In this section:
We are a dynamic, forward-looking independent publisher that welcomes unsolicited manuscripts. We are looking for books that will inspire, inform and illuminate the lives of readers – with subjects that push the boundaries, are unusual or definitive (maybe even both), delve into new areas of popular subjects, and could never be classed as generic. We want authors with talent, who are ambitious, committed to working with us to promote their books and know how to connect with their community. This alchemic mix of author and subject is what makes our list so unique and successful. Are you ready to be part of it?
Our business is made up of a small but talented team of editors, publicists, marketers, designers, and salespeople. To make sure that we deliver the best service to our authors and achieve the best results that we can, our publishing program relies on technology at all stages as well as an author’s active participation in promoting their book.
This system has worked well for hundreds of books, but it does mean that we manage author care differently from more traditional publishers. It doesn't mean we don’t take care of our authors or develop close relationships; it is just that the nuts and bolts of seeing a book through to publication are dealt with efficiently by the email notifications, our online database, shared access to a Contacts Database for promotion, and detailed sales reports updated monthly. It’s a transparent system that we’ve found builds trust and collaborative spirit between our team and our authors.
Because this is not how many authors have experienced the publishing process, or how they expect the process to happen, we have created a detailed Publishing Guide to support them. We advise and expect every author to use the Publishing Guide as the first port of call for advice and reference. For genuine queries that aren’t covered or that authors don’t feel are covered clearly, they have access to nearly everyone in the company on our Author Forum.
This way of working allows us to spend more time on production, sales and marketing for our books, and prevents us from having to answer the queries that are applicable to most titles, such as "What category should be the book be?" or "How can I get books to a conference in Chile?”
Whilst using technology like this might not be the best solution for every book, it is the best solution for the way we run our business, and many of our authors enjoy using the system for its transparency and collaborative spirit. A system so reliant on technology is not perfect for all authors, but it is a prerequisite to being published with us. So we require all authors to use the system.
As of summer 2022 we have published around 2300 books written by 1100 authors over 20 years. Roughly 150 of our authors have published with us 3 times or more and 3 or so have published over 10 titles with us.
In addition:
We are a member of the Association of American Publishers and the Independent Publishers Guild, the trade body for independent publishers in the UK.
*Times can vary by up to a week depending on volume of submissions and staff availability.
Cluster listed first, followed by imprints, listed alphabetically.
View our clusters on our website; website here.
We communicate with our authors via this forum. Please see Using the Author Forum for how to post a query.
These closed groups are a space for authors and publishers to talk amongst themselves, supporting each other, helping out with endorsements, reviews, events, comments on manuscripts, discovering new sites/outlets and sharing the knowledge.
Also: see Collective Ink Blogs and Social Media Networks
These groups are monitored by Collective Ink and membership is at their discretion.
Collective Ink Ltd. brings out a couple of hundred or so titles a year across a wide variety of subjects, under different imprints. We started in the early 2000s in the Mind Body Spirit area with O-Books, and that has spun off a number of more specialist imprints.
We publish internationally. Sales are handled by:
Currently, around half our authors are from N. America, with the rest from the UK and around the world.
*Times can vary by up to a week depending on volume of submissions and staff availiability.
I have published eight books with CI. Having worked in publishing as a literary agent for nearly thirty years, I thought I knew about publishers, but it’s been a revelation. It's transparent, honest, extraordinarily speedy, and as near democratic as a company can be. Despite all communication being on-line (not my natural habitat), it does feel like a real community. And the books look good. CI seems to have worked out how to be a successful twenty-first-century publisher, without losing touch with what matters . Jennifer Kavanagh, author of A Little Book of Unknowing (Christian Alternative), The Emancipation of B (Roundfire), Journey Home (O Books), The Failure of Success (O Books), Small Change, Big Deal (Business Books), Simplicity Made Easy (Earth Books), New Light (Christian Alternative) and The World is My Cloister (Christian Alternative) . NB: Published since then or in production – Heart of Oneness (Christian Alternative), Quaker Quicks: Practical Mystics (Christian Alternative), Silence Diaries (Roundfire).
I just wanted to extend a very big thank you to the entire CI team who worked on my novel! My author copies arrived today and I can honestly say that I couldn't be more impressed. It's a dream come true! Very excited for the official release next April and the upcoming, as well as continued, marketing efforts. Ben Date, author of The Outpost (Cosmic Egg).
