Frequently Asked Questions

Choose your package on our packages page, download the submission form, fill it in, and email it with your files to publishinglimelight@gmail.com. Then pay at checkout, or ask us for an invoice. As soon as payment arrives, your Author Manager gets started.

Your manuscript as a Word document (for children's books, this is your story text), plus any illustrations as PDF, PNG or PSD files. If you're providing your own cover, send that too, along with an author photo for our Authors Page and back cover. All images should ideally be 300 dpi or higher. Large files can be shared by Dropbox or Google Drive.

Yes. You can publish under a pen name and keep your real name on the copyright if you wish.

Yes. An ISBN is included in every package, but if you've already bought one, we can use yours. Just tell us on the submission form.

Yes. Children's books must be at least 72 pages. This is the minimum Amazon accepts for colour print books, so it ensures your book can be sold on Amazon as well as through other retailers.

All prices are in US dollars, with no hidden costs:

• Fiction & Non-Fiction: $1,900
• Children's & Illustrated: $2,500
• Journals & Workbooks: $3,200
• Publishing Series: the package price for each book
• Publish + Edit: add $500 to any package

See exactly what's included on our packages page.

Yes. Pay for two or more books at the same time and 15% comes off automatically at checkout. Repeat clients receive 10% off; email us for your discount code. Discounts can't be combined.

You can pay securely online using the Buy buttons on our packages page, or email us for an invoice if you prefer.

Refunds depend on how far work has progressed when you ask. You can read the full details in our refund policy.

Usually 2 to 5 weeks from when we receive your manuscript, form and payment until your book is on sale on Lulu. This includes formatting, cover design, your review and a printed proof copy.

Listing on Amazon and other retailers then usually takes 12 weeks or more, while your book is reviewed by Lulu and each retailer.

It can take longer if you request several rounds of revisions, if your proof takes longer to arrive, or if you choose Publish + Edit.

Yes! Once you're 100% happy with your cover and layout, we send you a printed proof copy to check before anything is published.

Your book goes on sale on lulu.com straight away. After Lulu's and each retailer's review, it appears on Amazon and other major online retailers, and bookstores worldwide can order it through the Ingram network. You also get a permanent author discount on copies you buy.

Limelight does not take a cut of your royalties. You're paid by PayPal or cheque through your own Lulu account, which you have full access to.

We can't guarantee it. Retailers make the final decision and can decline or remove a book for reasons outside our control. We make sure your book meets their current rules, is declared correctly and is set up to industry standards, which gives it the best possible chance. If a retailer raises a problem, we'll work with you to fix and resubmit it where we can.

Editing isn't part of our publishing packages, but you can add Publish + Edit for $500. Our editor reviews your writing in two passes, covering grammar, clarity and consistency, and sends you a report of suggested changes to make yourself. Manuscripts over 100,000 words carry an additional cost, which we'll discuss with you first.

Both give you a report of suggested changes that you make yourself. The $1,500 Detailed Manuscript Report goes much deeper, with three passes, chapter-by-chapter feedback, a strengths and improvements overview, continuity checks and a review summary you can use in marketing. Compare all options on our Editing page.

Amazon now requires publishers to declare AI-generated text, images (including covers) and translations, after a flood of low-quality AI books and knockoffs of real authors' work. We've seen books rejected where AI editing wasn't declared. So our submission form asks about any AI use. Using AI isn't a problem; we'll work out with you what needs declaring and handle it.

Yes. You have access to your files on Lulu and can make changes yourself at any time. A fee may apply for changes we make after publication.

At the end of the publishing process, we run social media campaigns, ads and email mail-outs for your book, and you get your own Author Page and Book Advert Page on our website. For launches and signings, see our optional Marketing and Book Signing Materials.

Your Lulu login email is added to Lulu's priority list, so support tickets you send them should be answered within 24 hours. Our team is also here to help after publication, including with Amazon and other retailers if issues come up.

Yes, self-publishing can be done yourself. Our service exists because we're authors too, with years of publishing experience. We know the industry standards and make sure your book reaches distribution without problems. A professional finish can help sales, and we aim to build long-term relationships with all our authors.