Code of Publishing Ethics

Last updated: 23 October 2026

Shhalaj publishes books not merely to be sold, but to be read, remembered and passed on. That responsibility extends beyond the page. This Code sets out the principles we hold ourselves to in how we work with authors, evaluate manuscripts, produce books and conduct ourselves as a publishing house.

1. Editorial Integrity

Publishing decisions are made on editorial merit (the quality, originality and value of the work) and not on payment, personal connection or favour. Editorial staff disclose any personal or financial interest in a manuscript under consideration and recuse themselves from decisions where a genuine conflict exists.

2. Fair and Transparent Author Relations

We communicate publishing decisions, timelines and terms clearly and in good faith. Contracts are written in plain, understandable terms. We do not use an author’s inexperience or eagerness to be published as grounds for unfair terms.

3. Manuscript Evaluation

Submissions are evaluated on their merits, in confidence, and without unnecessary delay. A manuscript under review is treated as confidential and is not shared, discussed or drawn upon outside the evaluation process without the author’s consent.

4. Originality and Intellectual Honesty

We do not knowingly publish plagiarised work, and we expect the same honesty from every author we work with. Where a work draws on the words, ideas or research of others, that debt is properly acknowledged. Duplicate or overlapping submission of the same work to multiple publishers should be disclosed by the author at the time of submission.

5. Copyright and Permissions

We respect intellectual property: our authors’, our own, and that of third parties. Any material reproduced from another source is used only with proper permission or under a legitimate exception, and is correctly credited.

6. Accuracy in Non-Fiction and Educational Publishing

For history, education, reference and other fact-based works, we hold ourselves to a standard of factual accuracy and fair representation of sources. Genuine errors, once identified after publication, are corrected in good faith rather than ignored.

7. Fair Compensation and Payment Practices

Royalties and any other payments due to authors are calculated transparently and paid on the schedule agreed in contract. Authors have the right to request and receive a clear accounting of sales and royalties relating to their work.

8. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Author and reader personal information, unpublished manuscripts and internal editorial correspondence are handled in confidence and protected in line with our Privacy Policy. Access to sensitive information is limited to those who need it to do their work.

9. Freedom of Expression, Responsibly Exercised

We support the free exchange of ideas across the subjects we publish, including where perspectives differ or challenge convention. That freedom is exercised responsibly: we do not publish material that incites hatred, violence or harm against individuals or groups.

10. Fair Opportunity

Manuscripts are evaluated without regard to an author’s background, community, gender or personal circumstances. We aim to keep the door open to new and previously unpublished voices, not only established names.

11. Anti-Bribery and Transparency in Paid Services

No gift or favour of any kind influences a publishing decision.

Every manuscript is reviewed on its merits first. Where an author contributes to editing and design costs, the fee, scope and terms are stated in writing before any work begins, and payment is never presented as a guarantee of acceptance.

12. Conduct Toward Colleagues and Partners

The standards in this Code extend to how we treat our own staff, freelancers, printers, distributors and other partners: with fairness, timely payment, and professional respect.

13. Raising a Concern

Anyone (author, reader, staff member or partner) who believes Shhalaj has fallen short of this Code is encouraged to raise it with us directly. We take such concerns seriously and will look into them in good faith.

Contact: support@shhalaj.com