What does your name mean?
Diakonia is the Greek word for ministry. The English word "deacon" is derived from this word. At Diakonia Publishing, our mission is to help Christian authors and ministers fulfill the calling of Ephesians 4: 12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
How long have you been in business?
Diakonia Publishing was formerly known as Harlan Publishing Company, a book publisher that was founded in 1999. We have only recently (2004) established the Diakonia imprint, due to our publisher's new birth in Christ and his commitment to producing Christian work exclusively.
Why should I choose Diakonia instead of other Christian self-publishers?
In addition to being fast, easy, and more affordable than other self-publishing firms, Diakonia Publishing is a true self-publisher. You see, true self-publishing exists where the author makes 100% of the profits from the sales of his/her books--and not a meager 30% royalty based on the wholesale price.
Most importantly, at Diakonia, we are committed to operating a business utitlizing biblical principles, knowing that God's system of conducting business always produces a greater harvest. Read our Business Philosophy.
The Lord leads authors who, when it comes to business, are biblically-minded and know the benefits of making an investment. The greater the investment, the greater the return. Yes, publishing a book will require an investment on the part of any author (of money, time, and effort), but your investments will reap a larger harvest when done Diakonia's way--because we do it God's way. Our authors should be committed to utilizing biblical principles and partake in the grace and blessings associated with fellowship and partnering with God's system of prosperity. [Philippians 1: 5-7]
Despite the required investment on the part of the author, it only makes sense that any author would have confidence in his own work to invest in the printing of at least 200 copies of his work, right? We have established relationships with book manufacturers across the country that can provide a book for the needs of any client--whether it be a full-color children's book, or quality paperback novel--all at the best possible price. Like some other firms, Diakonia will not leave you out in the woods with an inventory of books. We have relationships with one of the largest book wholesalers in the U.S. [Baker & Taylor] where your books can be purchased through us--at no charge. You simply ship the books when the orders come in. Additionally, we can make your book available in many of the online bookstores such as Amazon.com.
We know the self-publishing business. Print-on Demand publishers will never tell its authors about the stigma attached to a POD book. Most bookstores will not order your book once they learn it is a POD, because these books are not returnable. Our publisher is the self-published author of three novels--one having been a bestseller on Amazon.com, selling thousands of copies. He has walked the hard road of the self-published author and can give advice on knocking down some of the walls that hinder success.
Who founded Diakonia Publishing?
Jeff Pate is founder and publisher of Diakonia Publishing. A born again and spirit-filled believer, Jeff is also the author of three novels and several small books in Christian ministry. He has published over 30 books and been involved in the publication of several more.
What kinds of books do you publish?
Diakonia publishes Christian books, and we reserve the right not to publish any book. We publish books in many categories including Christian living, theology, church growth, discipleship, Bible studies, fiction, poetry, biographies, and many others. Please review our publishing material guidelines prior to submitting your book or price quotation. We are committed to publishing only material that represents the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is meant to edify--not condemn or destroy.
Do I get a chance to review the book before it goes to press?
Absolutely. To ensure that your book is exactly the way you want it, we will send you proofs that we generate, and you can also receive proofs from the book manufacturer. Our proofs are sent by either an electronic file (PDF), or if you cannot accept e-files, we will mail you a printed "hard copy".
How long does it take?
The time it takes to publish a book depends upon a number of variables, including the type of book (hardcover vs. paperback), the level of services you desire (editing, extensive cover design, etc.) and the turnaround time of the printer of your book. Generally, your book can be available in as little as 90 days, or as long as six months.
How many books do I have to purchase?
It depends on the format of your book. For paperbacks, the minimum number is 200 with no maximum. For hardcover books, we suggest that you have at least 1000 printed, but some manufacturers will print 500.
What will my book look like?
Our publisher is and has always been committed to producing books that meet and/or exceed what you would find at any bookstore or library. Often, this depends on what the author wants his/her book to look like. We make every effort to satisfy our client's wants and needs. Go to our bookstore to see titles we have already published.
Will bookstores stock my book on their shelves?
It's up to each individual store, based solely on demand. We can't promise stores will stock your book. But, we guarantee that any bookstore in the country will be able to search for, find, and order your book.
Will my book be available for purchase online from stores like Amazon.com?
Authors who purchase our Silver Package will automatically have their books sent to Amazon.com and many other online bookstores so that hundreds of millions of readers can view and purchase your book. You'll be able to post your own review, check on sales rankings, and even link your own website.
Will my book have an ISBN?
Yes. Your book will be assigned the International Standard Book Numbers required by book sales channels to track and order your books. In addition, we will place a machine-readable Bookland/EAN bar code on your book's cover. Without this, bookstores can't order copies of your book.
Who owns the copyright to my book?
You do. You will contact the U.S. Congress Copyright Office to file for this. When you wrote your book, you automatically asserted copyright ownership. But, registering with the U.S. Congress Copyright Office, which records this ownership more formally, gives you better recourse in case of infringement.
Do you offer any marketing or advertising opportunities outside of the standard services?
Yes. From time to time we offer our authors expanded marketing opportunities, including the submission of your book for an award, or through a joint advertising program, but you are under no obligation to participate.
