FAQs – HIS Publishing Group
Guide to Publishing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose HIS Publishing Group?

HIS Publishing Group offers an incredible opportunity for writers of all kinds seeking independence and excellence, but desire to be part of something bigger. Our authors know up-front what to expect and are confident their book will be professional in every aspect; from the quality of the interior layout to the unique cover design.

What sets us apart from other companies?

At HIS we partner with you to fulfill your dream from book concept through design and publication. We believe you should retain full rights and creative control of the publishing process. As with most companies you maintain ownership of your manuscript, but with HIS you also own your interior working InDesign or Word file and your ISBN. You set the retail price, wholesale markup, and returnable status in order to maximize profits. Thus, giving you complete control over your title.

What kind of publisher is HIS Publishing Group?

HIS is considered an independent publisher. We do not attempt to lure authors with false claims of distribution or give the impression we are a traditional publisher taking an ownership role in an author’s title. Our authors are confident in their ability to market their title and desire to partner with a company that will honestly assist them in the marketing process. We provide expert services that are cost effective such as editing, interior design, cover design, website design, marketing materials, and order fulfillment.

Will my book be available in bookstores?

HIS Publishing Group distributes titles nationwide through two of the largest book distributors, Ingram and Baker & Taylor ensuring your work is available to all the major book outlets. This includes physical bookstores and online booksellers. You will automatically be listed with Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books a Million, and many other online booksellers. However, you must send queries directly to brick and mortar stores for acceptance. We assist you in this process and educate you on how to set up signings and other author events.

What will you do to market my book?

Your title will be included in the Ingram catalog which is distributed to 30,000 retailers. Your title will have a dedicated title page in our bookstore with links to your Author Bio and where customers can purchase your book. We provide complete author support and assist you in formulating a marketing plan. We provide information on writing a query letter and putting together a press kit for distribution. We have a relationship with an overseas affiliate for marketing and selling your title. We continually explore and implement initiatives to assist our authors.

How Do I submit my manuscript?

If you would like us to review your work, please forward as an attachment to info@hispubg(dot)com and include “Submission” in the Subject bar. Please submit your manuscript in MSWord format.

What is the proper format for submitting Files?

If you are submitting final files for print they must be in the proper PDF format. If you are submitting files for design we prefer them to be in MSword. Information for a black and white and color interiors are contained in our file creation guides. Click here for “File Creation Guides.”

How Do I set up a title? – Please follow these instructions when setting up your title.

  1. Create a user account and log in. Go to “Author’s Corner” on the top menu bar and from the drop down menu select Contracts.
  2. After reviewing the contract, please print, sign, and mail to our office, 4310 Wiley Post Rd, Suite 201D, Addison, TX 75001. You may also initial all pages, sign the signature page, scan, and forward by email to info@hispubg(dot)com.
  3. Complete the “Title Submission Form” All questions will be answered when we call to set up your project. If you need assistance with this form, please contact our office at 214.542.4848.
  4. Decide on a form of payment. You may pay through the secure PayPal links on the website or you may send us a check. Please note, when you pay by check, no work will be initiated until your check has been cleared by our financial institution.
  5. Once your text files are complete, please forward by email to info@hispubg(dot)com. Acceptable text file formats: MSword and Open Office Document and Rich Text (.doc, .docx, .odt, .rtf, .txt).
  6. Once your cover files are complete, please forward by email to info@hispubg(dot)com. Acceptable cover file formats are MSword and Adobe pdf (.doc, .docx, .pdf). All other files will be discussed when we call to set up your project.
  7. Once we have received your files we will contact you to set up your project. A final check list will be generated outlining the scope of your project before going to print.
  8. Finished proof of your work will be forwarded for final approval.
  9. Upon proof approval your work will be published, placed with our distribution partners, and made available for author and wholesale distribution.
  10. To place personal book orders please call 214.542.4848 or email info@hispubg(dot)com.

What is a copyright?

Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.

What does a copyright protect? – Copyright is a form of intellectual property law protecting original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “What Works Are Protected.”

How is a copyright different from a patent or a trademark? – Copyright protects original works of authorship, while a patent protects inventions or discoveries. Ideas and discoveries are not protected by the copyright law, although the way in which they are expressed may be. A trademark protects words, phrases, symbols, or designs identifying the source of the goods or services of one party and distinguishing them from those of others.

When is my work protected? – Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Visit the Library of Congress website for complete information under “Title 17.”

Do I have to register with the U.S. Copyright office to be protected? – No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.”

Why should I register my work if copyright protection is automatic? – Registration is recommended for a number of reasons. Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record and have a certificate of registration. Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within 5 years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in a court of law. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration” and Circular 38b, Highlights of Copyright Amendments Contained in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), on non-U.S. works.

I’ve heard about a “poor man’s copyright.” What is it? – The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration.

Is my copyright good in other countries? – The United States has copyright relations with most countries throughout the world, and as a result of these agreements, we honor each other’s citizens’ copyrights. However, the United States does not have such copyright relationships with every country. For a listing of countries and the nature of their copyright relations with the United States, see Circular 38a, International Copyright Relations of the United States.

What about References & images?

  • Check the accuracy of your references.
  • Include the complete source information for any references cited in your manuscript.
  • Beware of using images without the permission of the owner.
  • Rights managed content is licensed based on usage. Be sure to retain documentation of all permissions granted for use of image(s).
  • Types of acceptable images:

Personal work: You retain all rights to the image.
Freely licensed: You can show the copyright owner has released the image under an acceptable free license.
Public domain: You can show the image is in the public domain. Meaning the image is free of all copyrights.
Fair use: The image must meet special conditions for non-free content. You must provide explicit non-free use rationale explaining why and how you intend to use it.

What is an ISBN?

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify one title or one unique edition of a title from one specific publisher. An ISBN allows for more efficient marketing and cataloging of products by booksellers, libraries, universities.

Please Note: HIS Publishing Group does not use “Assigned ISBN Numbers.” When publishing companies purchase ISBN numbers in bulk they can only assign those ISBN numbers to their clients. They can not transfer ownership of these these ISBN numbers.  This is extremely important for maintaining total control of your title. HIS purchases all ISBN numbers in the client’s name and gives them instructions how to set up their Bowker account where they maintain complete ownership of the ISBN number. Please contact us for more information.

What is a Library of congress number (LCN)?

A Library of Congress catalog control number is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to the catalog record created for each book in its catalogued collections. Librarians use it to locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases and to order catalog cards from the Library of Congress or from commercial suppliers. The Library of Congress assigns this number while the book is being catalogued.

What kind of content will you not publish?

We will not publish books in violation of copyrights or trademarks. We will not publish proprietary material governed by trade secrets, contractual, privacy or other publicity rights. We will not publish material that is cultish in nature, based on deceptive or accusatory tactics, is pornographic, and/or obscene in any way.

About us

At HIS Publishing Group, we partner with you to fulfill your dream from book concept through design and publication. Our authors choose from a comprehensive range of services. We design, publish and distribute your title to a global audience. We also offer all eBook formats. Get your free Guide to Publishing and begin the journey to bring your publishing vision to life.

Address

4310 Wiley Post Rd. Suite 201D Addison, TX 75001

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PHONE

214.542.4848