Personal support for independent authors

Your manuscript.
Your book.
A helping hand.

You’ve written the story. I’ll help you take the next steps towards a published book.

Manuscript formatting, cover preparation and practical guidance through self-publishing—from an Australian author who understands the journey.

Discuss your book

Help with one step, or support throughout the process.

How I can help

Bring the pieces together.

Self-publishing means making a lot of decisions. I’ll help you understand your options and prepare the materials you need, with a clear scope agreed before work begins.

01 / THE INTERIOR

Manuscript formatting

Turn your manuscript into a consistent, readable book interior, with a layout suited to your content and chosen format.

  • Typography and chapter styling
  • Margins, page numbering and layout
  • Front and back matter
  • Files prepared for the agreed publishing format
02 / THE COVER

Cover preparation

Bring your artwork, title and book details together in a cover that presents your work clearly and suits its genre.

  • Cover artwork preparation
  • Title and author typography
  • Print cover layout, including spine and back
  • Preparation to the selected printer’s specifications
03 / THE NEXT STEPS

Publishing guidance

Work through the self-publishing process with someone to explain the decisions and help you move forward.

  • Choosing your book’s format
  • Understanding setup and book information
  • Guidance with platforms such as IngramSpark
  • Working through uploads, proofs and publication

A clear path forward

One step at a time.

Whether this is your first book or your next release, we’ll start with where you are now.

  1. Tell me about your book

    Share your genre, approximate word count, manuscript stage and the help you’re looking for.

  2. Agree on the work

    We’ll establish the deliverables, estimated hours, revision arrangements and expected timing before starting.

  3. Prepare and review

    I’ll work on the agreed materials, with opportunities for you to review the presentation and provide feedback.

  4. Take the next publishing steps

    Where publishing guidance is included, I’ll help you navigate the setup, proofing and release process.

Publishing platforms

Make sense of
self-publishing.

File specifications, book information, print options and distribution settings can feel unfamiliar. I’ll help you understand what’s needed and work through the relevant steps.

Your project’s scope will identify the platforms and formats we’re preparing for.

Clear expectations from the start

Pricing that reflects your project.

My consultancy services are charged at $60 AUD per hour, including GST. Every book has different requirements, from a straightforward novel to a heavily illustrated publication, so the time involved will depend on your project.

Before work begins, we’ll discuss what you need and I’ll provide an estimate of the hours involved. If additional work is needed or you’d like to expand the project, we’ll agree on that before proceeding.

You can engage me for a particular task or for guidance throughout the self-publishing process. Any third-party expenses, such as artwork licensing or printed proofs, will be discussed separately.

Discuss your project

An author in your corner

Practical help.
Personal attention.

I’m C. S. Cooper, an Australian author and engineer with experience bringing my own books to readers.

I understand how much work goes into finishing a manuscript. My aim is to help you navigate the next stage, understand the choices in front of you, and give your book the care it deserves.

Services are charged at $60 AUD per hour, including GST. Hours are estimated individually. The scope, deliverables and any third-party expenses will be discussed before work begins.

Common questions

Can I book just one service?

Yes. Get in touch if you need formatting, cover preparation or guidance with a particular stage. We can discuss a scope suited to your project.

Should my manuscript be edited first?

Ideally, editing and proofreading should be complete before final formatting. Later text changes can affect pagination, page count and the print cover’s spine width. Editing and proofreading are separate from formatting unless specifically included in your agreed scope.

Can you work with existing cover artwork?

We can discuss preparing a cover using artwork you already have. The image needs to be suitable for the intended print size, and you must have the necessary rights to use it. Any new artwork or image licensing will be addressed in the project scope.

How much will it cost, and how long will it take?

This depends on the manuscript, layout, cover requirements and the amount of guidance needed. Send your project details so we can discuss estimated hours at $60 AUD per hour, including GST, and an expected schedule. Printing, proof delivery and platform processing can add time.

What files and account arrangements are included?

We’ll agree on the final file formats, account setup arrangements and handover before work starts, so you know exactly what you’ll receive and manage.

Let’s talk about your project

Ready for your next chapter?

Tell me about your book, where you are in the process, and what you’d like help with. We’ll work out the next steps together.

Useful details: genre · approximate word count · manuscript stage · services needed · intended publication date

Discuss your book