Why did you start IOM?
We started IOM because we thought there was a better way to publish books – one that was more collaborative and fairer to the authors and artists behind the work. The publishing industry has changed significantly in recent years, and continues to evolve. IOM is the answer to the unasked question: How can publishing be improved in both production and fairness? Our foundation is strong, and we hope to always grow and evolve as things continue to change.
What makes IOM different from other publishers?
IOM is different in several ways. Firstly, it’s based on a collaborative model. This allows us to support the talent behind the work, which helps them to create their best work. Secondly, it’s built on fairness. Our royalty structure is more transparent and designed to offer the best rates possible. Finally, though this may sound cheesy, it’s 100% true: it’s about heart. The heart and soul of the company is aligned with our Founder’s heart and soul (which, if you know Martina, is saying something).
How do you select your authors and/or work?
As we started, we were very lucky to be connected to many talented people. In some instances, they came to us, and in others, we sought them out. As we continue to grow, we will always keep an eye out for talented individuals doing interesting work. Our criteria is clear: The work must be compelling and fall into one of the categories that we have chosen to be in alignment with our values and mission.
How do we submit to IOM if we want to be published?
We are currently in a signing hiatus, and unfortunately, we cannot accept unsolicited submissions. Please check back in the future for any changes.
How long does it take to get my book once I’ve ordered it?
All of our books use print-on-demand technology (learn why, here), so everything depends on the retailer’s queue. The main online retailers include: Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. Typically, a book that is ordered on Amazon, for example, will arrive within a day or two if you are a Prime member, or a little longer if you are not. If you prefer to buy your books at a local bookseller, you can order directly through them. This option takes a little longer, but is worth it if you want to support independent bookstores.
Why do you use print-on-demand, instead of printing larger quantities and warehousing them?
This question has come up a lot, and the answer is simple: It’s better for the environment. With print-on-demand, books are printed when they’re ordered. This significantly decreases waste. In other words, no trees are being chopped down just to print a lot of books that will sit in a warehouse gathering dust. Today’s technology is really something we can use to be more mindful in our business practices. We’ve created two simple graphics explaining this, which you can see here.
What do I do if my book arrives damaged?
Since we are not offset printing and warehousing our books, there can sometimes be small issues when using the print-on-demand model. This will be an issue to address with the retailer you used. We suggest you return the book to them and ask for a replacement.
Why don’t you accept unsolicited submissions?
This has been one of the hardest decisions we have had to make. We know how hard it is for talented writers to get their work in front of publishers and agents. Unfortunately, due to the sensitive nature of working with intellectual property, and being a smaller boutique company, we have decided to only view work that has been submitted through a vetted channel. Thank you for understanding.