Author services & self-publishing

We help writers with something to say, say it loudly.

Song Bird Publishing pairs independent authors with editing, design, and distribution — so your book sounds like you at your most polished, not a stranger's idea of a bestseller.

Start your submission See what we offer

120+authors published

6weeks, average editing turnaround

100%of royalties stay with the author

Song Bird Publishing emblem: a bird formed from a treble clef, perched on a nest

est. two thousand twenty-six

About us

Small enough to know your manuscript by name.

"We're not interested in the safest version of your book. We're interested in the true one."

Song Bird Publishing was founded by editors and designers who were tired of watching good books get flattened by slow, impersonal presses. We work with a small roster of authors at a time — never a slush pile you disappear into.

From first-draft feedback to a finished, distributed book, you keep creative control and the rights to your work. We bring the craft; you bring the voice.

Editorial first. Every project starts with a developmental read, not a sales pitch.
Design that fits the story. Covers and layouts built for your genre and your reader, not a template.
You keep your rights. Song Bird is a service, not a gatekeeper — your book stays yours.
Honest timelines. We tell you what's realistic before you sign anything.

What we offer

Everything between your manuscript and a finished book.

Work with us on a single service or the full catalog — every engagement is scoped to what your book actually needs.

Developmental editing

Structural, line-level, and story feedback from editors who read your genre for fun, not just for work.

Cover & interior design

Custom covers and typeset interiors for print and ebook, built to hold their own on a shelf or a screen.

Formatting & production

Print-ready files and clean ebook builds across every major retailer and format.

Distribution

Getting your book into stores, libraries, and online retailers — with you keeping the royalties.

Launch & marketing

Press outreach, launch planning, and a marketing plan sized to your book, not a generic checklist.

Author coaching

One-on-one sessions for writers building a second book, a series, or a long-term career.

Our authors

A small, sharp roster.

A few of the writers we've worked with — replace these with your own authors as your catalog grows.

Marisol Quintero

Literary fiction

Author of The Weight of Small Rooms, a debut novel about three sisters and one inherited house.

Devon Ashcroft

Memoir

Wrote Long Way From the Coast, a memoir about rebuilding a life after leaving the merchant navy.

Priya Nandakumar

Poetry

Author of Salt Letters, a poetry collection on migration, language, and kitchens.

Submissions

Ready to send us your manuscript?

What we're looking for

A complete or near-complete manuscript, any genre
A one-page synopsis and short author bio
Writers who want to stay hands-on in the process
Openness to editorial feedback

How it works

Send your pages

Email your manuscript, synopsis, and bio to the address below.

We read within 4 weeks

Every submission gets a real read — you'll hear back either way.

We talk it through

If it's a fit, we'll set up a call to walk through timeline and scope.

We get to work

Editing begins, and your book starts its path to print.

Notes & news

From the Song Bird desk.

August 2026

Why we still believe in developmental editing

A look at the first pass every manuscript gets before a single cover concept is drawn.

Read the post →

July 2026

Three authors on keeping their rights

What it actually means to self-publish without signing away your book.

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June 2026

Inside a cover design, start to finish

How one concept sketch became the finished cover for Salt Letters.

Read the post →

Get in touch

Tell us about your book.

Submissionssubmissions@songbirdpublishing.com

General inquirieshello@songbirdpublishing.com

Studio hoursMonday–Friday, 9am–5pm ET

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