The Plum Bay Publishing House Story
To better understand the publishing industry, it helps to be able to look backwards and forwards at the same time. The printed word has reached audiences for hundreds of years, but the technology used to produce and sell books is changing constantly. We have found that innovation, experimentation, and tenacity are the core elements of successful, contemporary publishers. We also realize that producing a book is a complex process that can be difficult for writers to navigate when their focus is on the content, not the product. And, because book production is an unfamiliar path, many authors do not receive the level of service, transparency, and collaboration that they need and deserve. Having learned all of this after over twenty years serving authors in a publicity and marketing capacity, Plum Bay’s founders chose to create a publishing company that will meet the complex needs of today’s writers in the everchanging marketplace.
Our mission is to provide services that meet the expanding needs of authors who want a more customized and personal publishing experience.
Vision: To create long-term relationships with authors by providing a one-stop business model whereby all their publishing and distribution needs can be met.
Claire McKinney
CEO
Claire McKinney has been working in the publishing industry for over twenty years. She has appeared on the Today show and CSPAN as an expert and she travels regularly to speak to authors and audiences. In 2018, she created Plum Bay Publishing, and published her own book Do You Know What a Book Publicist Does? A Guide for Creating Your Own Campaigns. By 2020, Plum Bay will be publishing between fifteen and twenty titles per year.
Michael Mulhern
Publisher
Michael Mulhern comes from the detailed world of financial accounting where he was a fund administrator for private equity investments. He graduated from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business with an M.B.A., and in a previous life was a carpenter and craftsman. His goal is to combine his creativity and business backgrounds to produce high quality, beautiful books for authors within the framework of a fully transparent and efficient process.
FAQs:
1. What happens to my book after I sign the contract? Will I hear from you prior to publication?
How much and how often we will need your input will depend on how ready your manuscript is for publication. For example, if there are additional editing steps, such as copyediting and proofreading, you will need to approve changes before we can move to the next step. In general, you will be a partner in this process and we will let you know what is happening each step of the way.
2. When will I be able to get copies of my book?
After all of the files have been uploaded to the printer and we have seen a finished proof of the book, we will order your 35 author copies and 75 promotional copies and bill you for the printing cost as per your contract.
3. Can I order copies of the book myself if I want to sell them on my own?
Yes, you can contact us at any time to order copies. After your initial contracted copies are sent, you can purchase additional books at the printing price plus and additional fee starting at $2 per copy.
4. Do I earn royalties on books I order directly from Plum Bay and sell myself?
No, you keep all of the proceeds. You only pay the per-book fee for copies you might choose to sell on your own. Once you purchase the books from Plum Bay Publishing, LLC, any and all monies collected are yours to keep.
5. When will I know if I am earning royalties on my book?
You will receive a royalty statement within forty-five days after the end of each calendar quarter. Subsequently, you will receive your royalty payments within 120 days of each calendar quarter. You will also be able to view your royalty statements on your author portal which we will set up for you when you sign up.