Frequently Asked Questions about publishing with Uptown Press

Uptown Press does not take every project. The list stays small so each book receives real attention. You pay for editorial work and production, not for empty promises. You keep control over your manuscript and your rights. If a project is not a good match, we say so with honesty instead of selling a package that will not serve the book.

No. Uptown Press takes on work that fits the focus of the imprint: character-driven fiction with emotional depth, strong voice and lived experience. If a manuscript does not match this focus, we decline with a short explanation and, if helpful, a suggestion for next steps.

You stay part of every stage. Notes arrive in plain language, and you are free to question or decline any suggestion. Revision moves at a steady pace without pressure. The aim is to lift your voice, not to reshape it into something generic.

You keep all rights to your book. You can take it elsewhere in the future if you choose. Uptown Press handles production and distribution, but the story belongs to you. For hybrid projects, royalty sharing is agreed in simple terms and never affects your legal ownership.

Timelines depend on the stage of your manuscript. A finished, polished draft moves faster. A draft that needs deeper shaping takes more time. You receive a clear plan before we begin, with room for the realities of work, care and life. Our first reply is always instant, typically within less than 24 hours.

No publisher can do that with honesty. What Uptown Press can offer is care, skill and a steady process that gives your book the best possible start. You receive clean production, thoughtful editing and a realistic plan for reaching readers who look for fiction with depth and presence.