If you’ve heard of Simon & Schuster and dream of publishing with them, it’s time for an Archway Publishing review! There are so many publishers out there it can be hard to know which one to choose.
How do you discover which publishers are good and which may be a scam? How much will you need to invest, if at all? And perhaps most vital, how do you know which publisher is the right one to share your unique story?
In this Archway Publishing review, I cover everything you need to know about this publisher so you can decide for yourself whether or not they are the best fit for you and your book.
Archway Publishing review: what’s covered
- Is Archway Publishing a good publisher?
- Is Archway Publishing a vanity press?
- How does Archway Publishing work?
- Is Archway Publishing free?
- Recap
Is Archway Publishing a good publisher?
Everyone’s definition of what makes a good publisher varies, but Archway Publishing is from Simon & Schuster, otherwise known as one the Big Five publishers authors aspire to publish with (the Big Five encompass Penguin/Random House, Hachette, Harper Collins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster).
Simon & Schuster has nearly a century of successful publishing experience. The companies they choose to invest in and partner with are therefore often successful as well.
However, Archway Publishing sits under the umbrella of this established publisher, as well as a self-publishing company. Reviews float around that Archway is a vanity publisher. But is it?
Just like many publishers, Archway Publishing offers a variety of publishing packages for authors, boasts top-level design, and takes a concierge approach to the publishing process.
However, while it seems to be a good publisher, is Archway Publishing for you? After all, it’s not one of the Big Five itself, but rather a marriage between Simon & Schuster and Author Solutions (AS), a self-publishing company.
Is Archway Publishing a vanity press?
While it’s impossible to provide a definitive answer in this Archway Publishing review, as we don’t see which books Archway accepts versus rejects (if any), Archway does tend to lean toward a vanity press.
A vanity press is typically understood to be a company that will publish any book an aspiring author hopes to publish, as long as the author pays them.
This Archway Publishing review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that this is a self-publishing company and therefore its authors pay to be published. Let’s take a look at their pricing.
Archway Publishing review of packages:
- Pathfinder, $2,599
- Trailblazer, $5,999
- Achiever, $10,999
- Leader, $16,999
If Archway does accept any aspiring author who comes their way, takes their payment, and publishes their book, then yes, Archway is a vanity press. Before completely writing them off, let’s consider the different aspects of how they work.
How does Archway Publishing work?
Archway works for authors publishing fiction, nonfiction, business, children’s books, and color books. This Archway Publishing review delves into the four levels aspiring authors can take in regards to these five areas.
Archway sees itself as the conduit between their authors’ ultimate ambition of landing a traditional book deal and their ability to see this ambition realized. Their four packages are created to walk authors through the self-publishing process, including the editorial process as well.
Archway Publishing review: service store
Archway offers a service store where they provide help with everything from book design to book marketing.
Their service store provides guidance for the following areas:
- Author support
- Editorial services
- Formats
- Design services
- Production
- Marketing services
However, upon taking a closer look, it does seem that many authors could turn to uploading their book to Amazon KDP with similar support. With Amazon KDP, authors format their own books and upload them themselves, choosing to invest in any outside editorial services they desire.
Archway says that for authors who look for the best quality as it relates to self-publishing, they are the answer. Via their partnership with Author Solutions and oversight from Simon & Schuster on areas such as book design, they claim to be the top-tier service that self-publishing has to offer.
That said, they do state that “the actual services are provided by Author Solutions.” Archway was created to, “Help authors publish well-designed, market-ready books that can make industry professionals take notice.”
Dedicated to linking new writers to their dream of publishing, Archway may be able to do so, but for more than a modest fee. What is the literal cost associated with the possibility of garnering the attention of industry professionals? Let’s use this Archway Publishing review to take a closer look at their pricing break-down.
Is Archway Publishing free?
No, if you learn anything from this Archway Publishing review, recognize that Archway is a paid publishing service with four main tiers. (If you want to learn how to publish your book for free, do so here!) Below is a look into these different options.
Pathfinder Package: $2,499
For 2,500, you can partner with Archway for the opportunity for discovery by Simon & Schuster. If your book sells well and if the Simon & Schuster board reviews your work, it is up for “possible acquisition.”
If this sounds iffy to you (and it should) here are more concrete aspects of the package:
- Softcover and digital formatting
- Your choice of cover design (from templates)
- Ability to include up to 20 images
- ISBN assignment
Much of this package includes done-for-you work that you, the author, could do on your own or hire a freelancer to do for you. For a full list of their offerings, click here.
Trailblazer Package: $5,999
For six grand, you receive the options from the first tier as well as an additional 30 images, the ability to set your own price, a one-year website hosting plan, and promotion on their New Releases area of their online bookstore. For a full list of their offerings, see here.
Achiever Package: $10,999
For eleven thousand dollars, you receive an invitation to an event attended by Simon & Schuster executives, elite cover design (with two rounds of revisions), up to 75 images, and a half-page feature on BookMad. Browse the full list of offerings here.
Leader Package: $16,999
For seventeen grand, you receive unlimited images, an editorial assessment, a three-year access to their Author Advantage Royalty Program, and a two-week ad campaign. View the full list here.
Archway Publishing review: recap
Archway provides a full comparison chart so you can clearly see what each package offers. What strikes me is the jump in price from level to level, without there seeming to be a great deal of in-depth, additional services offered.
Cover design
For example, for the book cover design, they work from templates and for most of their packages, do not allow many revisions. Your book cover is a crucial part of your marketing strategy. While we’re all told not to judge a book by its cover, the truth is, readers do.
While templates can be a great way to brainstorm ideas and ideate, your book deserves an original cover with as many revisions as you need to make it stand out.
Editorial assessment
Additionally, the editorial assessment offering in the top two levels is priced individually at $499. However, the jump from level two to three (where the editorial assessment is offered) is $5,000.
Granted, there are further perks offered, such as additional credits for your book order, an additional year on their Bookseller Returns Program, etc., but it seems like a steep jump.
Done-for-you
It’s crucial to create an Archway Publishing review that clearly shows both the pros and the cons. While their price points do seem steep, they do offer a plethora of services. If you are eager for guidance through the publishing process and able to invest up to $17,000 for this guidance, Archway Publishing may be for you.
However, if you are more inclined to spend that money on marketing your book and create an author website for free, you may want to choose a different route.
Working with a book coach one-on-one can set you leaps and bounds ahead of other authors, and with templates on WordPress and Squarespace, today more than ever, it’s simple to create a professional looking website.
That said, part of this Archway Publishing review is to show you what they do offer, which is a done-for-you method at four particular price points.
Archway Publishing review
Let’s wrap up this Archway Publishing review with some customer reviews. It doesn’t take much clicking around on the internet to find some very unhappy Archway Publishing customers, from Reddit to the KDP forum.
The general consensus from these alleged customers seems to be advice for authors to take that investment and focus it on their own self-publishing efforts—just do it yourself. \
If you are okay heavily investing in what appears to be a vanity publisher, and get the work done for you, you may want to consider Archway. But, like everything in publishing, it’s important to do your own due diligence.
You may want to start your research with the following:
- ALLi, a service that helps you choose the best self-publishing company for you
- Vanity press scams to avoid
Remember, you are the author and you are in charge of your journey to authorship. Conduct your research, look into reviews, and reach out to others who have used the various platforms you look into so you can make an educated choice.
Archway Publishing review: take your next step
Ready to take the next step in making your author goals come true? Take our free Publishing Path Assessment to quickly discover which route is best for you!