​Have you written your book and are ready for the next step?

​This is an exciting time to be an author with different roads to publication available, but whether you choose to publish independently or approach agents in pursuit of a traditional publishing deal, the principal is the same: Your manuscript needs to be the best it can be.

I can help you achieve that.

Editing Services

Specialising in historical, supernatural, horror and thriller novels, I have edited nearly 200 titles, many of which have reached the top of the Kindle charts in both the US and UK, and including the first Kindle Storyteller winner, The Relic Hunters by David Leadbeater, and my client list also includes historical thriller author, John Paul Davis and crime/horror author Steven Bannister.

Primarily a copyeditor, I also offer advice on content, including structure, character development, plot development and narrative voice, and always do a sample edit before working with a new author. This allows me to give you an accurate quote (I charge £35 per hour - approx US$45), and helps us both to assess whether our working styles are compatible.

Editing is essential if you are publishing independently, and I also recommend you have your work edited before submitting to agents, so that it is judged at its best. Please contact me using the form below to enquire or discuss your requirements and my availability.

Manuscript Formatting Services

The reading experience does not just depend on the quality of the content and editing, but also the quality of the final product, whether in print or digital format.

I offer formatting services for novels, box sets, short stories, children's books and non-fiction, including reference books, guidebooks, cookbooks and more. The formats I can offer are paperback/hardback, including large print, kindle and ePub.

Standard formatting prices, based on text-only novels:

Standard Print (for paperback or hardback)
(50% discount if also taking one other format)
Novels under 100k words – £50/$65
Novels over 100k words – £60/$75
Picture books: From £50/$65 (dependent on size and number of images)
 
Large Print (for paperback or hardback)
(50% discount if also taking one other format)
Novels under 100k words – £50/$65
Novels over 100k words – £60/$75
Picture books: From £50/$65 (dependent on size and number of images).
 
Kindle 
(50% discount if also taking one other format)
Novels under 100k words – £50/$65
Novels over 100k words – £60/$75
Picture books: From £50/$65 (dependent on size and number of images)

ePub 
(50% discount if also taking one other format)
Novels under 100k words – £50/$65
Novels over 100k words – £60/$75
Picture books: From £50/$65 (dependent on size and number of images)

I will tailor the prices to your individual needs, so discounts for short stories and novellas, and pro-rata charges for extra formatting such as images, footnotes, bullet points etc.

The editing must be completed before formatting. Making later changes, which require further formatting checks, will incur further charges.

Please contact me using the form below with your requirements and I will confirm costs before the work is undertaken.
​

Cover Design


Prices from £100/$130, depending on requirements.
The design is created with full author input to bring your vision to reality.
​
Available for editing clients only.

Print Cover Formatting

Whether you are publishing through KDP, Ingram Spark or another printer, I can format your cover spread for paperback and/or hardback (jacket or case laminate), creating a spine and back cover to the dimensions of your book.

The interior print format needs to be completed and page count confirmed first, plus the client is to supply all images needed at minimum 300dpi resolution.

Please use the contact form below to enquire and we can discuss your requirements.

    Contact Karen Perkins:

Testimonials

Lee Franklin  - author of Nang Tani:
"From start to finish, and beyond, Karen Perkins is not only a consummate professional but a creative who understands and values the author's voice. Not only did she tighten and polish my manuscript, but her suggestions also took it to that next level.   
​
She embraced my project with enthusiasm and determination to get it just right, not only for me the author, but my audience (these do not always run parallel). Karen created my book cover quickly and effectively, attending to my little tweaks and vices without question or hesitation. She saw my mind and understood what was required to market my work. 
 
Karen formatted my manuscript and covers for both kindle and paperback with greater efficiency than I ever expected. Holding my hand through the uploading process giving me confidence every step of the way. 
 
I just cannot recommend her services enough for any indie author wanting their professionalism unquestioned and to stand out amongst the chaff. I'm already excited about our next project together. "
 
 
 Ilma Scantlebury – author of Apricot Dumplings:
"I am gobsmacked by your accuracy and knowledge of Hungarian names, even obscure ones. How do you do it? And your attention to minute detail is phenomenal.

Thank you for your mammoth effort last week. You must have worked and worked to get text and pics in a form resembling a book. You nurtured it with love and care, like a seedling, and gave it room so that it can flourish. And you can quote me on this! " 

​
Daniel Freeman, author of The Athletic Giving Handbook: 
“Karen is a hidden gem in the world of book publishing guidance & formatting. I was referred to her from a fellow author. We live in different countries, but working with her has been such a breeze.

It seemed so daunting to look at my book and the formatting that was needed. But, Karen breezed through the issues I faced with ease, and put me at ease. She was along with me at every step. Oh yes, her price is exceptional and VERY worth the investment.”

LionheART Publishing Guides for Independent Authors

If you prefer to do some or all of the work yourself, I have detailed the main areas I need to check and amend in manuscripts in two editing guides - one for British writers and one for American. Whilst I always advocate having an independent editor - an experienced, objective and knowledgeable pair of eyes is invaluable - I also understand that the higher the quality of manuscript you send to an editor, the higher the quality of manuscript you receive back. And the lower the invoice too! By checking these areas yourself first, you leave the editor's eyes free to pick up other issues, and apply a higher level of polish to your work.
Please see the individual e-book listings below for previews of the LionheART guides to formatting.

​​The LionheART Guide to Formatting
​
​The LionheART Guide to Formatting is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to formatting books for Kindle, EPUB and paperback in Word.

Karen Perkins of LionheART Publishing House carries out approximately a hundred formats a year, and explains in a simple and clear manner everything you need to know about formatting your manuscript for publishing and uploading your finalized files to the most popular sites: Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, and CreateSpace.

Available in paperback from Amazon:
​
The LionheART Guide to Editing Fiction: UK  and US Editions

#3 Bestseller in Reference & Language, Language Arts, Writing & Publishing, Publishing

The LionheART Guide to Editing Fiction is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to editing fiction for independent authors.

Karen Perkins of LionheART Publishing House has helped over a hundred books come to publication in the past year alone, and whilst there are numerous comprehensive grammar guides out there, it is not always that easy to pick out the elements that are most useful to us as authors of fiction. 
 
'This guide is for authors who want to be intimately involved in every aspect of their book. I wanted to compile a tool which is simple, easy to use and full of tips to help you decipher the punctuation and grammatical rules and apply them to your own work - without drowning you in information - whilst paying attention to current trends in the publishing industry. The areas I have highlighted are the ones I come across most often when editing and I also detail the method I use when editing and polishing a manuscript for publication.'​​

Available in paperback and for Kindle:
Individual Formatting Guides - Click on images for preview of books:
​

Subscribe to the LionheART mailing list

* indicates required