Lessons Publishing Services
Professional help for authors who want to self-publish without doing everything themselves. We help take your manuscript from draft to finished book with editing, cover design, formatting, metadata and hands-on publishing assistance.
by Life Is Full of Lessons
We are not a traditional publisher. We do not acquire your manuscript, take your copyright, control your publishing account or keep a percentage of your royalties. You hire us for the professional work you need, and you stay in control of the book you created.
Bring us a nearly finished manuscript or a book that still needs work. We can proof it, edit it, design it, format it and help you publish through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or both. You do not need to become an expert in trim sizes, bleed, ISBNs, metadata and distribution just to get your book into the world.
Questions? Email hello@fraziersbooks.com
Choose how much help you need
Prices are visible because they should be. Open any service below to see exactly what is included. These packages are designed for standard, primarily text-based books. Children's books, heavily illustrated books, workbooks and unusually complex interiors are quoted separately.
Book Ready For a manuscript that is already edited and needs to become a professional book. $349 +
You have the manuscript. The writing is finished. You need clean files that look like a real book and work where they are supposed to work.
- Manuscript preflight before production begins
- Professional paperback interior formatting
- Chapter openings, title page, copyright page and front matter setup
- Headers, footers, pagination and print-ready margins
- Table of contents when appropriate
- Print-ready PDF
- EPUB / Kindle formatting
- Basic metadata and trim-size recommendations
- Retail pricing and print-cost discussion
- One reasonable formatting revision round
- Final technical file check
Cover supplied by author. Standard text-forward manuscripts up to approximately 80,000 words. Editing and proofreading are separate services.
Book Built Our core package: design, formatting, sales copy, metadata and KDP publishing help. $649 +
This is for the author who has written the book but does not want to build the entire publishing machine around it alone.
- Everything included in Book Ready
- Custom front, spine and back cover design
- Separate eBook cover file
- Back-cover copy
- Amazon book description
- Author bio cleanup and presentation
- Category and BISAC guidance
- Keyword recommendations
- Retail-price guidance
- KDP paperback and eBook setup assistance
- Digital proof review
- Two reasonable design revision rounds
Standard text-forward manuscripts up to approximately 80,000 words. Editing, proofreading, purchased images, illustration and third-party fees are separate.
Publish Wide Full production help for authors who want KDP plus wider print distribution. $895 +
The most complete standard package. We prepare the book, help build the listings and walk you through publishing on the major platforms while the accounts remain yours.
- Everything included in Book Built
- Amazon KDP paperback setup assistance
- Amazon KDP eBook setup assistance
- Hardcover setup when the book and platform support it
- IngramSpark print-edition setup assistance
- ISBN and imprint guidance
- Metadata review across platforms
- Wholesale-discount and returnability discussion
- Physical proof review guidance
- One post-proof correction round for production issues
- Amazon Author Central guidance
- Goodreads setup guidance
- Simple launch checklist
- 30 days of basic post-publication production support
Third-party charges such as ISBN purchases, proof copies, printing, shipping or platform fees are not hidden inside this price. If an outside company charges a fee, you see the actual fee.
Editing & proofreading
Editing is real labor, so we keep it separate from production packages instead of pretending every manuscript needs the same amount of work. We review a sample before confirming an editorial quote.
Proofreading
from $12 / 1,000 wordsSpelling, punctuation, grammar, obvious consistency issues and final cleanup after the writing itself is settled.
Copy / Line Editing
from $18 / 1,000 wordsSentence-level editing for clarity, flow, repetition, word choice, consistency and readability while protecting your voice.
Developmental Editing
from $25 / 1,000 wordsBig-picture work on structure, pacing, organization, missing material, chapter function and what the book is trying to accomplish.
Heavy rewrites, citation-heavy academic work, technical manuscripts and manuscripts requiring extensive repair may be quoted separately.
Other ways we can help
Book Rescue Already published or already paid somebody, but the finished book still does not feel right? $199 +
We review what you already have and tell you what is working, what is not, and what we would fix before you spend more money.
- Cover review
- Interior formatting review
- Copyright and front-matter review
- Amazon / retailer listing review
- Book-description review
- Pricing and metadata review
- ISBN and imprint setup review
- Obvious proofreading and production issues
- Written Book Rescue report with prioritized recommendations
If the review leads to a repair project of $500 or more with us, the $199 Book Rescue fee can be credited toward that project.
A La Carte Services Need one piece instead of a package? Buy the work you actually need. from $75 +
- Custom cover design: $199-$299
- Print interior formatting: $199
- eBook formatting: $99
- Paperback + eBook formatting: $249
- Back-cover copy / retailer description: $75
- Metadata, category and keyword package: $99
- KDP publishing setup assistance: $125
- IngramSpark setup assistance: $175
- Additional hardcover edition: $75
- Additional design revision rounds: $50
- Post-publication corrections: quoted by scope, $50 minimum
These prices assume a standard project. We quote unusual or complex work before starting it.
Children's Books, Workbooks & Complex Interiors Color, illustrations, tables, photography and unusual page design require a different production process. Custom quote +
These projects can vary dramatically in page count, illustration needs, image preparation and layout complexity. We review the project first and give you a written scope and price before work begins.
We do not force a 32-page picture book, a 90,000-word novel and an image-heavy cookbook into the same package.
