Professional Publishing. Shared Commitment. Long-Term Possibilities.
Hybrid publishing brings together the author's investment in the book and Shhalaj's publishing, distribution and marketing.
You invest in the initial editing and design of your book. Shhalaj then publishes it, distributes it through print and digital channels, markets it, and pays you a royalty on its sales. It is designed for authors who want a professional publishing partnership and a structured approach to reaching readers.
A different arrangement from traditional publishing. A traditional publisher chooses the book and pays for its editing, design and printing, and the author pays nothing. In hybrid publishing the author contributes to the initial editing and design under a written agreement. We are a hybrid publisher, and we say so plainly.
Who Is Hybrid Publishing For?
Authority builders
Coaches, consultants and professionals building authority in their field.
Business owners
Entrepreneurs and business owners with valuable knowledge to share.
Specialists
Experts with specialised or niche content that deserves a professional edition.
Established audiences
Authors who already have readers, followers or an institution behind them.
Committed writers
Writers who want a professional publishing partnership and are willing to invest in it.
What Shhalaj Provides
- Publishing consultation
- Editorial and design work to professional standards
- Print and digital edition planning
- ISBN and metadata support
- Publication of the book in the agreed formats
- Distribution through agreed channels
- Marketing and promotion of the book: social media, our bookseller network, our website and bookstore, Amazon India, Flipkart, Google Play Books, Book Jockey recommendations, the Shhalaj newsletter, Read Sample previews, library catalogue records and email promotion
- Catalogue management
- A 5% royalty on the printed price of every copy sold, with a statement through the Author Portal
- Opportunities to expand formats and markets
What the Author Contributes
- The manuscript and your subject expertise
- The publishing fee, which covers copy editing, page layout, cover design and a set of author copies, under the agreement
- Cooperation during production, including timely approvals
- Participation in promotion: interviews, events and media, where reasonably requested
- Any additional responsibilities specifically defined in the agreement
Royalties and Author Copies
- The author earns a royalty of 5% of the printed price of every copy sold, on both print and eBook editions.
- Royalty is reported once a year through the Author Portal. There is no minimum payout for payments made in India.
- Author copies: a set of author copies is included in the publishing fee; the number is stated in your agreement. You can buy more at the author price set out in your agreement.
Investment and Packages
The cost of publishing is the cost of the care a book needs: the editing that sharpens it and the design that makes it easy to read. It depends on the book. A picture book and a five-hundred-page research volume do not cost the same.
So we start with your manuscript and your objectives, then give you a written proposal that shows what is included and what it will cost. Pricing, timelines, scope and deliverables are communicated transparently, before you commit.
Hybrid publishing fees start from ₹20,000. The exact fee depends on your manuscript and is confirmed after we have reviewed it.
Long-Term Distribution
Continued availability and catalogue management are ongoing objectives, subject to contractual rights, channel agreements and commercial feasibility. We do not promise availability in every format indefinitely, and we do not guarantee sales.
Questions About Hybrid Publishing
Is hybrid publishing the same as being published by a traditional publisher?
No. A traditional publisher chooses the book and pays for its editing, design and printing, and the author pays nothing. In hybrid publishing the author contributes to the initial editing and design of the book under a written agreement, and Shhalaj carries the publishing, distribution and marketing work.
What do I pay for?
Copy editing, page layout, cover design and a set of author copies for your book. Fees start from ₹20,000; the exact fee depends on your manuscript and is stated in your agreement. It is payable before that work begins. Work outside the agreed scope is charged separately, at rates agreed in writing first.
Do I earn royalties?
Yes. Under hybrid publishing the author earns a royalty of 5% of the printed price of every copy sold, on print and eBook editions. It is reported once a year through the Author Portal, and there is no minimum payout for payments made in India.
What about author copies?
A set of author copies is included in the publishing fee, and the number is stated in your agreement. You can buy more copies at the author price set out in your agreement.
Does Shhalaj market the book?
Yes. Shhalaj undertakes marketing, publicity and promotion of the book. The nature and extent are decided by Shhalaj, and promotion is a shared effort in which the author cooperates. Marketing creates opportunities; it does not guarantee sales.
Will you accept any manuscript?
We review every manuscript and every author's objectives first. Where hybrid publishing is not the right fit, or the manuscript needs more work, we say so and suggest a better starting point.
Does hybrid publishing guarantee sales?
No. Distribution and marketing create opportunities for a book to reach readers. Actual sales depend on reader demand, discoverability, pricing, competition, promotional activity and other market factors.
Who owns the book?
The author keeps the copyright at all times. You license exclusive publishing rights to Shhalaj, and the agreement explains which rights, for how long, and how they return to you.
Can I leave the agreement?
Either side can terminate for a material breach that is not fixed within 30 days of written notice. On termination the publishing rights revert to you. The fee is not refunded unless agreed in writing or required by law. The full terms are summarised on our Rights and Royalties page.
Discuss Your Publishing Project
Tell us about your manuscript and what you want it to achieve. We will respond with an honest view of whether hybrid publishing fits, and what it involves.