Frequently Asked Questions

Most books move from signed manuscript to published release in three to four months, depending on how much editing and design work is needed and how involved you want to be at each stage.

Yes. You retain full ownership and rights to your manuscript and the finished book. Pen & Laurel is a service provider, not a rights holder.

Absolutely — many authors come to us with a partial draft, an outline, or just an idea. Our ghostwriting and editing services can meet you at whatever stage you’re at.

Self-publishing platforms give you the tools; we give you the strategy, craft and project management to use them well — editing, design, formatting and marketing handled by one accountable team instead of pieced together yourself.

If you have a story and voice but need help getting it onto the page, that’s ghostwriting. If you already have a full draft and want it sharper and more polished, that’s editing. Not sure which? Tell us where your manuscript stands and we’ll recommend the right fit.

This depends on the package, but every project includes at least one structural edit and one line edit, with a proofreading pass before formatting. Additional rounds can be added if needed.

Publishing and marketing are separate services so you only pay for what you need, but we strongly recommend at least a launch-week plan — publishing alone rarely sells books on its own.

We handle distribution to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and Draft2Digital (which extends reach to dozens of additional retailers and libraries), plus IngramSpark and print-on-demand for physical copies.

Most retailers require one, and print editions always do. We handle ISBN assignment and U.S. Copyright Office registration as part of our publishing services, so it’s set up correctly before your book goes live.

Yes. Every ghostwriting engagement is covered by a confidentiality agreement, and authorship credit is entirely yours — your ghostwriter’s involvement is never disclosed without your permission.

Fiction across horror, mystery, historical, fantasy, sci-fi, romance and thriller, plus non-fiction including memoir, autobiography, business and self-help books, children’s books, scripts and song lyrics — matched with a writer experienced in your genre.

Pricing depends on your book’s length, genre and which services you need — ghostwriting, editing, design, publishing and marketing can be booked individually or as a bundle. Contact us for a quote specific to your project.

Yes — professional narration and audio production are available as an add-on once your manuscript is finalized, alongside your print and eBook editions.