General Information

What types of books are ineligible for a Library of Congress Control Number?
How can I get in touch with Media City Publishers if I have questions not answered here?

What is Media City Publishers?

With unique resources to support books of all kinds, Media City Publishers offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience.

For writers seeking the best that self-publishing can offer, Media City Publishers offers the highest quality design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services provided by a team of specialists who also work with the big five traditional publishing houses. Our experts bring the same quality of work to our customers as they do their big five publishing clients. Media City’s goal is to empower you to get your message to the world in print, whether it be it fiction, nonfiction, color book, graphic novel or children’s book. There are many companies that provide services such as Media City, but Media City is dedicated to excellence in design and service. Media City will never release an amaterish publication. We do not take on every client who comes to us. When you work with Media City you can be assured that your book has market potential and will be presented as professionally as any traditionally published book.

What are the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing?

Self-publishing allows the author to remain in complete control over the finished product because the author decides what text, images, fonts, editorial changes, etc. are used to produce the book. With self publishing, the author also retains the rights to his/her manuscript and the finished product; the timeline from start to finish generally can be quicker; and the author has access to additional services that he/she may choose to purchase.

Typically in traditional publishing, an author’s agent will submit a manuscript to a publishing house for publication. If a publishing house likes the manuscript or the portion of the manuscript they see, they will pay the author an advance and license the publishing rights to the manuscript. The publishing house will then control the process of editing, designing, publishing and marketing the work. Once the book is published the author will receive royalties from any books sold, which are initially used to offset their advance.

Will I retain the rights to my work when I publish with Media City Publishers?

Yes. The rights to your manuscript are yours throughout our entire publishing process, and you retain them after your book is published. We do not license exclusive publishing rights from you; our non-exclusive contract allows you to continue exploring other publishing avenues while still working with us. And since Media City Publishers is providing self-publishing services, you as the author remain in complete control of the finished product because you get to decide what text, images, illustrations, fonts, etc. are used in your book.

Why should I choose Media City Publishers over other self-publishing services?

For writers seeking the best self-publishing can offer, Media City Publishers provide the highest quality in design, formatting, editorial and marketing services. Learn more about our promise to authors.

Can I publish my book with Media City Publishers and another publisher, too?

We have non-exclusive agreements with our authors so the rights to your book remain yours. You are welcome to simultaniously publish your manuscript with other publishers who do not require an exclusive license. The only restriction we place is that, while publishing with Media City, you cannot use the Media City book files to re-print the book (which may contain Media City trademarks) with another publisher. Similarly, if your book is currently available through another publisher on a non-exclusive basis, Media City Publishers would allow you, subject to any restrictions in your contact with another publisher, to publish with Media City.

Can I publish my book with Media City Publishers if I live outside of the United States?

Yes. Authors all over the globe can publish with Media City Publishers. We currently have world-wide distribution and printers in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Can I publish a non-English book with Media City Publishers?

No. Media City Publishers only publishes in English.

How much does it cost to publish with Media City Publishers?

The cost of your entire self-publishing experience depends on which package you choose and if you add any additional services to your package. We offer plenty of combinations that allow you to choose the price range, package and services that best fit your needs. View all of our publishing packages.

Can I submit multiple manuscripts to Media City Publishers?

We have no limit on how many manuscripts you can submit and publish using our services. However, keep in mind that you are responsible to pay for a package and services for each manuscript so cost may be your only restriction.

What is an ISBN and who handles it?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and is required to publish with Media City. An ISBN for your work is registered under Media City Publishers and is included with each Media City publishing package. The ISBN will be inserted on the copyright page and on the back cover of the book with the bar code. Booksellers will be able to scan the bar code image and identify your book’s ISBN. Visit www.isbn.org for more detailed information about ISBN.

Can I use an ISBN that I previously purchased for my manuscript?

No. The ISBN is specific to the publisher. If you have an ISBN for your manuscript, it is still valid for the manuscript in an unpublished form or if you decide to publish your work through other means. However, to publish your book with through Media City Publishers, it will need a new ISBN.

Does Media City Publishers edit my book?

While most of our publishing packages include an editorial assessment, they do not include other editorial services. However, we at Media City believe that editing your book is an important step for authors, especially if you are looking to achieve commercial success. Media City Publishers offers a full range of editorial services, available separately, which we encourage our authors to consider based on their specific needs.

Will Media City Publishers promote my book?

The Media City Publishers online bookstore includes all of the titles published by Media City, and is part of your package purchase. Review all our packages to learn about other marketing opportunities included in each package. We offer additional promotional services that may help you meet the marketing goals you have for your book. Visit our Services page to learn more and purchase any marketing services you need.

