Big Publishers. Small Publishers. How to Select Your Publisher
15 Years Later: Why I Work with Just a Handful of Titles
Working with big publishers is good.
Working with small publishers is good.
But whichever choice you make, you deserve to understand what you are actually comparing, not just a publisher’s name.
One of the biggest mistakes writers make is comparing an advance with upfront publishing costs and calling it a day. I understand why — money is tangible, and the industry encourages that comparison.
The real comparison is what each option means for you as a writer — how you grow into an author, and what your publisher can realistically help you achieve on that journey.
“Scale only works for me when it doesn’t require me to delegate away creative responsibility or compromise my artistic vision or the life I want to live. That choice shapes everything I publish.”
— Tamara Forrest Smith
Over the past 15 years, we have released only a small number of titles each year. That has always been intentional.
We started by publishing our own books through Master and Man Books, and 15 years later, that remains the core of our work. Staying at this scale allows us to remain creatively involved and responsive, and crucially, to deliver better outcomes for writers where it matters most.
Scale doesn’t determine ambition.
It determines how attention is distributed.
Publishing Advances and Upfront Costs: Looking Beyond the First Cheque
An advance is not free money. It is an advance against future earnings and comes with long-term financial and contractual implications.
In many traditional publishing agreements:
A significant percentage of net sales is retained by the publisher
Royalties are paid only after the advance earns out
Rights may be held for extended periods, sometimes indefinitely
Contract terms can restrict flexibility and future use of the work
By contrast, I operate with upfront fees, which allows:
Authors to retain full net sales
Income to begin from the first sale
Clearer, shorter, or fully retained rights
Greater flexibility and speed
Direct collaboration with the author, without layers of gatekeeping
The real financial question is not:
“How much money do I receive at the start?”
It is:
“Who benefits from my book across its lifetime?”
Neither approach is right nor wrong. What matters is alignment with how you want to work and build your writing life.
It does not stop here; this is just a beginning.
What Book Production Actually Involves
Publishing a book is not a single event.
It is a sustained process that requires time, judgment, and care.
Depending on the manuscript, the writer’s experience, and the book’s intention, this can include:
Developmental consultation and mentoring
Clarifying the book’s core vision and the Big Idea
Support through the writing and developmental editing process
Ongoing writer support
Multiple full manuscript readings
Proofreading and line editing
Interior layout and typesetting
Cover concept development (a decisive stage)
Translating creative vision into visual form
Blurb positioning and messaging
Technical production
Coordination between editor, designer, writer, and publisher
Genre and market research
Distribution across international channels
Pricing and market positioning
Marketing strategy and guidance
Launch and post-launch support
This work requires time, judgment, and experience.
When I publish a book, I am fully involved in every aspect. I prefer it this way. That level of involvement changes the quality of decisions at every stage.
The real question is not cost.
It is who is doing the work — and how closely they are engaged with it.
Small-scale publishing is about paying for time, craft, and sustained attention — not shortcuts or automation.
Why Communication Is a Core Part of Publishing
We began a publishing company out of frustration with systems that normalised the distance between writer and publisher.
Publishing should not be inaccessible by default.
Many writers face:
Long periods between submissions without responses
Limited access to decision-makers
Delays built into systems rather than necessity
That experience shapes confidence, momentum, and trust.
A fair question to ask is:
If communication is not possible at the beginning, how will it function throughout the life of the book?
What Small-Scale Publishing Looks Like in Practice
Last year, I published two titles.
This year, I have eight scheduled — and frankly, that is plenty.
Some are internal publications, including work connected to The Alan Forrest Smith Literary Foundation.
Working at this scale allows me to:
Be directly involved at every stage
Build genuine relationships with booksellers
Collaborate closely with designers, illustrators, and writers
Work at a pace that suits the writer, not a fixed production pipeline
Question assumptions and adapt approaches
Support writers in shaping not just a book, but a long-term creative direction
It is about care, continuity, and responsibility.
Why I Protect Sustainable Scale in Publishing
“For me, it’s about following my heart. When I write or publish without being pulled in too many directions, and I maintain the freedom to explore other creative work, that’s when the results are strongest — and it’s what works best for Master and Man Books.”
— Tamara Forrest Smith
Protecting my capacity to publish well within a sustainable scale allows me to remain creatively active and present, which directly benefits the writers I work with.
Alongside publishing, I am:
Writing my own books
Ghostwriting for others
Running a literary foundation
Producing theatrical work
Developing festivals and creative programmes
Bringing a writer’s self-retreat vision to life in the mountains of Georgia
I am also a mother to two young children and choose to structure my work around that reality.
If I dramatically increased output, something essential would be lost — either creative involvement or sustainability.
Neither serves writers well.
What You Should Aim to Achieve on Your Writing Journey
Publishing is not just about getting a book out into the world. It’s about shaping your writing life and growing as an author. When you work with a publisher — especially a small-scale, engaged one — these are the milestones and goals to keep in mind:
Clarifying Your Voice and Vision – Know what story only you can tell and how you want it presented.
Building a Sustainable Writing Practice – Create habits and routines that allow you to write consistently without burning out.
Owning Your Work – Understand your rights, royalties, and creative control, so your work benefits you over time.
Connecting With Readers – Think beyond publication: marketing, engagement, and building an audience for the long term.
Developing a Body of Work – One book is never the end; consider how each title fits into your broader creative journey.
Collaborating Effectively – Identify the kind of support, mentorship, and creative partnership you need from a publisher.
Evolving as a Writer – Look for opportunities to learn, experiment, and grow your craft at each stage.
The right publisher helps you achieve these goals — not just print and distribute your book, but support the arc of your writing career.
At Master and Man Books, small-scale publishing allows me to focus on these milestones, ensuring every writer I work with can grow as an author while keeping their vision intact.
In Publishing, the Point Is - The Fit
In the past, global reach was often reserved for the largest publishers. Today, through Master and Man Books, I’ve shown that a small-scale publisher can connect with the same audiences worldwide — without sacrificing creative vision, attention, or quality.
Publishing is not a hierarchy. It is a set of working models, and the one I’ve chosen allows me to remain fully engaged with each book I publish.
The real question for a writer working with me is not: Who is bigger? It is:
Who is aligned with your vision and way of working
Who understands your goals as a writer
Who will remain invested in your book beyond publication
At Master and Man Books, working small is intentional. It is not a stepping stone or a compromise. It is a professional choice — one that lets me focus, nurture creativity, and deliver work that reaches readers everywhere.
Ready to Publish Your Book?
The question is simple: Do you want to publish your book, or chase publishers?
If you’re ready to publish your book — with full creative control, guidance, and support — I can help.
Contact me to start your journey with Master and Man Books.
Tamara Forrest-Smith
Ghostwriter | Publisher | Literary Manager
I work through Write A Book Project, a division of Master and Man Publishing, which handles the publication of the books.
