How to Publish Your Book with Red Lead Press

Red Lead Press is the print-on-demand imprint of Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. — helping authors publish since 1920. This guide walks you through the entire process, and your total cost is a flat $295.

Step 1 — Prepare Your Manuscript in Microsoft Word

Finish your book and save it as one continuous file in Microsoft Word. Red Lead Press publishes text-only manuscripts: the interior should not contain photographs, illustrations, charts or tables, and the book must not require an index. You don’t need to typeset anything yourself — our professional page design turns your Word file into a regular, typeset book.

Step 2 — Confirm Your Book Qualifies

Review the full manuscript requirements. In short, you can publish as a Red Lead title if your book is a single Word file, is text-only, doesn’t need an index, and you’re happy to choose one of our full-color cover templates personalized with your book’s information. If your book needs editing, an original cover, or interior artwork, consider the RoseDog Books imprint instead.

Step 3 — Request and Sign the Publishing Agreement

Complete our short request form and a Red Lead Press publishing agreement will be emailed to you immediately for your consideration. Print the agreement and its accompanying documents, complete the Basic Author Information form, sign the agreement, and enclose your payment — personal check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover.

Step 4 — Mail Your Package to Red Lead Press

Send the signed publishing agreement, the Basic Author Information form, your payment and your manuscript (saved on disk in Microsoft Word) to:

Red Lead Press
701 Smithfield St.
3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Step 5 — Typesetting, Printing and Distribution

Once we receive your package, our team designs the interior pages, applies your chosen cover, and assigns your book its copyright registration, ISBN and bar code. Your title then receives a featured listing in the Red Lead Press online bookstore, can be ordered through thousands of booksellers nationwide, and orders are printed on demand — generally shipped to buyers within forty-eight hours. You earn a generous royalty on every book sold, plus an author’s discount on your own copies.

Request Your Publishing Agreement Read the FAQ First