Who will be able to purchase my book?

Once it is published, your book will have a global audience because it will be listed in the Media City Publishers online bookstore. Your book will also be distributed through the Ingram Book Network and available to over 25,000 retailers worldwide. Online retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com will list your book for sale through their websites. Additionally, should your package include the Bookseller Catalog service or you choose to purchase it separately, your book will be included in a database that is used by major retailers and wholesalers to discover and order new titles.

How do author royalties work?

Royalties are based on the net payments we actually receive from the sale of printed or electronic (e-book) copies of your book, minus any shipping and handling charges or sales and use taxes. Since retail and wholesale customers purchase on a discount, the royalty amount you receive depends on what type of customer bought your book, the channel through which they purchased, and any discount they received. For more information on how royalties are calculated, please visit our Pricing & Royalty FAQ.

Why does Media City Publishers need my Social Security number?

We require your Social Security number to comply with the government’s tax regulations. Since you have the opportunity to earn additional income from book sales, the government requires that you pay taxes on your total earnings. The W-9 form allows you to provide a Taxpayer Identification Number, or TIN. If you are publishing your book under your own name or a pen name, your TIN is your Social Security number. If you are publishing under a business name, or you want your royalty check to be addressed to a business, you can enter your employer identification number instead of your personal Social Security number.

If you do not supply your taxpayer ID number, we are required to withhold taxes at the rate of 28 percent of total earnings.

If you supply us with your taxpayer ID at a later date, we cannot return the withheld tax money because we do not retain it — it is passed on to the government by law. You can speak to a tax professional about how to report this at the end of the tax year in order to receive a tax refund for any additional amount that you are due.

I do not have a Social Security number because I am not a U.S. Citizen. What now?

Even if you live outside of the United States, you will still earn a royalty just as our American authors do, but we are required to withhold 30 percent of your royalty earnings for federal taxes. This percentage will be withheld unless you provide us with a properly completed IRS form W-8BEN which must include an IRS issued foreign tax ID. With a properly completed W-8BEN, we will withhold taxes at the treaty rate in effect between your country of residence and the US. Any money that was previously collected can be reclaimed with your taxes at the end of the year, but we cannot repay it. For more information, or to download a W-8BEN, visit www.irs.gov or consult a qualified tax professional.

Will Media City Publishers send me a 1099 to report additional income from royalty payments?

If you earned $20.00 or more in royalties within a fiscal year, we will automatically send you a 1099 statement. The 1099 reports your additional income in royalties during the first, second and third quarter of the current year and the fourth quarter of the previous year. It is the form you need to use to report taxes showing additional earning or contractual work. If the total earned is less than $20.00, then the IRS does not require us to prepare a 1099, so we will not send you a 1099 form. (If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will receive a 1042, very similar to the 1099.) If you have further questions regarding reporting taxes, please contact your tax professional.

What is print-on-demand (POD) publishing? What are the advantages?

Print-on-demand publishing, or POD, is a method of book printing that uses digital technology to make it easy and cost-effective to produce books as they are ordered, either one at a time or in large numbers. Instead of a more traditional mode of printing, which only prints a large number at one time, POD is an “as needed” printing system, so there are no wasted books and no need to store them. This also means that the book can be available for an extended period of time, instead of the book being “out of print” after a print run has been depleted.

Who is my assigned publishing consultant? How can I find their contact information?

When you’re ready to start working with Media City Publishers, you will be assigned a publishing consultant to help guide you through the process of publishing your book. If you would like to order a package and get connected with your publishing consultant, please call us at 818-581-2118. If you have already been assigned your publishing consultant but are unsure of his or her contact information (name, phone number, e-mail address, etc.) please call us at 818-581-2118; we can access your account and provide you with the correct information.

What types of books are ineligible for a Library of Congress Control Number?

The Library of Congress sets strict guidelines about which books may receive a Library of Congress Control Number.
The following types of books are ineligible for Library of Congress Control Numbers:

Books which do not list a U.S. city as place of publication on the title page or copyright page
E-Books (i.e. books published in electronic format)
Serials
Custom editions
Items under 50 pages with the exception of genealogies and children’s literature and catalog exhibitions submitted by museums and art galleries
Textbooks below the college level
Items not intended for wide distribution to libraries
Religious instructional materials
Expendable educational materials
Translations except Spanish
Music scores
Crossword puzzle books
Back to top

How can I get in touch with Media City Publishers if I have questions not answered here?

Please contact our customer support team by calling 818-581-2118, or visit our contact page to submit your question.