Questions are included.
Publishing comes with a ridiculous number of little decisions: trim size, ISBNs, bleed, keywords, distribution, wholesale discounts, file warnings and whatever new thing a publishing platform decides to complain about that day.
You can ask us.
Reasonable email support and questions throughout your active project are included. We also check in at major stages so you know what is happening and what comes next. We do not charge you every time you need something explained.
If a question turns into substantial new editing, design, rewriting or production work outside the agreed scope, we tell you first. No surprise invoice because a ten-minute question became a new project.
What we do differently
There are excellent companies offering assisted self-publishing at many price points. We are intentionally smaller and narrower. We are not trying to sell every author a giant publishing ecosystem. We focus on the work required to make the book professional and help you publish it correctly.
No royalty cut
Your retailer and distributor pay you through your own accounts. We do not collect your book income first and send you a percentage later.
No rights grab
You retain your copyright and publishing rights. Hiring us to work on your book does not make the book ours.
No mystery fees
If an outside provider charges for an ISBN, proof, printing, shipping or another service, you see the actual third-party cost.
How our pricing compares
Publishing-service packages are not identical, so this is not an apples-to-apples claim that one package is "the same" as another. It is a snapshot of publicly advertised U.S. pricing so authors can understand the range of assisted self-publishing options before deciding what level of service they need.
| Service | Publicly advertised price | General scope |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons: Book Built US | $649 | Cover, print + eBook formatting, sales copy, metadata guidance and KDP setup assistance. |
| Lessons: Publish Wide US | $895 | Book Built services plus KDP / IngramSpark assistance, wider-distribution setup and proof-stage support. |
| Outskirts Press | Packages starting at $999 | Full-service self-publishing packages; its Ultimate black-and-white package is publicly listed at $2,099. |
| AuthorHouse Essentials | $1,499 | Paperback + eBook publishing, cover/interior design, light copyediting, launch resources and distribution. |
| Gatekeeper Press Signature | from $4,000 | Cover, paperback/eBook formatting and distribution, ISBNs, metadata, proof, registrations and related support. |
| Scribe Publishing | $29,000 | High-touch managed publishing that includes professional editing, design, publishing and distribution. |
Public pricing checked September 29, 2026. Competitor services, promotions, requirements and prices can change. Review each provider's current terms before making a decision. Sources: Outskirts Press, AuthorHouse, Gatekeeper Press, Scribe Media.
What working with us looks like
1. We look at the book
We review the manuscript, where you are in the process and what you actually need. We do not automatically push every author into the largest package.
2. You know the scope
We agree on the services, price and major stages before production work begins.
3. We build the book
Editing, design, formatting, metadata and file preparation happen according to the services you selected.
4. You approve the work
You review the cover, interior and listing information before publication. It is your book and your name on it.
5. We help you publish
We walk you through the agreed KDP and/or IngramSpark setup. Your accounts stay yours.
6. You leave with your files
You receive the final files created for the project and the information you need to manage your book going forward.
What we do not promise
We do not promise bestseller status, bookstore placement, a specific number of sales, guaranteed reviews or a magical algorithm trick. A professionally made book still has to find readers.
What we can promise is much simpler: we will be clear about what you are paying for, we will tell you when something is outside our scope, and we will treat your book like a book that deserves to be finished properly.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a traditional publisher? No. We provide independent publishing services to authors who are self-publishing. +
Traditional publishers generally select books for acquisition and may pay the cost of publication in exchange for publishing rights and a contractual share of the book's economics. Our model is different: you hire us for services and remain the publisher of your own work unless you independently choose another arrangement elsewhere.
Who owns my book? You do. +
You keep your copyright and publishing rights. Our service agreement covers the work we are hired to perform; it does not transfer ownership of your manuscript to us.
Who receives my royalties? You do, directly through your publishing and retail accounts. +
We do not collect your royalties and then pay you a percentage. The accounts remain yours and retailer / distributor payments go according to the terms of those accounts.
Do I need an ISBN? Usually for print, but which ISBN you use depends on how and where you publish. +
We explain the options, including platform-provided ISBNs and author-owned ISBNs, and help you choose based on your distribution plans. If you choose an ISBN that carries an outside cost, you pay that cost directly or at actual cost.
Where can you help me publish? Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or both, depending on the package and your goals. +
KDP is often the simplest route for Amazon print and Kindle editions. IngramSpark can be useful when an author wants broader print-distribution options. We help you understand what each platform does instead of automatically selling you both.
Do you provide marketing or guarantee sales? No sales guarantees. Basic launch guidance is included in Publish Wide. +
We can make sure the book, metadata and listing are prepared properly and provide practical launch guidance where included. We do not sell guaranteed bestseller claims, guaranteed reviews, guaranteed bookstore placement or guaranteed sales.
Can I ask questions while we are working? Yes. Reasonable handholding is part of the service. +
Absolutely. Publishing has enough moving parts without charging you every time you need something translated into normal English. Reasonable project questions are included. New work outside the agreed scope is quoted before we do it.
How long does it take? It depends on the manuscript and the services selected. +
A clean manuscript that only needs production moves much faster than a manuscript requiring developmental editing and multiple revisions. We give you a project schedule after reviewing the work rather than advertising a timeline that may not fit your book.
Prefer email? Write us at hello@fraziersbooks.com