UK Authors · the West Midlands
Publishing support for authors in Birmingham
Whether you are shaping a first idea or preparing a finished manuscript, Quill & Reed works with authors in Birmingham and across the West Midlands, remotely and on clear terms.
Where is your book right now?
How we help
How can Quill & Reed help authors in Birmingham?
Birmingham is one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities, and that shows in the range of stories people want to tell: family histories spanning several countries, community memoir, faith and cultural non-fiction, and fiction. We help you work out who the book is for before deciding how to publish it.
Support can cover early book development, manuscript guidance, editing, cover design, illustration, formatting, Amazon KDP and IngramSpark set-up, author websites, launch support and growth after publication. You choose what you need; nothing is bundled in by default.
Working remotely
Can I work with Quill & Reed remotely?
Yes, and that is how every project runs. Manuscripts and files are exchanged securely, conversations happen by video or phone, and proofs and approvals are handled digitally. You never need to travel, and your location does not change what is available to you.
Your book
The creative decisions are yours.
Your copyright
You own the work, always.
Your royalties
Paid to you; no standard royalty cut.
Your accounts and audience
KDP, IngramSpark, domain and mailing list in your name.
Birmingham and the West Midlands
Writing in Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham, which opened in 2013 in Centenary Square, is one of the largest public libraries in the UK and holds archives and heritage collections that can support local history, family history and research-led writing.
Birmingham Literature Festival runs events with writers each year, and the city’s universities, including the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University, teach creative writing at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Many books written here draw on community, family and migration histories. Those books often have a clear first audience, people who share the experience, and the publishing decisions should be built around reaching them.
- Family and community histories
- If your book draws on family members’ lives, think early about permissions, privacy and accuracy. It is easier to get this right in the draft than after the cover is designed.
- Books in more than one language or with non-English names
- Formatting, proofreading and metadata need extra care when a book includes other scripts, languages or names that spellcheckers do not know. Tell us early so the right specialist is involved.
- Local audience first, wider audience second
- A strong local launch, through community groups, libraries and local media, can give a book its first readers. A website and mailing list keep those readers once the launch is over.
Useful local links (Quill & Reed has no affiliation with these organisations):
Publishing support
What happens if I want to publish?
If your manuscript is ready, or nearly ready, the Publish packages cover cover design, formatting, ISBN guidance, set-up on Amazon KDP and IngramSpark in your name, and launch support. Editing and custom illustration are quoted separately, before anything is agreed.
Every package is a 12-month agreement with the monthly price and the total commitment shown up front. Prices are the same in Birmingham as anywhere else in the UK.
Already published?
Can you help if my book is already published?
Yes. Quill & Reed also works with authors whose books are already live but need more visibility, stronger positioning, an author website, email-list infrastructure, marketing content, relaunch support or ongoing growth. You do not need to republish with us.
Questions from authors in Birmingham
Do you work with authors elsewhere in the West Midlands?
Yes. Solihull, Wolverhampton, Coventry, the Black Country or anywhere else in the region: the work is remote, so location is not a factor.
Can you help with a book about my family’s history?
Yes. We can help you plan it, suggest the right kind of editing and publish it professionally. We will also flag the questions you should think about when writing about real people.
Can I work with Quill & Reed remotely?
Yes. Projects are run remotely: files and manuscripts are exchanged securely, conversations happen by video or phone, and proofs and approvals are handled digitally. You do not need to travel anywhere at any stage.
Can you publish a book I have already written?
Yes, if the manuscript is ready or close to it. The Publish packages cover cover design, formatting, set-up on Amazon KDP and IngramSpark in your name, and launch support. If the manuscript needs editing first, that is quoted separately before anything is agreed.
How much does publishing cost?
The Publish packages are £99, £199 or £299 a month on a 12-month agreement (£1,188, £2,388 or £3,588 in total). Prices are the same wherever you live. Editing and custom illustration are quoted separately.
Do I need to use Amazon?
Not necessarily, but most authors publishing independently in the UK use Amazon KDP for ebooks and paperbacks alongside IngramSpark for wider bookshop and library ordering. We explain the trade-offs before anything is set up.