Est. Milwaukee, WisconsinA working author's studio
Your book,
made real.
Ghostwriting, editing, design, and publishing for authors at every stage — from a writer with eight published books in six genres — including a 531-page evidence reference carrying 546 verified citations. AI-supported creation, personally reviewed by Darius. Clear scope. Your name on the cover.
Your book ticket No call required
Choose your size before paying; artwork is composed for that shape. Paperback: KDP premium color, white paper. Physical copies are not included.
Same size and artwork, IngramSpark case-laminate, premium color on 70lb white paper. No dust jacket, printing, ISBN or upload service. A 32-page book cannot use KDP hardcover. Printer specifications.
One-time USD total. No required call. No automatic extra charges.
What your total includes
01The shelf
Books we've already made real.
Drag to browse → or read the specimens
02Where are you?
Three doors. Same shelf.
Every project enters at one of three points. All three end with a finished, published book with your name on it.
I have an idea
Ghostwriting
You talk, we build. Interviews, research, and source material become a full manuscript in your voice — structured, drafted in review batches, and revised until it reads like the book you'd have written with a spare year.
Start with an idea → Ghostwriting, in detailI have a draft
Editing & rewriting
Your pages, our pressure. Developmental editing for structure and argument, line editing for rhythm and clarity, or a full rewrite that keeps your ideas and replaces the scaffolding.
Send the draft → Editing, in detailI have a manuscript
Design & publishing
The last mile, done properly. Interior typesetting that respects genre conventions, cover direction, metadata and category strategy, and clean KDP or IngramSpark setup — print and ebook.
Finish the book → Publishing, in detail Fixed-price production services03The honest table
Three ways to get published.
Only one works for you on your clock.
We'll tell you where traditional publishing beats us — because if an agent offers you an advance, you should take it.
| Book Made Real | Traditional publisher | Doing it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money | You invest in the book. Every royalty after that is yours. | They pay you an advance — their real advantage. Royalties run roughly 10–15% of list. | Cheapest in cash, most expensive in time. |
| Timeline | Picture-book files: target 3–4 weeks. Other manuscripts: 6–12 weeks by scope, after usable materials and production confirmation. Printing and publication are separate. | 1–3 years of querying before the 1–2 year production clock even starts. | As fast as your nights and weekends allow. |
| Gatekeeping | None. If the book deserves to exist, we make it. | Agents reject the overwhelming majority of queries — often on market fit, not merit. | None — and no professional pressure on quality either. |
| Rights | Transferable studio rights, documented. AI and licensed elements have limits. | Publisher licenses your rights, usually for the life of copyright. | Depends on your source material and licenses. |
| Craft | A working author writes, edits, and typesets with you. | Excellent in-house teams — once you're through the gate. | Whatever you can learn, hire, and quality-check alone. |
| Distribution | Amazon, expanded retail via IngramSpark, ebook everywhere. | Bookstore and library placement — still their strongest card. | Same channels as us, minus the setup experience. |
Honest summary: if a reputable traditional publisher makes you a strong offer, take it seriously — with an agent or publishing attorney reading the rights and reversion terms. For everyone who'd rather not gamble years on a query letter — that's who this studio is for.
04 · The method
You choose.
We make.
Choose & pay
Select a category, length and extras. See the exact total and pay without booking a call.
Share your material
Picture books start with your short story idea and chosen size. Upload reference material privately after payment; other project notes are optional.
Review the direction
We confirm the usable brief and send the production-start email. AI supports drafting; Darius directs and reviews the work.
Proof & refine
Read the proof and send one consolidated set of revisions, or the additional rounds purchased.
Your agreed files
Receive the files included in your order. Add publishing services only if you need them. Physical copies are separate.
05 · The rate card
A real total.
A real purchase button.
Starting, typical and expanded scopes—not mystery estimates. Select length and extras in the ticket. All prices are one-time USD payments; each category has an explicit scope.
| Project | Starting | Typical | Expanded / complex from | Start now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personalized picture book | $895 | $1,450 | $1,950+ | Buy from $895 → |
| Self-help | $1,750 | $2,800 | $4,200+ | Buy from $1,750 → |
| Business | $1,750 | $2,800 | $4,200+ | Buy from $1,750 → |
| Action, YA & sports | $2,200 | $4,800 | $7,200+ | Buy from $2,200 → |
| Literary fiction | $2,200 | $4,800 | $7,200+ | Buy from $2,200 → |
| Memoir & biography | $2,200 | $4,800 | $7,200+ | Buy from $2,200 → |
| Research | $4,200 | $6,800 | $9,200+ | Buy from $4,200 → |
$895 includes alternating art/text across up to 32 interior pages, 14 story illustrations plus front and back covers, and one revision. Every-page illustration starts at $1,450.
