Answers to our most
frequently asked questions.

Dorchester Transitions to E-book and Trade

Starting with September titles, we will be moving from mass-market to trade paperback format. This will delay new releases roughly 6-8 months, but it will also open many new and more efficient sales channels.

And we’re pleased to say all titles will be available in ebook format as originally scheduled. The substantial growth we’ve seen in the digital market in such a short period—combined with the decline of the mass-market business—convinced us that we needed to fully focus our resources in this segment sooner rather than later.

Dorchester has always been known as a company ahead of the curve and willing to take risks. As bookstores are allocating the bulk of their capital to the digital business, it only makes sense that we do the same. Everyone keeps hearing that the industry has to change if it’s going to survive. We’re excited to be at the forefront of that change and will continue to keep you posted on further developments.

And to help answer some of the questions you might have: 

For readers:

How will I be able to get the new books?

From September through April, new titles will be available only in ebook.  You can find them in all major ebook outlets: Amazon, B&N, Books on Board, Sony, Overdrive affiliates, etc.  And we will have links for purchase at various vendors from our site as well.

What happens if I preordered a September book?

No cards are charged until the book ships.  Therefore, you will not be billed.

How will this affect my book club membership?

We’re working on a number of different options at the moment.  For romance and thriller book club members, we’re in the process of several different partnerships that will bring you new books by many of the Dorchester authors you’ve always enjoyed as well as other big-name writers.  The horror and the Westerns are a little more difficult because there just aren’t many sources for other new books out there. We’re hoping to set up a way to do an ebook club shortly so you can continue to receive the newest releases as soon as possible without any increase in price.  We’ll also be looking at doing a club for the trade books once we have them available. 

For authors:

When will my book be coming out?

Ebook editions will be out in the month the mass-market was originally scheduled.  The trade paperback will follow roughly 6-8 months after.

Why the delay?

Some of the delay will be in reformatting the typeset mass-market so that it better fits a trade size.  But most of the extra time is so that the sales force we’re working with will have a chance to sell books in to the accounts.  Just like mass-market, stores will be placing their orders about 4-6 months before the books are printed.

I read in an article that these are print-on-demand. Does that mean they won’t be offered to the general market?

We’ve partnered with Ingram Publishing Services, who will be selling books to libraries, Borders, B&N, Books a Million and all other retail accounts.  Just as for mass-market books, stores will place their orders and we will print to fill them.  Books will be on the shelves for readers to browse.  However, using print-on-demand technology, we will not have to keep as many books in inventory incurring warehousing fees.  Books will be available for reorder just as they are now, but we will only have to print as many copies as we need instead of a minimum of 5000. 

What happens to backlist titles?

We’re currently in the process of changing warehouses, but once set, reorders will continue as normal.  When a book goes out of stock, we will make the determination of whether to reprint—just as we do now.  Reprints will most likely be in trade format, though we haven’t completely ruled out the possibility of some staying in mass-market.

For aspiring writers:

Are you accepting new submissions?

We will be.  Because of the delay in printing the books already under contract, we won’t be acquiring new material for the next few months.  This new model also gives us more flexibility with some of our guidelines, which we’ll be revamping shortly.  Feel free to continue to send in your work if you’d like.

What happens to material I’ve already submitted?

It will continue to go through the submission process.

*   *   *

Please take a minute to look through the list before writing to us. We try to answer every e-mail, but due to the large volume of mail we receive, it may take up to a week to respond.

How do I order Leisure or Love Spell titles?
You can order our titles via our Web site. All of our available titles can be purchased online. You may also order books by contacting our customer service representatives at 1-800-481-9191 Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST. Please click here if you would like a FREE catalog of our available titles.

top ^

How do I contact an author?
If the author has a website with contact email, that is generally the best way to be in touch. Otherwise, you may send a letter via regular mail in care of the Editorial Department, and we will forward it to the author. 

How do I submit a manuscript?
See our Submission Guidelines for further details.

top ^

How can I check on the status of a proposal I have already submitted?
Please note that it may take up to eight months from the date your work was received before you receive a response from our editors. To ensure that your submission was received you may send an email to the Editorial Department at editorial@dorchesterpub.com and your query will be promptly answered.
top ^

How do I get permission to use materials Dorchester titles, either in printed books and articles or online?
Inquiries may be faxed Attn: Rights Dept. to 212-532-1054.

How do I sign up to receive review copies of Dorchester titles?
If you would like to be considered to receive review copies of our books, please email publicity@dorchesterpub.com. In your email, include sample reviews and as much information about your publication or blog that you can, including circulation/unique viewers, social networking stats (Goodreads, Twitter, etc.) and any other mentions.

Can I work as a freelance proofreader or copy editor for your company?
We are not seeking freelance proofreaders or copy editors at this time.

I want to design a cover. How do I submit samples to the art department?
Samples may be sent to Art Department, Dorchester Publishing, 200 Madison Avenue, Suite 2000, New York, NY 10016. Samples will not be returned. We do not accept samples online at this time.

Can I apply for an internship at Dorchester Publishing?
Dorchester offers seasonal internships in the Editorial and Marketing departments. 

For marketing interns, responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with Dorchester’s Manager of Marketing to organize publicity materials and contribute to book promotion plans.
• Reading Dorchester’s novels and discussing marketing opportunities.
• Assisting Dorchester’s in putting together materials for sales kits and in coming up with innovative ways to market genre fiction.
• Writing press releases for various books.
• Opportunity to sit in on key department meetings.
• Depending on intern’s skill set there is also the opportunity for special creative projects.
• Assisting with the development of Dorchester’s quarterly newsletters to booksellers and librarians.
• Performing website updates.  (Does not require html)
• General administrative work including some filing, databasing, photocopying and mailing.

Dorchester is especially seeking individuals with strong proofreading and copy editing skills. 

This internship is non-paying. Therefore, it is preferred that it be taken for school credit.

Applicants should send a cover letter, résumé and a brief writing sample (one or two pages) to Samantha Metzger: smetzger@dorchesterpub.com.  

For editorial interns, responsibilities will include:

• Assisting the editorial department in evaluating and responding to submissions.
• Working with editors to write cover copy.
• Reviewing first and second passes of novels prior to final publication.
• Opportunity to sit in on key department meetings.
• Mailing and preparing contracts.
• Administrative work including filing and database entry and maintenance.
• Routine office tasks.

Dorchester is especially seeking individuals with strong proofreading skills and who have an appreciation of genre fiction.

This internship is non-paying. Therefore, it is preferred that it be taken for credit.
 
Applicants should send a cover letter, résumé and a brief writing sample (one or two pages) to Allison Carroll at acarroll@dorchesterpub.com
  

top ^

If you still have a comment or question for us, please visit our Customer Service section. Questions that are answered in the FAQ above may not receive an answer due to the volume of questions received.