For authors
Publish With Us
We publish thoughtful Christian nonfiction, and we don’t charge authors to do it.
Why we started
A better way to publish a good book
A few years ago, our founder, Bart Denny, wrote an open letter called “Dear Self-Published Christian Author.” At the time, he was buying books for a Christian bookstore, and he kept meeting authors with worthwhile messages whose books weren’t ready for the shelf. Most needed real editing, a better cover, or a cleaner interior. Some had already paid a vanity publisher thousands of dollars and still didn’t have a book he could stock.
He stands by that letter, with one revision. Getting an unknown, non-traditionally published book into a brick-and-mortar store is harder than the letter let on, and he was the one making those calls. For most new authors, Amazon KDP is the more realistic (though still not “easy”) path to readers.
True Bearing Press is his answer to the problem he kept seeing.
What we publish
Christian nonfiction that says something worthwhile, and says it well
We’re interested in Christian living, women’s issues, theology, ministry, Bible studies and devotionals. We’d especially like to hear from pastors who’ll never be famous but have spent years in the faithful, ordinary work of ministry.
We aren’t taking fiction for now. We don’t know that market well enough to serve its authors. Maybe someday.
- Christian living
- Women’s issues
- Theology
- Ministry and church leadership
- Bible studies
- Devotionals
Our imprints
Proposals for Church Renewal are welcome
Church Renewal, our new imprint, will publish books on church revitalization and spiritual renewal: biblical, practical, and serious about prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. If you’re writing in that field, send us a proposal.
The arrangement
What we offer
You bring a worthwhile manuscript and a willingness to do the work. We bring experience in the Christian nonfiction book market, along with editing, design and production.
No fees
We don’t charge authors anything to publish. No setup fees, no packages, no charge for editing or design.
Editing
Editorial help to get your manuscript ready for readers, beyond a quick proofread.
Cover and interior design
A professionally designed cover and interior that can sit next to books from established publishers.
A True Bearing Press ISBN
Your book is published under our imprint, so it won’t list on Amazon as “Independently Published.”
Your royalties
True Bearing Press holds the publishing rights. You keep the royalties Amazon and other distributors pay.
A growing catalog
Here’s what’s in it for us: we get to build a catalog of good Christian books under a label readers can recognize.
What we can’t do yet
We’re new, and you’d be getting in on the ground floor. We’d rather tell you the limits now than have you discover them later.
No marketing budget
You’ll need to take an active part in promoting your book. We’d much rather see you spend your money reaching readers than paying for services we provide free.
No promises about sales
We can’t promise the royalties will add up to much. Neither of us is likely to get rich from this anytime soon.
Bookstores are a long shot
We can’t promise you’ll land on bookstore shelves. Amazon is where most of your readers will find you.
No fiction for now
We’re sticking with nonfiction until we know the fiction market well enough to serve its authors.
How we compare
Three ways to publish a book
Traditional publishing is a good path for authors who can get in, and we’d encourage you to try it if you’re able. Pay-to-publish companies, whether they call themselves vanity, hybrid or “assisted” publishers, will publish nearly anyone who pays. Here’s roughly how the options line up.
| Traditional publisher | Pay-to-publish (vanity or hybrid) | True Bearing Press | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Nothing. Some pay an advance. | Often thousands of dollars in package fees | Nothing |
| Getting in | Very selective. Usually requires a literary agent and an author platform. | Almost anyone who pays | Selective, but no agent needed |
| Editing and design | Professional, paid for by the publisher | Depends on the package you buy. Quality varies widely. | Editing, cover and interior design included |
| Royalties | A percentage, usually after any advance has earned out | Varies by contract | You keep the royalties distributors pay |
| Marketing | Some publisher support, though authors are expected to promote | Often sold as extra-cost add-ons | None yet. You’ll promote your own book. |
| Bookstores | A real possibility through the publisher’s sales team | Rare in practice | Unlikely. We focus on Amazon. |
These are general patterns, and individual contracts differ. Some pay-to-publish companies do good work at a fair price. Read any contract carefully before you sign it, including ours.
Getting started
How it works
Send us a proposal. Use the submission form to tell us your working title, what the book is about, who it’s for, what readers will take away, and how far along it is. You can attach up to three sample chapters. Please don’t send the whole manuscript yet.
We take a look. If it seems like a fit, we’ll ask to read a sample or the full manuscript.
We agree on terms. If we decide to work together, we’ll put the arrangement in writing before editing begins.
We make the book. Editing, cover design, interior layout and production, with you involved along the way.
It goes on sale. Your book is published on Amazon under the True Bearing Press imprint, and you get to work telling people about it.
Before you send it
Not sure your book is ready? Start with our resources for authors: a readiness checklist, the four kinds of editing and how to write a proposal.
Questions authors ask
Do I really pay nothing?
Yes. There are no publishing fees, and we don’t charge for editing, design or production. You’ll likely spend money promoting your book, and you may want to buy author copies, but you won’t pay us to publish it.
Who holds the rights?
True Bearing Press holds the publishing rights and publishes the book under our imprint. You receive the royalties that Amazon and other distributors pay.
Why Amazon instead of bookstores?
Our founder spent years as a buyer for a Christian bookstore. Shelf space is hard to win when an author is unknown and not traditionally published. For most new authors, Amazon KDP is a more realistic way to reach readers, though it still takes work.
Will my book say “Independently Published”?
No. Your book carries a True Bearing Press ISBN, and True Bearing Press is listed as the publisher.
Do you publish fiction?
Not right now. We’d rather wait until we can serve fiction authors well.
Can I send my whole manuscript?
Please start with the submission form and up to three sample chapters. If your book looks like a fit, we’ll ask for the rest.
Author community
Interested in writing, but don’t know where to start?
Join other Christian writers for conversation, advice on editing and publishing, polls and resources. It’s free, by application.
Tell us about your book
If you’ve been working on a Christian nonfiction manuscript, we’d like to hear about it.