Note: At Honey House Press, we offer three distinct paths for authors:
Traditional Publishing – select titles are acquired by Honey House Press for publication under our imprint, with no cost to the author. These authors receive full editorial and publishing support.
Hybrid Publishing under our imprint – a curated partnership in which we invest editorial, design, and publishing resources.
Publishing Support Services – for authors who wish to self-publish under their own imprint or name, we offer editing, design, formatting, consulting, and more.
The IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria listed below apply to books published under the Honey House Press imprint only. We offer the same editorial and design excellence to self-publishing clients, whose books are released under their own imprint or personal publishing brand.
📘 We Meet the IBPA’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria
At Honey House Press, we believe in doing things with clarity, care, and commitment to authors. That’s why we proudly align with the Independent Book Publishers Association’s (IBPA) Hybrid Publisher Criteria, a set of professional standards that distinguish reputable hybrid publishers from vanity presses.
A hybrid publisher is not just a service provider. We’re your creative partner: we share the financial investment and offer expert guidance, editorial quality, distribution support, and a clear publishing plan tailored to your goals.
Below, you’ll find the nine criteria established by the IBPA, along with how we meet each one:
✅ 1. Define a Mission and Vision
Honey House Press exists to publish books with heart, grit, and beauty. Our mission is to elevate voices and stories of humanness to produce books that matter—especially for independent authors ready to take their work seriously.
✅ 2. Vet Submissions
We are selective. Every manuscript or proposal is reviewed with care, ensuring it aligns with our standards and our readers. We only accept projects we believe in and can support with excellence.
✅ 3. Publish Under Our Own Imprint and ISBNs
All books published with Honey House Press carry our own imprint and ISBNs, maintaining consistent branding and cataloging in the publishing ecosystem.
✅ 4. Provide a Structured Editorial Process
We offer professional developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading. Every author receives guidance through a collaborative editorial process that meets traditional publishing standards.
✅ 5. Design and Format Books to Industry Standards
Our design team produces beautiful, readable books that meet the professional formatting and design expectations of retailers, libraries, and readers.
✅ 6. Ensure Availability Through Established Distribution Channels
We help authors distribute their books through major platforms like IngramSpark, Amazon, Bookshop.org, and others—making titles widely available to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers.
✅ 7. Provide Marketing and Publicity Services
Every Honey House Press project includes marketing support tailored to the book and author. We advise on launch plans, media outreach, events, and ongoing discoverability.
✅ 8. Pay Authors a Higher-Than-Standard Royalty
Authors receive a significantly higher royalty rate than in traditional publishing.
✅ 9. Don’t Require Authors to Purchase Their Own Books
While authors may choose to purchase copies at their wholesale cost, there is no requirement to buy books in bulk or at any set quantity. We believe in flexibility and fair practice.
🤝 Publishing with Integrity
We understand how overwhelming the publishing landscape can be. That’s why we’re committed to clarity, honesty, and partnership—every step of the way.
If you have questions about hybrid publishing or want to explore whether we’re a good fit for your book, get in touch with us here.
Let’s create something lasting—together.
