UK Authors · the North East
Publishing support for authors in Newcastle
Quill & Reed works with authors in Newcastle, Gateshead and across the North East, supporting books at every stage from first idea to life after publication.
Where is your book right now?
How we help
How can Quill & Reed help authors in Newcastle?
Children’s books come up often in conversations with North East writers, alongside fiction and memoir. Picture books and illustrated books have their own costs and printing decisions, so we explain those clearly before anything is commissioned.
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.
Newcastle and the North East
Writing in Newcastle and the North East
Newcastle is home to Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, in the Ouseburn Valley, which collects original artwork and manuscripts by children’s authors and illustrators. It is a remarkable place to see how children’s books are made.
The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, known as the Lit & Phil, was founded in 1793 and is the largest independent library outside London. New Writing North, the literature development agency for the North of England, is also based in the city, and Newcastle and Northumbria universities both teach writing.
The region has a strong sense of place and dialect, from Tyneside to rural Northumberland, and many local books draw on industrial history, landscape and family life.
- Children’s books cost differently
- Picture books need illustration, careful page layout and print choices that suit the format. Custom illustration is quoted separately, and we will tell you plainly what full-colour printing means for your book’s price.
- Illustrators and authors are separate roles
- You do not need to find an illustrator before talking to us. If the book needs one, we coordinate a suitable specialist and the brief.
- Local history as a series
- Regional history and heritage books sometimes work well as a series. Planning the design as a set makes them easier to recognise.
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 Newcastle 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 Newcastle
Do you work with authors in Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham and Northumberland?
Yes. The whole of the North East, and the rest of the UK, is covered because the work is remote.
Can you help with an illustrated children’s book?
Yes. We can coordinate illustration, which is quoted separately, and handle layout, cover, printing set-up and publication in your name.
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.
Do I keep my copyright and royalties?
Yes. You keep your copyright and your royalties, and the publishing accounts are set up in your name. Quill & Reed charges for services and takes no standard royalty percentage.
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 you help with Amazon and IngramSpark?
Yes. Amazon KDP and IngramSpark are set up in your name as part of publishing, so you keep control of the accounts and the royalties are paid to you.