HarperCollins has just started a new imprint that seeks to publish debut authors digitally. The company is hoping to lure away people who would otherwise just submit their titles to Amazon. The goal, is to sign a bunch of authors and whoever sells the most will get a more legit contract.
The name of the new imprint is called HarperLegend and they are currently asking for author submissions. They are looking for manuscripts that are around 50-60,000 words the book can be about Christian, Eastern, or general spirituality, personal growth, wisdom literature, fables, historical fiction, fantasy fiction even paranormal fiction as long it is transformational.
HarperLegend royalties are 50% after the first 10,000 copies sold and start at 25%. The do not pay advances against royalties, but if the book sells over 15,000 copies there is a great chance that they will decide to publish your book in major bookstores and you will receive standard print royalties.
Why should you care about this new imprint when most indie authors throw down with Amazon? HarperLegends is a boutique publishing shop within a big muscle publishing company. There is an expert team with many and varied skill sets inside HarperOne and HarperCollins who will all touch your book in some way – this is hard to beat in the standard self-publishing offers out there. Some of these include individualized editorial guidance, marketing, publicity, legal, anti-piracy, design (exterior and interior), copy, distribution, sales, foreign rights, subsidiary rights, strategic pricing, live event representation and more.
Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past ten years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and Verge.