Normans Publishing
Normans Publishing is a San Francisco-based, full-service book publishing services company (a division of DIY Media Group, Inc.) that provides ghostwriting, editing, cover design, print, eBook, audiobook production, marketing, and global distribution to individual authors and self-publishers through quote-based custom packages and a 75% author royalty model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Normans Publishing does
Normans Publishing is a full-service book publishing services company headquartered at 152 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA, operating as a division of DIY Media Group, Inc. Founded in 1983 by Norman Anderson, the company targets individual authors and self-publishers seeking an end-to-end alternative to traditional publishing gatekeepers. Its core offering spans seven product verticals — Book Publishing, Ghost Writing, Book Marketing, Book Distribution, Book Cover Design, Audiobook Production, and Children's Book Publishing — supported by an extensive add-on module catalog including Editing & Proofreading, Book Typesetting & Formatting, eBook Conversion, Book Illustrations, Author Website Design, Video Book Trailers, and specialized writing services (biography, textbook, screenplay, SEO content).
The technology stack is built on industry-standard publishing tools and workflows rather than proprietary platforms, integrating directly with Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, IngramSpark, Audible, and iTunes for global distribution to a claimed 40,000+ retail partners. Production capabilities include print-on-demand (eliminating author inventory), fixed-layout eBook conversion, ACX-compliant audiobook recording with 60+ narrator voices across 75 languages, and professional typesetting for print and digital formats.
Commercially, the company runs a direct-to-consumer and sales-led model offering free consultations and quote-based custom packages, complementing direct outreach with paid digital marketing across Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter plus content marketing, PR, and a 10% referral commission Publishing Partner Program. Revenue streams combine upfront publishing service fees, print sales, and a 25% retained royalty share on author book sales (authors receive 75%). The firm employs 101–250 staff including over 100 in-house writers, editors, designers, and project managers, claims 500+ published authors, and reports a 4.96/5 Trustpilot satisfaction rating.
Normans Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Normans Publishing
- Legal name
- DIY Media Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://normanspublishing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Normans Publishing is a San Francisco-based, full-service book publishing services company (a division of DIY Media Group, Inc.) that provides ghostwriting, editing, cover design, print, eBook, audiobook production, marketing, and global distribution to individual authors and self-publishers through quote-based custom packages and a 75% author royalty model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Normans Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing Services
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313), Books Printing (323117)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services (MPAJAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services (MPAJAJAH), Rights, ISBN & Publishing Administration Services (Identifiers, Metadata, Royalties) (MPAJAJAK), Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE)
Keywords
Where Normans Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Normans Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Publishing Services Fees: Authors pay for professional editing, cover design, typesetting, printing, and marketing services. Services are offered as packages or individual offerings. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
- Book Printing Sales: Revenue from printing softcover and hardcover books for authors. Free shipping on orders of 25+ copies. Authors purchase printed copies at competitive rates.
- Royalty Revenue Share: Authors receive 75% royalties on book sales - the highest in the industry. Normans Publishing retains the remaining 25% from retail sales through their distribution network.
- Audiobook Production: Audiobook production service at $999 (reduced from $1,499) with 75% royalty payments to authors for audiobook sales through Audible, Amazon, iTunes, and 30+ additional retailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Audiobook Production Package |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Publishing Services (Custom Packages) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Royalty Structure |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Normans Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Normans Publishing offers full-service book publishing for individual authors and self-publishers, providing ghostwriting, editing and proofreading, cover design, typesetting, print and ebook production, audiobook recording and distribution, targeted book marketing, and global retail distribution to 40,000+ partners. Authors retain full copyright, receive 75% royalties on sales, and are supported by dedicated publishing consultants from manuscript to launch under a single integrated service offering.
Product overview
Normans Publishing is a comprehensive book publishing services company offering a unified full-service platform for authors. The core offering consists of Book Publishing, Ghost Writing, Book Marketing, Book Distribution, Book Cover Design, Audiobook Production, and Children's Book Publishing services. These are supported by an extensive suite of add-on modules including Book Printing Services, Editing & Proofreading, Book Typesetting & Formatting, Book Layout Design, Book Illustrations, eBook Publishing & Conversion, Author Website Design, Video Book Trailer Production, and Book Cover T-Shirts & Merchandise. Specialized writing services include Biography Writing, Script Writing, Film Story Writing, Textbook Writing, and SEO Content Writing. Audio-related services encompass ACX Audiobook Editing, Audiobook Planning, and Audiobook Recording. Marketing services include Display Ads for Authors, Facebook Ads for Authors, and Book Launch Marketing. The company also operates a Publishing Partner Program for referrals. Authors retain 100% of their rights and receive 75% royalties on sales. The company was founded in 1983 by Norman Anderson and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Authors achieve 200-300% sales increase within 6 months of publishing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Normans Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Normans Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration16 records
Feature4 records
Normans Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Amazon KDPcorePrimary distribution partner for paperback, hardcover, and Kindle eBook publishing and sales through Amazon's global retail network.
