Frequently Asked Questions

You asked...We answered

Question:Is it easier to get published by being a short story author or by being a novelist?

Answer: To get published as a short story author is easier for the simple reason there are more avenues available for the short story author to get published than the novelist such in magazines, newspapers, and several online venues. 

Question: What categories or genres are you looking for?

Answer: We are primarily searching for short stories in the genres of suspense, horror, humor, legal thriller, literature, juvenile, romance and chick lit. 

Question: Can I submit multiple short stories to get published with Author Identity?

Answer: Yes, however we are only accepting one short story per author which doesn't mean we wouldn't be willing to publish other stories of yours in the future.  At this time, we are keeping our compilations to one short story per author. If you have stories of different genres you would like to submit, we would be more than happy to accept those.  However, don't submit multiple stories of the same genre.  Try to select your best story and submit it to us. 

Question:  What are the lengths of your anthologies?

Answer: They range between 260-320 pages.  Occasionally, an anthology may run slightly longer.

Question:  Are your books published in paperback or in hardcover? 

Answer: All first editions are published as a trade paperback.

Question: How much will the short story compilation books cost?

Answer: The retail price is $17.95 to $21.95.

Question: Do I have to email my story, or can I save to disk?

Answer: You must send the story via email to get published.

Question: Do I need to send a hard copy of my story?

Answer: No. We do almost everything on the computer, and we do not use the hard copies.

Question: How do you save as an RTF?

Answer: Open up your file, go to "File", down to "Save As".  The little box will open up, go to the bottom and you will see either "Save as Type" or "File Type" and click on the arrow in that box.  Next, look for "Rich Text Format" and click on that.  Then click on "Save".

Question: Do I need an agent?

Answer:   In most instances agents do not negotiate for the sale of short stories.  This is mainly because the compensation is not great enough.  This being said, you are more than welcome to have your agent contact us directly or obtain an agent before making a submission.  We are willing to work with the author directly or their agent.  This decision is left to each individual respectfully.

Question:  I see your company puts a lot of emphasis on marketing.  Do all publishers focus on marketing? 

Answer:  Marketing isn't a small part of the publishing business, it's the main part!  If an author is unwilling to assist in this area there is little to no chance of success.

Question: I'm confused at how the royalties work.  How much will I get paid as an author?

Answer: There will be a 10% royalty split between the authors for each book sold.  This is on the higher side of the royalties amongst publishing companies and we feel it is a generous percentage.  Most publishing companies pay 3-8%. 

Question: Why don't I get the full 10% for each book sold?

Answer: Because this is a compilation, each book will have multiple authors each with their own short story.  The 10% royalty is then equally divided amongst the authors.  We understand that this is a small percentage, but also remember that being a short story writer will not make you rich.  Author Identity will publish your story and you will have a tangible book with your story in it.  The money, depending upon how many books are sold, is just an added bonus so get your story off the shelf or out of a dusty file and submit it.

Question:  How long will it take Author Identity to respond to my synopsis submission?

Answer:  We are working day and night on this upcoming compilation.  We eagerly try to read all of our submissions within one to two months of receiving them and answer accordingly.  If your email was sent to the incorrect department, please be patient and allow us extra time to forward it to the proper department.

Question: How long will it take you to read and respond to my manuscript? 

Answer: We try to read and respond to all manuscript submissions within one to two months time. 

Question:  What information do I need to collect for each newspaper for the press release?