And we can help.
For those seeking a more hands-on experience in penning their own work, K.H. Bickell Literary offers select literary, design, self-publishing, and visibility services individually, each executed with the precision, elegance, and confidentiality our clients expect.
Editorial & Literary Services
- Manuscript Consultation
Professional evaluation of your manuscript with strategic feedback on narrative structure, voice, and readiness for publication. - Concept & Narrative Development
Comprehensive shaping of your story’s structure, themes, and narrative strategy prior to writing. - Developmental Editing
Focused refinement of content, pacing, and narrative coherence. - Copy Editing
Line-by-line precision editing for consistency, clarity, and literary polish. - Proofreading
Meticulous final review ensuring flawless grammar, punctuation, and formatting. - Query Letter Development
Professionally crafted queries tailored for literary agents or publishers. - Synopsis Writing
Concise, compelling book summaries for traditional publishing submissions. - Author’s Note & Dedication Crafting
Personalized assistance in crafting meaningful author notes, dedications, and acknowledgments.
Do you want us to actually write your book? In that case, you may be interested in our Legacy Memoirs or Leadership & Business Books development services. Please note we do not ghostwrite fiction.
Self-Publishing Design & Formatting Services
- Book Cover Design
Bespoke, impactful cover designs that authentically represent your memoir’s essence. - Interior Page Design
Elegant typography and refined layouts for print and digital formats. - eBook Formatting for Amazon/KDP
Professionally formatted digital files optimized for seamless online publication. - Paperback & Hardcover Formatting for Amazon/KDP
Custom print layouts designed to your chosen trim size and aesthetic preferences. - Bespoke Limited Edition Print Sourcing
Curated connections with boutique print houses for a select number exquisite, heirloom-quality editions. - Illustration Development
Expert management and collaboration with artists for custom book illustrations.
Self-Publishing Assistance
- Full Amazon/KDP Setup
Comprehensive assistance in establishing your author and book profiles for independent publishing. - ISBN Acquisition & Registration with Library and Archives Canada
National cataloguing and archival of your publication. - Royalty Program Registration
Enrollment in Access Copyright and Public Lending Right programs.
Author Visibility Services
- Promotional Print Materials
Design and production of elegant bookmarks, invitations, press kits, and more. - Author Website Development
Sophisticated, editorially driven websites to highlight your memoir and personal brand. - Book Trailer Development
Cinematic-quality promotional videos capturing your memoir’s emotional essence.
Why not just do it yourself?
Every day, countless authors successfully publish their own books or prepare manuscripts for traditional publication. Manuscript preparation and self-publishing can indeed be done entirely on your own, but it doesn’t have to be.
At K.H. Bickell Literary Inc., we support authors who prefer collaboration, offering discreet, expert guidance at every step. If you’d rather entrust parts of your journey to writing, editing, and design professionals who value your vision as deeply as you do, we’d be honoured to help.
A Note About Vanity Presses
In my experiences as a creative writing Mentor and as a Writer in Residence, I provided guidance and support to numerous authors who had fallen prey to vanity presses: companies that exploit writers by masking as traditional or hybrid publishers who typically deliver minimal value or exposure. Vanity presses often promise fame, fortune, and literary acclaim, yet rarely deliver anything beyond inflated costs, limited distribution, and negligible readership. These publishers also often force authors to sign over the rights to their work, with terms completely outside of standard traditional publishing models.
K.H. Bickell Literary Inc.’s business model centres on author services and is focused solely on quality literary craftsmanship, elegant design, and client satisfaction. We are not publishers, but instead book coaches. We offer author services: our writers and editors specialize in bringing your book and submission package to submission-ready status if your goal is to approach traditional publishers, and our consultants and designers spearhead book design and self-publication help for those who choose to self-publish.
We collaborate closely and honestly with our authors, providing clear pricing, measurable outcomes, and authentic value at every step. Most of our memoir clients tend to be more interested in creating quality work as part of a legacy project: their story as a blessing to bestow on future generations. We can certainly assist in meeting that goal. Other writers are perhaps emerging wordsmiths eager to sharpen their skills through professional manuscript critique, or they are thought leaders set on positioning themselves within their industry through exceptional ghostwriting services, and we can offer both services with high confidence. Others are set on self-publishing their books, but perhaps lack the time or technical skills to develop the book cover, interior formatting, and set up their KDP account. In that case, too, we are happy to assist.
Because I’ve seen too many talented, open-hearted writers victimized by literary scams, I am committed to education and transparency. If you have questions or concerns about the legitimacy of a publishing house or service provider you are currently in contact with, I invite you to contact me directly, completely free of charge, and with no ‘upselling’ intentions on any of the services listed on this page. I’m happy to help you navigate the literary world safely and confidently – one writer to another.
Red Flags: Identifying Predatory Vanity Presses
- High Upfront Costs: Demanding substantial fees upfront with little transparency about what the fees actually cover.
- Aggressive Sales Tactics: High-pressure sales techniques, unrealistic promises of bestseller status, or guaranteed success.
- No Selectivity: Accepting virtually any manuscript without editorial review, suggesting profit rather than quality drives their business model.
- Reverse Money Flow: They say “congratulations” in an email, claiming your work was chosen for publication based on merit, but the contract insists you pay them. This is not how publishing works, where money should flow to the writer upon traditional publication, not from the creator of the work.
- Limited or No Distribution: Failure to provide genuine, effective distribution channels for your book.
- Vague, Unclear, or Unfair Contracts: Contracts filled with ambiguous language, hidden fees, unfair royalty splits, or rights grabs.
- Poor Quality Production: Substandard editing, design, or printing quality.
- Minimal Author Support: Little to no genuine marketing, promotional support, or ongoing author guidance.
- Persistent Upselling: Continuous pressure to purchase additional, unnecessary services.
- Negative Reviews: Difficulty finding unbiased reviews or excessive negative feedback online from past authors.
- Refusal to Provide References: Reluctance or refusal to share past client testimonials or references.
Again, if you encounter these red flags or feel uncertain about a publishing house’s legitimacy, please reach out for free guidance. Your creative work deserves respect, clarity, and protection.
— Kate Bickell