The Truth About Traditional, Vanity & Hybrid Publishing:
Why We’re None of the Above & Choose to Charge Upfront
We charge for our services—and we’re not sorry about it.
That line tends to raise eyebrows. People assume that if you’re paying a publisher, you’re being scammed. But the truth is, every publishing model has costs and trade-offs. Ours just happens to put the power back where it belongs: with the author.
Are you a hybrid publisher?
Sort of. We’re like hybrid, but better.
We share many key traits in common with hybrid publishers (like high-quality production and paid author services), but we don’t fit the full definition outlined by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). And we’re okay with that.
The IBPA defines hybrid publishers as those who:
→ Vet submissions
→ Provide professional editorial, design, and marketing services
→ Distribute books under their own imprint
→ Pay authors a portion of net sales
…and more.
We meet many of those criteria—especially when it comes to standards and services. But we never take royalties or split profits.
Authors keep 100% of their rights and earnings. Always.
So while we value the IBPA’s efforts to define ethical hybrid publishing (we’re proud members, by the way!), we prefer to describe ourselves as an Author-First publishing house: values-driven and committed to helping authors bring high-quality books into the world—without taking over ownership.
Are you a vanity press?
Nope—and that distinction is super important to us.
Vanity presses will publish anything, for anyone, as long as they get paid. There’s often little to no editorial support, no quality control, and no real care for the end product. Many also require authors to buy back huge quantities of their own books.
Vanity presses have been known to scam authors. They are not working in the author’s best interest.
That’s not how we roll.
We only put the Garden Wolf Publishing House logo on books that meet our editorial standards. We provide real guidance, expert editing, and vetted collaborators. Our books are thoughtfully crafted—never churned out.
Are you a traditional publisher?
No, and we don’t pretend to be.
We don’t acquire manuscripts, pay advances, or control your creative decisions. Traditional publishers typically own at least some of the rights and make the final calls on everything from your title to your cover. We don’t do that.
Here are some things we offer our authors that many traditional publishers can’t:
→ Full creative input
→ Full rights and royalties
→ A partner who prioritizes your voice, mission, and expertise
So… what are you?
We’re Garden Wolf Publishing House—a boutique publishing partner for mission-driven professionals. Our Author-First Publishing model helps experts like you create children’s books that extend your impact and leave a lasting legacy.
We offer:
→ Concierge-level publishing packages
→ Zero royalties or copyright claims
→ High standards for books that carry our imprint
→ Transparent guidance, not gatekeeping
We don’t fit into a neat category—and that’s the point. We’re building something different because your book deserves better than a broken industry model.
Why authors pay one way or another (even in traditional publishing)
In traditional publishing, the idea of an author paying to publish is considered taboo. You’re told that if a publisher asks for money, it’s a scam.
Yes, sadly, there are many scams and low-quality “publishers” that prey on people who dream of becoming authors and then take their money or trap them in exploitative contracts. But it’s not so black and white that paying for publishing services = scam.
Here’s the truth:
In traditional publishing, you don’t pay upfront—but you pay in other ways. You pay in profits—you don’t get much. You pay in creative control—you don’t control the process. Whoever takes more financial risk tends to have more control. Which makes total sense—that’s how business works.
With traditional publishing, you would typically:
→ Give up some of your rights
→ Earn a small advance (often less than $5K—assuming you’re not a famous hotshot)
→ Get a small share of royalties from book sales, which are often as low as 5–10%.
→ You only start getting royalty cheques after your advance is earned back through sales
Side note: The average traditionally published author can’t make a living from book sales—in fact, Publisher’s Weekly reported on stats from an author income study done by the Author’s Guild: “The survey, which drew responses from 5,699 published authors, found that in 2022, their median gross pre-tax income from their books was $2,000.”
All of the above only happens when a publisher acquires your manuscript. Most writers wait months—or years—for responses to queries, which often never come.
You can be an excellent writer with a powerful story and still never land a book deal. This is not an exaggeration, and it’s not because you’re not good enough—it’s because traditional publishing is a business. They’re betting on what will sell to the widest market, not necessarily what will matter most.
In their defence, they are fronting the risk so they are, naturally, extremely selective with who they choose to bet on.
With self-publishing, hybrid publishing or publishing with Garden Wolf, you’re betting on yourself.
So… why do we charge?
Simply put, this is our revenue model.
Traditional publishers take the financial risk up front, which is why they take the lion’s share of the profit—and control.
In our model, you take the risk up front, and in return, you keep every dollar of profit. (Side note: most hybrid publishers charge authors and also take royalties, but we don’t take a cent from your sales).
It’s not better or worse—just a different kind of ownership, for a different kind of author.
At Garden Wolf, we’re selective about working with authors who share our priorities and values—but you should be selective about working with us, too. That’s how any meaningful relationship is built. With us, you’re not waiting for a gatekeeper’s approval. You’re not hoping someone else finds your story worthy. You’re deciding it is, and seeking the right partner to bring it into the world. You believe in your book, and you’re investing in doing it well.
So… why pay us over other hybrid publishers?
→ We bring years of publishing, editing, and design expertise.
→ We treat your book like it’s our own—but you keep full ownership.
→ We put in the time to make your book not just good, but professionally excellent.
→ We handle all the details so you can enjoy the process—you don’t have to worry about mistakes or logistics. That’s why we’re here.
Publishing with us is not the cheapest option up front—but that’s by design. We don’t settle for less than the best, and that takes a lot of hard detail work and thousands of hours of honing our skills. You are paying for this level of quality.
We work with people who care deeply about their message and want it done right. Our clients are often busy professionals who don’t have time to create the book they envision, so we step in and fill that gap.
How authors benefit
Speed: Publish in 6–12 months, not 2–5 years
Ownership: Keep all your rights, your vision, your profits
Support: No need to juggle ten vendors or figure it out alone
Legacy: Create something lasting and meaningful that fully reflects you
A note on traditional publishing
Don’t get us wrong—we love traditional publishing.
We’re grateful for the incredible books it brings into the world, the stories we’ve learned from, and the industry standards it helped build. It’s a path worth pursuing—for the right author, the right project, and the right moment.
But it’s not the only path. And for many purpose-driven professionals, it’s not the most aligned one.
There’s a lot of judgment in traditional publishing circles around self-publishing and hybrid models. While it’s true there are bad actors out there, we believe it’s unfair—and outdated—to dismiss entire models simply because they operate differently. The publishing world is evolving. It’s time we accept that there’s more than one valid way to bring a meaningful book into the world.
Garden Wolf exists for those who have a vision they’re not willing to compromise. Our authors are ready to move forward, own their voice, and publish a book that makes a difference.
We’ll never pretend this path is for everyone.
But if it’s for you—we’d be honoured to help you bring it to life.
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