Publication Policy
Read in Hindi / हिन्दी में पढ़ें
Publication Policy (Effective from 24 August 2023, until further notice)
1. Publication Plans
(i) Free Book Publication Scheme (Nihshulk Pustak Prakashan Yojana)
Promising manuscripts from emerging, young and economically underprivileged authors are selected under this scheme, where the publisher covers all publication and distribution expenses. Announced each May, the submission deadline is 30 October of the same year. Selection is made based on a review committee’s recommendation and no fee is charged to the author for publication. Authors are entitled to complimentary author’s copies and a 50% discount on additional copies (excluding shipping). However, this plan does not include social media marketing or offline promotions, although authors may request access to such services separately with the publisher’s support.
(ii) Traditional Publishing
In this scheme, the publisher bears all costs of publishing and distribution. The author receives royalties as agreed in the contract. The process, from submission to publication, takes between 30 to 300 days. If publication doesn’t happen within that period, the author is free to submit elsewhere. Manuscripts selected under the ‘Free Book Publication Scheme’ are published through this model.
(iii) Self-Publishing or Hybrid Publishing or Mentored Self-Publishing
In this scheme, authors can publish their books at their own expense, with the publisher acting as a professional guide, offering expertise like premium book cover designing, editing, book interior design, distribution and marketing etc. Known as Mentored Self-Publishing (MSP) or Hybrid Publishing, this model provides authors both professional support and greater control, making it highly popular among new authors in India.
2. Manuscript Submission Guidelines
- Manuscripts must be typed in Unicode.
- Authors should proofread and edit before submission.
- Submissions must be sent via the official publishing email. If email is inconvenient, they may be sent via WhatsApp (in MS Word format) to 9811188949.
- Manuscripts shared via WhatsApp groups will be considered.
- Authors can also directly upload manuscripts in MS Word format through the ‘Manuscript Uploading System’ by visiting publisher’s website.
- Publisher ensures high-quality cover design, typesetting, and publication.
- For languages other than Hindi or English, the manuscript must include a translation certificate from the translator.
3. Royalty Terms
- No royalties on author copies or specially discounted purchases.
- Under the ‘Free Book Publication Scheme’, the first 200 copies earn no royalty. Royalties begin only after these copies are sold.
- Royalties : 8% on maximum retail price (MRP) for online sales and 10% for offline sales.
- Annual sales report and royalty statements are issued between 15–30 April of next year of date of publication. No interim statements will be provided.
- The publisher generally does not provide advance royalties, except in extraordinary cases.
4. Distribution & Availability
- Published books are sold on leading e-commerce stores including Amazon, Flipkart, Swatantra Books (Publisher’s e-store) and Kindle.
- Books are also made available at national book fairs, including the New Delhi World Book Fair and other exhibitions across the country. Updates about such participation are shared via their website and social media.
5. Copyright & Publishing Rights
- Copyright always remains with the author, while the publisher holds the exclusive right to publish, distribute and broadcast the content.
- Unauthorized reproduction via photocopying, blog posting, website publication, etc.is a violation and subject to legal action.
- The publisher may produce e-books, audiobooks, videos or films from the publication; the author retains copyright on over all content, with publishing rights assigned to the publisher.
- The author must sign a declaration affirming the manuscript as original and transferring exclusive publishing rights to the publisher. Any legal liability for copyright infringement rests with the author. The publisher is free from blame.
- Any further publication or adaptation of content requires written permission from both author and publisher. The typeset manuscript or soft copy remains the publisher’s property for the duration of the contract.
6. Pricing and Discounts
- The editorial and marketing team determines MRP, discounts, and shipping charges based on market conditions and reader interest.
- Authors receive up to a 50% discount on purchases of their own books but must bear packaging and shipping costs. No royalties are paid on these discounted copies.
7. Miscellaneous Provisions
- Due to the low-cost or free nature of their publishing services, the publisher doesn’t cover postage for sending books to authors or buyers.
- Book launches, promotions, or discussions are entirely the author’s responsibility. The publisher may support promotional efforts on social media, with author’s consent.
- The publisher is not responsible for sending review copies or submissions to awards unless the author handles it themselves. If there is a demand for sending books for award from the publisher, it will be responsibility of publisher to send books on behalf of the writer.
- Publication timelines following manuscript acceptance typically range between 30 to 300 days, except under special circumstances.
- An assistant will be assigned to assist the author throughout the publishing process.
- The publisher’s editorial team holds final decision-making authority.
- Pre-publication, the author receives a PDF or MS Word proof strictly for proofreading and formatting checks; sharing or forwarding this copy is not permitted.
- Authors must approve final proofs before publication. The publisher isn’t liable for errors found post-publication.
- Any mistakes or inconsistencies, once reported, may be corrected in subsequent editions. Binding defects or missing pages are addressed by replacement within one month, with shipping costs borne by the buyer.
- All decisions regarding cover design, packaging, pricing, paper quality, and overall presentation for manuscripts under the Free Publication Scheme lie with the publisher and it’s editorial board.
8. Imprints
Swatantra Prakashan Group has three following imprints under which publications are released with ISBN :
- Swatantra Prakashan
- Freedom Publication
- Swatantra Books
9. Official Social Media
Latest updates on publication plans, book releases and offers are available on the publisher’s official Facebook Page and other official social media accounts.
10. Jurisdiction
All legal disputes shall fall under the jurisdiction of Delhi / New Delhi courts.
Swatantra Prakashan Private Limited has various policies related to the publishing process, website usage, e-commerce, shipping, and taxes. Please click here to learn more about the different policies of the publishing house.