Many people have helped to bring Colin Crampton to life. First, there is the team of publishers, editors and publicists at Collective Ink. As a veteran of 21 books with other publishers, I am amazed at how efficient they are . Peter Bartram, author of Headline Murder (Roundfire) and Stop Press Murder (Roundfire).
Collective Ink is ahead of its time. What I love about Collective Ink is its transparency. I published my first book with Collective Ink and I have now had six books published by them. I am completely happy with all aspects of this business which is why I have stayed with this company. Hilary H. Carter, author of The 11.11 Code (Ayni), The Chakras Made Easy (Ayni), New Life Stories (Ayni), No Name No Number (Axis Mundi), Number Woman (Axis Mundi), Numerology Made Easy (Dodona).
My thanks to the designer of the cover for Church of Birds. Using blue sky and clouds as background and bringing the clouds faintly to the foreground around the second 'h" in 'Church' suggests the sky as church, I'm guessing mostly at the subliminal level, which is perfect of course. I'm glad you used the other image on the back – that orange is amazing and of course exactly what a cover needs to be; eye-catching! Just overall really pleased by the fonts and the overall tone, Great work. Ben H. Gagnon, author of Church of Birds
I am delighted with the look and the feel of them. I think the cover designer has done a magnificent job, as has everyone else connected with this project. I read the whole book through last night and was positively excited by what I read! The only minor flaws I detected were the repetition of the word 'that' at the end of line 14 on page 38 and my irritatingly unnecessary and gramatically faulty writing of the words 'far more' at the end of the last line on page 63. Otherwise it is all perfect – well, pretty close to that! Richard Oxtoby, author of Trouble with Christianity (Christian Alternative).
A big THANK YOU to the CI team. I have felt so supported by the work you have done to promote my book. It has been brilliant. Estelle Read, author of Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine.
Collective Ink is an amazing and innovative company unlike any publisher I have ever worked with. They respond quickly to queries, are transparent about all aspects of the publishing process, engage their authors in practical promotional activities, retain very creative and friendly staff, and are truly open to new ideas. This is the forefront of the publishing industry and I feel honored to work with them. My writing career would have stalled without them. John C. Robinson, author of The Three Secrets of Aging (O Books), Finding Heaven Here (O Books), Bedtime Stories for Elders (O Books), What Aging Men Want (Psyche), Breakthrough (Roundfire).
Could I just say how impressed I am by Collective Ink. The cover of the book is brilliant and the speed of the publishing process puts other companies to shame. David Sunderland, author of These Chivalrous Brothers (Chronos).
I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to Dominic, Maria, Catherine, and the rest of the staff and management of Roundfire Books for everything they've done to make my new novel Fragile Brilliance become a published book. Everyone involved was so supportive of the book/manuscript from the beginning and I appreciated it so much. Everyone has treated me so well and treated me like a real author, which is something that really makes me feel special. I could not be more pleased with how the book looks and how it was marketed and distributed. My entire experience with you all has just been awesome! Eliot Parker, author of Fragile Brilliance (Roundfire).
Mentoring has been an absolutely invaluable help in getting my book ready for publishing. It can be difficult to spot mistakes and even trickier to know how to change them, but Maria Moloney is excellent at doing both! It’s clear how much work she puts into the edits, and I liked how she eplained her reasons for changing things so that I knew how to correct similar errors later on. Thank you! Mary Johnson author of Boundary (Lodestone).
Collective Ink has been such a fabulous experience with immediate results. My first book hit #2 in Beauty and Fashion category on Amazon and received international attention on news wires, websites and a mention in their quarterly newsletter. The book cover design is exceptional, while the production process is effective and speedy. But most of all their marketing team is incredible! Machel Shull, author of Middle Age Beauty (Ayni).
CI makes available more information to its authors – print runs, monthly sales figures, marketing initiatives etc. – than probably any other publisher. It also pays royalties promptly when due. CI has published two titles for me, and I'm very pleased with the result. Tim Heaton, author of Long Road to Heaven (Circle Books) and The Naturalist and the Christ (Circle Books).
Having come from another publisher, I found CI's approach to publishing a breath of fresh air. The whole production process is entirely transparent (and what a relief this is); all the dates, stages, missing pieces etc. etc. are on the company database visible equally to author and production team alike. No more wondering. No more need for phone calls to the publisher which begin, 'didn't we agree that...' All in all, an intelligent system intelligently run by committed professionals: it works . Michael Tobert, author of Cryptogram (Cosmic Egg).
