relationship with authors from the earliest stages of their books’ conception and helps writers to convey their ideas in a clear and readable style.

As senior development editor for SkyLight Paths/Jewish Lights in Woodstock, Vermont, she developed, acquired, and edited new manuscripts for both the adult trade and children’s market. As a senior editor for the Grolier Encyclopedia Americana, she managed the editorial development, electronic publication, and data content of the group of online reference works. For several years she owned a small regional press specializing in New York State history.

Maura is comfortable in working with authors in nearly every field; most of her publishing experience has been in the social sciences, business, law, political science, philosophy, multi-faith spirituality, healthcare, women’s studies, and nature and the environment. She has a particular interest in authors whose vision is to help the world and its people, whether their subject is climate change, cancer survival, or spiritual growth.

Maura’s own published books include Mastering Online Research: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective and Efficient Search Strategies (Writers Digest Books); The Keeners, a historical novel (Medallion Press); Ten Amazing People and How They Changed the World (SkyLight Paths), winner of the Independent Publishers 2003 Book of the Year Award for Nonfiction for Juveniles and Young Adults; Owl’s Journey, historical fiction for young readers; coauthor with Cait Johnson, Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children (Inner Traditions); coauthor with Sydna Byrne of Foods from Mother Earth: A Basic Cookbook for Young Vegetarians (Shawangunk Press); coeditor with John Fout, American Sexual Politics: Sex, Gender, and Race since the Civil War (University of Chicago Press). Other books are listed on her website, www.maurashaw.com.

Joe Tantillo, Book Design, Director of Design 

Kenneth Wapner, Editor. Ghostwriter, Book Packager

Kenneth’s company, Peekamoose Productions, develops book and film projects. Kenneth is an author, editor, book doctor, agent, co-writer, ghostwriter, journalist, and book packager. As an author, his books have included national bestsellers and been published by major houses including Putnam, Bantam, Villard, Miramax, Random House and Free Press. His work has appeared in many national magazines and newspapers, including Gourmet, Field & Stream, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, and Philadelphia Inquirer

Linda Wozinicki