Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1

What makes Author.Inc different from traditional publishing or ghostwriting?

Accepted Answer

Author.Inc brings together the quality and authority of traditional publishing and the ownership of self-publishing. We help you find the right book and test it with your readers, then draw it out of you in recorded conversations, so every sentence starts with your own words. A team led by a 4x New York Times bestselling editor shapes, designs, publishes and launches it with you, and you keep the IP and 100% of royalties.

Question 2

How much does it cost to publish a book with Author.Inc?

Accepted Answer

Publish covers everything to write, publish and launch your book, and the investment is $38,000 paid in full or $39,990 on the payment plan. Draft, for the manuscript only, is $23,500 paid in full. Publishing Only, for a finished manuscript, starts at $29,990. The Book Blueprint is $3,500 and is credited in full toward Publish within six months. Scale, for authors whose book is already out, is $50,000 over six months. You can build your book and see your total at https://www.author.inc/pricing.

Question 3

Will Author.Inc help me flesh out my book idea?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every Publish engagement starts with the Book Blueprint. You work with your Book Strategist to:

Decide which of your ideas becomes the book, and the position only you can hold.
Define the bullseye reader the book is for and the problem it solves for them.
Build your table of contents and test it with readers like yours before you record.

If you want to flesh out your book idea before you commit, the Book Blueprint is also available on its own for $3,500. Move forward with Publish within six months and the full fee is credited toward it. See what the Book Blueprint includes.

Question 4

Do I need to write the book myself?

Accepted Answer

No. After helping you develop the book idea, create a detailed outline, and build a story vault, the Author.Inc team interviews you in recording sessions, remote or in person, to capture your expertise in your own words. They then draft the manuscript for you. Once your first draft is ready, you can refine it further, ensuring your expertise shines through without ever having to face a blank page.

Question 5

Will the book sound like me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Author.Inc uses a proprietary interview process that captures your authentic voice, ensuring the book reflects your tone, personality, and ideas. Every idea, story and argument comes from your recorded sessions, so readers feel like they are hearing directly from you.

Question 6

How long does it take to write and publish a business book?

Accepted Answer

With Author.Inc, most books launch in 6 to 8 months, and the first draft arrives within two weeks of the final recording session. When a launch date calls for it, the process can move faster. The engagement runs twelve months, which leaves room to get the book right and to join the weekly advisory calls after launch.

Question 7

Who is the Author.Inc process designed for?

Accepted Answer

Author.Inc is built for experts, entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, and thought leaders who want to share their expertise, elevate their brand, and make an impact through a professionally published book, without taking a year away from the company to write it.

Question 8

What is the ROI of writing a business book?

Accepted Answer

A book is a powerful tool to establish authority, boost your brand, and unlock new opportunities well beyond book sales. Author.Inc clients have leveraged their books to secure high-profile speaking engagements, attract new clients, and create multi-million dollar opportunities. For example, one author generated over $10M in new business within the first year of publishing. Books open additional revenue streams such as consulting, coaching, workshops, digital courses, and strategic partnerships that fuel long-term growth.

Question 9

Can Author.Inc help me market my book?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Author.Inc integrates marketing into the publishing process to maximize your book's impact and ROI, with a long-term approach that positions the book as a growth asset. This includes differentiation strategy, a launch plan, done-with-you marketing support, and six months of weekly group advisory calls with Charlie Hoehn before and after launch.

Question 10

Do I retain ownership and control of my book?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With Author.Inc, you retain full IP ownership, keep 100% of royalties, and control every detail from content and design to final manuscript approval. Books publish under the Author.Inc imprint or under your own imprint.

Question 11

How do the recording sessions work?

Accepted Answer

Your Book Director interviews you in recording sessions built from your outline. You explain your ideas the way you would to a client, and the stories and examples that come out in conversation become your manuscript. Editors shape the transcript and nothing gets invented, so the book reads like you.

You choose where you record:

Remote: Sessions set around your calendar, with the same support and structure. Most authors record this way.
In person: The Austin Studio Experience, or our team in your city, both available as enhancements.

Your first draft arrives within two weeks of your final recording session.

Question 12

How do you keep the quality high without taking years?

Accepted Answer

The time goes into the right places. Author.Inc settles the book first, with positioning and a table of contents tested with your readers, so the recording sessions capture the right material. Editors then shape it with you in the Editorial Room, led by Charlie Hoehn or another bestselling editor. Most books launch in 6 to 8 months, and the process can move faster when your timeline requires it.

Question 13

What do the weekly advisory calls include?

Accepted Answer

Publish includes six months of weekly group advisory calls with Charlie Hoehn and the team, who give direct guidance on your book and publishing strategy. Join as often as you like. Six more months can be added for $5,000.

Question 14

What does done-with-you marketing include?

Accepted Answer

Author.Inc advises, equips and supports your launch, and you hit send. Publish includes a launch email campaign written in your voice, a media and podcast list matched to your book with a drafted pitch for each, social launch assets with your cover and retailer links, pre-sale advisory built around selling your first 1,000 copies, a self-paced marketing curriculum, and weekly advisory calls with Charlie Hoehn before and after launch.

Question 15

Is the Book Blueprint included in Publish?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every Publish engagement starts with the Book Blueprint. You work with your Book Strategist to:

Decide which of your ideas becomes the book, and the position only you can hold.
Define the bullseye reader the book is for and the problem it solves for them.
Build your table of contents and test it with readers like yours before you record.

If you want to flesh out your book idea before you commit, the Book Blueprint is also available on its own for $3,500. Move forward with Publish within six months and the full fee is credited toward it. See what the Book Blueprint includes.

Question 16

How does Author.Inc prepare you for the recording sessions?

Accepted Answer

Before recording, you approve a detailed outline for every chapter and build a story vault with the team: the stories, examples and client moments you want in the book. Your Book Director writes each session's questions from them, so every session covers a specific part of the book.

Question 17

How does editing work at Author.Inc?

Accepted Answer

Editors shape your recording sessions into a complete first draft in your voice. You then revise it in the Editorial Room: weekly live editing sessions with Charlie Hoehn or another bestselling editor, a guaranteed live review of your introduction, and hot seats when you hit a wall. A copyedit and proofread follow, and you sign off on the manuscript before it moves to cover and interior design.

Question 18

What does cover and interior design include?

Accepted Answer

Your book's cover is crafted by top-tier designers who understand market psychology, and the interior is formatted for clean, readable layouts optimized for both digital and print formats.

Question 19

How does global Amazon distribution work?

Accepted Answer

Your book is set up and optimized for worldwide availability through Amazon, IngramSpark and key retailers. Author.Inc ensures proper metadata, categories, and discoverability, with your book available in print, digital, and Kindle formats for readers worldwide.

Questions about Publish

How leaders create
books that scale.

Questions about Publish

How leaders createbooks that scale.

How leaders create
books that scale.