Most of all, I enjoy the responsiveness. If the editors agree to read your manuscript, you can be assured of a response within a month from three experts with specific comments and critiques. That same teamwork and transparency continues throughout the production and marketing processes. I couldn't be happier with my choice . Michael Burnam, author of The Last Stop (Lodestone).
CI is a straightforward, honest, and helpful publisher for an author. With two books accepted by them and many questions, CI has always responded very promptly and been extremely helpful . Barbara Tako, author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools (O Books) and Clutter Clearing Choices (O Books).
I wholeheartedly recommend Krystina Kellingley as a mentor. After I signed a contract with Collective Ink, I elected to work with Krystina on a monthly basis to refine the writing on my young adult science fiction manuscript. Before seeking mentorship, I’d work-shopped my manuscript, had numerous reader critiques, edited and rewrote on my own for years. All of these processes were helpful, but during my time with Krystina I grew faster than any other experience. She perceptively diagnosed issues that made my writing inaccessible to the reader and she offered practical strategies for me to address them. Many of her critiques revealed my ‘blind spots’, problems that I did not notice on my own. I also felt that aside from excelling as a teacher, she took a personal interest in my progress as a writer. I remain grateful for her wealth of invaluable advice . Sarah Bergstrom, author of Desert Dwellers Born By Fire (Lodestone).
Efficient, dispenses with overhead and general nonsense, and empowering for authors. Bernardo Kastrup, author of Brief Peeks Beyond (Iff Books) , Why Materialism is Baloney (Iff Books), Rationalist Spirituality (Iff Books), Dreamed Up Reality (Iff Books), Meaning in Absurdity (Iff Books), More Than Allegory (Iff Books).
The Collective Ink system allows for transparent and continuous correspondence with the team responsible for publishing your book. It also offers the author complete engagement with every aspect of book publishing. From the initial manuscript feedback to copyedits and cover design, to endorsements, marketing and sales. Steve Naish, author of U.ESS.AY: Politics and Humanity in American Film (Zero Books).
I've felt incredibly supported from day one; between the extensive, clearly organized website and the responsive Facebook author group, I've always felt in-the-loop and like I'm a valued part of the publishing process, not just a number on their accounting sheets . Laura Perry, author of Ariadne’s Thread (Moon Books).
Moon Books publishes books that are about great ideas. In addition to being my publisher they form a community of caring people who supportand suggest and share information that encourages me . Dorothy Abrams, author of Identity and the Quartered Circle (Moon Books).
As a first-time author Moon Books made me feel valued, supported and part of what was happening and I still do. Yvonne Ryves, author of Web of Life (Moon Books).
Being a Moon Books Author is like having another big friendly family! Brendan Howlin, author of Handbook of Urban Druidry (Moon Books).
As the publishing landscape has continued to evolve, I feel so fortunate to be published with Collective Ink. They have managed to maintain a traditional sensibility with an approach that enables the author to participate in all aspects of the process. From the very first day I sent in my proposal, all the way through the manuscript and publicity phases, communication has been clear and professional. The author manual is incredibly helpful and manages to be highly detailed but easy to navigate. Continuously mindful of the challenges authors face today, they are setting the new standard for the future of publishing. I'm honored to work with their wonderful team of dedicated and friendly staff . Alicia Garey, author of What a Blip (Soul Rocks).
I felt very lucky to have Krystina Kellingley as my editor and mentor. She is a sensitive and intuitive professional with broad vision and a huge knowledge in creative writing. Krystina is a visionary who has the ability of traveling deeply inside the story as if she were one of the characters. All this ensures a high quality on her work . F. T. Camargo , author of Shanti and the Magic Mandala (Lodestone).
Well-organized and highly thorough, John Hunt's Publishing Guide was an indispensable tool for me as an author to answer all my questions during the process of getting my book published. Moshe Daniel Block, author of Breakthrough Healing (Psyche).
The Publishing Guide is comprehensive and easy to understand, which means that I know exactly what to expect at each stage of the process. Cheryl Smith, author of Being Mrs Smith (O Books). So thankful for John Hunt's comprehensive and well-thought-out Publishing Guide with step-by-step instructions and an intuitive interface. Mariah Mckenzie, author of More (O Books).