Self-publishing and ghostwriting for UK authors, done properly.
From a first conversation to a finished book on Amazon.co.uk and in UK bookshops: British English editing, your own Nielsen ISBNs, a correctly worded copyright page and legal deposit with the British Library. Your name on the cover, your rights and your royalties.
- British English, start to finish
- Fixed written quote
- 100% your rights and royalties
The Long Way Home
First published in Great Britain in 2026 by Your Imprint
Copyright © Your Name 2026
The right of Your Name to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (ebook)
A copy of this book has been deposited with the British Library.
- Amazon.co.uk
- Kindle
- Waterstones
- Foyles
- Blackwell's
- Independent bookshops
- Apple Books
- Kobo
Print editions can be made available for UK bookshops to order through wholesale distribution; shelf stocking is each retailer's decision.
Where are you with your book?
Every author arrives at a different stage. Pick the one that sounds like you and we will take it from there.
“I have a story, but not the time to write it.”
A professional ghostwriter interviews you and writes your memoir, autobiography, family life story or business book in your voice.
Ghostwriting in the UK Stage two“I have a draft. I need it to be good.”
Developmental editing, copy-editing and proofreading in British English, with every change tracked for your approval.
Editing & proofreading Stage three“My book is ready. Help me publish it.”
Cover, typesetting, ISBNs, metadata and distribution to Amazon.co.uk and UK bookshops, handled as one project.
Self-publishing servicesMost self-publishing advice online is American. Your book isn’t.
The rules, the retailers and even the punctuation are different when you publish from the UK. Here is what changes, and what we handle for you.
| Topic | Publishing from the US | Publishing from the UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISBNs | Bought from Bowker, the US ISBN agency | Bought from the Nielsen UK ISBN Agency, one per format |
| Copyright | Optional registration with the US Copyright Office | Automatic under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; there is no official register |
| Moral rights | Rarely stated in the book | The author’s right to be identified is asserted on the copyright page |
| Legal deposit | Library of Congress deposit rules | A copy of each print edition goes to the British Library |
| Spelling & style | color, organize, “double quotes” | colour, organise, ‘single quotes’ |
| Main retailers | Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble | Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones, Foyles, independents |
| Royalties & tax | US tax forms with Amazon | Amazon tax interview for UK residents; royalties declared to HMRC |
Read the detail in our guides to ISBNs in the UK and copyright for UK authors.
One team for everything between idea and bookshop
Choose a single service, or let us manage the whole journey as one project with one point of contact.
Ghostwriting
Memoirs, autobiographies, family life stories and business books, written in your voice, with the copyright assigned to you.
UK serviceEditing & proofreading
From structural feedback to a final proofread, following British English conventions and your own house style.
UK serviceSelf-publishing
Cover design, typesetting, metadata and distribution to Amazon.co.uk and UK bookshops, published under your name or imprint.
UK serviceISBNs & metadata
Nielsen ISBNs for each edition and accurate book data, so shops and libraries can find and order your book.
UK guideBook printing
Print on demand, short runs and hardbacks in UK trim sizes, with print-ready files checked before production.
UK serviceAudiobooks
British narrators with the right accent for your book, and ACX-ready files for Audible UK and other stores.
UK serviceIllustration
Picture books, character design and cover art, with clear written rights to the artwork.
UK serviceTranslation
Literary translation into other languages, into British English, and anglicisation of US editions.
UK serviceAuthor websites
A home for your books with UK retailer links, events and a consent-based newsletter sign-up.
UK serviceSix steps from manuscript to published book
Each step ends with your approval before we move on, so nothing reaches readers until you are happy with it.
Free consultation
A video call at a time that suits you in the UK. We learn about your book, your readers and your goals.
Fixed written quote
A clear scope, price and timeline in writing before any work starts.
Writing or editing
Ghostwriting, editing or proofreading in British English, with tracked changes for your approval.
Cover and typesetting
A cover designed for your genre, and interior layouts for paperback, hardback and ebook.
ISBNs and metadata
One ISBN per edition, plus the description, categories and keywords readers search for.
Publication
Your book goes live on the channels you choose, with guidance on legal deposit and your author page.
A publishing partner, not a vanity press.
UK writing communities rightly warn authors about companies that take their rights or a cut of their sales. We work the other way round: you pay for the services you choose, and everything else stays with you.
- Your rights stay yoursYour book is published under your name or your own imprint. Anything we write for you is assigned to you in writing.
- Your royalties go to youRetailers pay royalties into your own account. We never take a share of your sales.
- A fixed price in writingYou know the full cost before work begins, with no surprise fees later.
- You approve every stageNothing moves forward, and nothing is published, without your sign-off.
UK Author FAQ
Questions UK authors ask us
Do you work with authors based in the UK?
Yes. We work with authors across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by video call, phone and email, with calls booked in UK afternoon and evening hours.
Will my book be edited in British English?
Yes. We follow British spelling and punctuation throughout, including -ise or Oxford -ize spelling (your choice, applied consistently), single quotation marks for dialogue and UK date formats.
Who owns the rights to my book?
You do. We charge for the services you choose; we do not take ownership of your book or a share of your royalties. Anything we write for you is assigned to you in writing, which is how copyright is transferred under UK law.
Where will my book be sold?
Your ebook and print editions can be sold on Amazon.co.uk and other Amazon stores, and your print book can be made available for UK bookshops such as Waterstones, Foyles and independents to order. Whether a shop stocks it on the shelf is each retailer's decision.
Do I need my own ISBN?
Not always. Kindle ebooks do not need one, and Amazon can assign a free ISBN to print editions sold through KDP. If you want your own imprint on the book and UK bookshop distribution, you buy ISBNs from the Nielsen UK ISBN Agency, and we can manage that for you.
How much does it cost to publish a book in the UK?
It depends on the length of your manuscript and the services you need. After a free consultation you receive a fixed written quote, so you know the full cost before any work starts.
Publishing in the UK, explained
- ISBNsHow to get an ISBN in the UKNielsen prices, formats and the free KDP ISBN compared.
- CopyrightCopyright for UK authorsWhy there is no register, and what to put on your copyright page.
- PublishingSelf-publishing in the UKRetailers, legal deposit and the Amazon tax interview.
- GhostwritingHiring a ghostwriter in the UKHow it works, and who owns the words.
Tell us about your book
Share where you are with your book and what you would like to achieve. We will suggest the right next step and send a fixed quote.