Outline, writing, human review, DOCX and reading PDF. Retail formatting, covers, printing and publishing setup are separate.
Extra length, source checks and revisions change the visible total. Work outside your purchased scope needs your written approval first.
Compare full package scopes and cancellation terms →
Written book brief
$149
A written direction and recommended scope, with one clarification. Target: three business days after usable information. Credit toward a book within 12 months, arranged before its checkout.
Buy the written brief →The Book Blueprint
$499
Written plan, fixed quote and recorded walkthrough. Seven business days after completed intake. Not a gate to buying a book.
See the Blueprint →Before you buy.
Can I add publishing files and artwork to my manuscript order?
Yes. Optional retail EPUB is $199, paperback interior PDF is $249, or both are $399; formatting 51,000–60,000 words adds $100. A finished ebook and paperback cover adds $299. Category-specific options include five chapter-opening illustrations for $225, five simple diagrams for $250, and a memoir section of up to 12 supplied photos and captions for $249. Nothing is preselected. Review the exact itemized scope before payment. Printed copies, ISBN purchase, retailer upload and distribution are excluded.
Can I order hardcover files for a long-form book?
Yes. Add the $199 hardcover adaptation to a purchased paperback interior and finished cover. Choose 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 and name KDP or IngramSpark. The same design is adapted to one printer’s case-laminate hardcover template, not a dust jacket or universal file. KDP requires 75–550 final pages; word count does not guarantee eligibility. We check final specifications before adaptation. If incompatible, approve a suitable printer or receive a refund of the unperformed $199 adaptation. Picture-book hardcover remains the separate same-trim IngramSpark option.
Do I need a consultation or the Blueprint first?
No. Choose a category and scope, enter your contact name, cover author name and email, review the total, and pay securely. Book-production orders require a short idea before payment; long-form orders also collect the intended reader, tone and starting point. Picture books require your chosen size. Upload materials privately after payment. Email carries receipts and approvals; optional project texts or a short call can be requested at checkout. The $149 written brief and $499 Blueprint are optional.
What does the $895 picture-book package include?
An English-language story of up to 600 words, up to 32 interior pages at your choice of 8.5×8.5 or 8.5×11 inches, 14 interior illustrations alternating with text pages, front and back cover artwork, two principal characters, one consolidated revision round, a character sheet and sample spread for approval, paperback print files and a reading PDF. Illustrated ($1,450) includes three characters and art with text on each story page. Signature ($1,950) includes four characters, two revision rounds and an approved written storyboard. Optional same-size IngramSpark hardcover files cost $199. Physical copies, retail publishing and shipping are not included.
Can you turn family photos into illustrated characters?
Yes, within the selected character count and with the required photo rights and likeness permissions. An adult must have written parent or guardian permission for each child. Cartoon likeness is an interpretation, not an exact photographic match. Files stay private; no public sample or advertising use without separate permission.
Is the writing and artwork made with AI?
AI helps with research, drafting and illustrations. Darius F. Sanders reviews and refines each commissioned book personally. This is not an all-human writing or hand-illustration promise. AI-generated elements are identified for retailer disclosure and may not be copyrightable, unique or exclusive.
What do long-form prices cover?
The selected manuscript length, structured outline, personal editorial read-through, editable DOCX and reading PDF, plus the stated revisions and source checks. Approve the outline and sample chapter by email before the full draft. Covers and retail EPUB/print formatting are optional, itemized checkout add-ons. Physical copies, distribution and marketing are excluded. A reading PDF is not a print-ready interior.
How do cancellations and revisions work?
Book orders are fully refundable before the production-start email is sent. Afterwards, only the last completed milestone is earned: 20% after source review and delivery of the production brief, 80% after the complete first proof, and 100% after final files. The remaining balance is refundable. Studio errors do not consume a revision round. Extra scope requires your written approval.
When will I receive my book?
Targets after complete materials and production confirmation are 3–4 weeks for picture books, 6–10 weeks for other manuscripts, and 8–12 weeks for research-heavy work. Missing material and your review time pause the schedule. These are not guaranteed rush deadlines.
07Open the door
Start with a brief.
Or just ask for help.
Want us to develop your idea into a written scope? Buy the $149 brief. Already know your scope? Buy your book above. The form here is free support—not a paid planning deliverable.