First Steps Publishing

Oregon Coast Publishing : For Authors Seeking a Solid Foundation

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Frequently Asked Questions

First Steps Publishing (traditional) | Fireside Press (hybrid)

Are you a Traditional Publisher?

Yes, First Steps Publishing is a small press traditional book publishing company publishing 3-5 titles per year.

However, we also offer a paid self-publishing hybrid division (Fireside Press) for authors wishing more control for their work. Publishes 12-24 titles/year.

Do I have to pay you money to publish?

You do not pay anything to publish with First Steps Publishing.

Fireside Press, the Open Submission HYBRID division of First Steps Publishing, is a paid self-publishing service starting at $2499.00 (US).  Fireside is an AGENT FREE option, for those wishing to self-publish without our FSP imprint, we offer the same top design services to make your book a success.

How do I submit my manuscript?

First, be sure to read the submission guidelines carefully.

We ONLY accept submissions through our online forms:

What is a Query Letter and why is it important?

“The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only: to seduce the agent or editor into reading or requesting your work” —Jane Friedman

First Steps Publishing relies heavily on the query letter to make our decision. We receive hundreds of submissions each month, so a good first impression is important.  Take your time and write a proper and informative Query Letter.

What if FSP doesn’t accept my manuscript for publication or I have chosen to self-publish my book?

At times, we reject a manuscript for publication with our parent company, First Steps Publishing. This can be due to many reason: quality, wrong genre, or we’ve met our quota for the year. If this happens, we may reach out to you or your agent for publication through our Hybrid division, Fireside Press, the self-publishing hybrid division of First Steps publishing

We recognize there are talented writers who may not choose the route of traditional publishing, so Fireside Press, is a good option, offering the same professional services as First Steps Publishing. Please Contact Us for more information.

Who owns the Copyright?

Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form—digital, handwritten or printed. FSP will retain copyright to your work once we agree to publish it. If for any reason we should part ways, FSP will revert the copyright back to you. However if you wish to keep the copyright yourself you will need to obtain a copyright for your work from the US Copyright Office. This will not preclude the publication of the work, but publication prior to confirmation of the copyright may make enforcement more difficult.

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