- Barnes & Noble PresscoreDistribution partner for print and digital books reaching Barnes & Noble retail stores and online customers.
- IngramSparkcoreWholesale distribution partner providing access to independent bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions through Ingram's global distribution network.
- Audible / Amazon AudiobookcoreAudiobook distribution partner for Audible, Amazon, and iTunes platforms reaching millions of audiobook listeners globally.
- Literary AgentsminorNetwork of literary agents representing authors and navigating the publishing landscape to connect talent with professional publishing services.
- Independent PublishersminorPartnerships with independent publishers who are agile and champion innovative storytelling, opening doors for authors to reach niche markets.
- Marketing and Publicity SpecialistsminorStrategic marketing partners helping create effective campaigns, develop author branding, secure media coverage, and implement digital marketing strategies.
- DIY Media Group, Inc.coreParent company of Normans Publishing (a division of DIY Media Group, Inc.) as stated in the Terms and Conditions agreement.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Normans Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smashwords: Smashwords (referenced as a media-credited partner on the Normans site) distributes eBooks to major retailers and provides author self-publishing tools. Comparable on digital distribution reach and self-publishing focus.
- Reedsy: Reedsy is a marketplace and publishing-services platform connecting authors with vetted editors, designers, and marketers, plus distribution tools. Comparable on curated author-services model, though Reedsy leans more marketplace and Normans leans more full-service production.
- BookBaby: BookBaby provides full-service self-publishing including editing, cover design, formatting, eBook distribution, and audiobook production. Comparable target customer (self-publishing authors), service mix, and distribution partnerships with major retailers.
- Draft2Digital: Draft2Digital offers eBook distribution and a suite of author tools (formatting, cover design) plus aggregated retailer access. Directly comparable on the eBook aggregation/distribution layer and self-publishing author customer.
- AuthorHouse: AuthorHouse is a long-established self-publishing services company offering editing, cover design, printing, and distribution to authors under the Author Solutions umbrella. Directly comparable to Normans Publishing on full-service author offerings and target SMB/first-time author segment.
- Lulu Press: Lulu operates a self-publishing platform with print-on-demand, global distribution, and author services across print, eBook, and audiobook formats. Highly comparable on multi-format publishing stack, distribution model, and individual-author customer base.
Broad incumbents
- ACX / Audible: ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) is Audible/Amazon's audiobook production and distribution platform. Comparable as the audiobook distribution partner Normans uses; also serves self-publishing authors directly with production services.
- IngramSpark: IngramSpark is a wholesale print and distribution platform providing bookstore and library access for self-publishers. Directly comparable as a distribution backbone and listed core partner of Normans Publishing.
- Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon KDP): Amazon KDP is the dominant self-serve publishing platform for print and Kindle eBooks with global retail reach. While not a paid services competitor, it sets the baseline against which Normans' value-added services (editing, design, marketing) are differentiated.
- Barnes & Noble Press: Barnes & Noble Press is a self-publishing platform for print and eBook distribution to B&N retail and online customers. Comparable as a distribution channel partner listed in Normans' integration ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Normans Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceNormans Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Normans Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Normans Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Normans Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Normans Publishing
What does Normans Publishing do?
Normans Publishing offers full-service book publishing for individual authors and self-publishers, providing ghostwriting, editing and proofreading, cover design, typesetting, print and ebook production, audiobook recording and distribution, targeted book marketing, and global retail distribution to 40,000+ partners. Authors retain full copyright, receive 75% royalties on sales, and are supported by dedicated publishing consultants from manuscript to launch under a single integrated service offering.
Is Normans Publishing a public or private company?
Normans Publishing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Normans Publishing founded?
Normans Publishing was founded in 1983. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Normans Publishing based?
Normans Publishing is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Normans Publishing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Publishing Services Fees are the primary driver. The others are book Printing Sales, royalty Revenue Share and audiobook Production.
Who are Normans Publishing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smashwords, Reedsy, BookBaby, Draft2Digital, AuthorHouse and Lulu Press. Broad incumbents are ACX / Audible, IngramSpark, Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon KDP) and Barnes & Noble Press.
Does Normans Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Normans Publishing.
What industry is Normans Publishing in?
Normans Publishing's product category is Book Publishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAI, Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services, with a secondary code of MPAJAJAH, Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.