Frank Marino Landing 

Updated 2/6/2026

Welcome to your very own landing page! Before you explore, please watch the video to the right. Watch it 2 or 3 times if you need to!

Current Book: Praying Luke

Summation

Step One: The Contract - Read, discuss with IP attorney or not, sign electronically, SAVE, upload

Step Two: The Material - 

a. the manuscript - in Word doc, Times New Roman size 12, double-spaced, HARD TAB of .5, no Heading triangles

b. the addenda -read directions for each one

Step Three: Editing - assigned to a Writing Coach to do a Deep Edit

Step Four: The Revisions

a. Download the Deep Edit - make all changes you want done, delete all comment bubbles. This is called the Revision

b. Upload your revised manuscript

c. Editor-in-Chief uses the Revision to create the galley and posts a pdf of it in the Galley button

d. READ the pdf; WRITE ON the proofing excel sheet. Save file name of proofing sheet. Double-check this is everything you want changed.

e. Upload the proofing sheet.

f. Editor-in-Chief makes corrections on the galley and downloads new pdf for proofing

* Repeat d, e, and f until galley is the way you want it. (If you did a great job with your revision, this should take no more than 3 repetitions.)

g. Examine the 3 cover samples; choose one and detail any changes you want.

h. Covers finalized by Editor-in-Chief and paperback cover is posted. 

Step Five:  Approval

a. Your Approval of Galley

b. Your Approval of Cover 

Tentative Release Date: 

Pre-Orders begin:

ARC Team sent:

 

Step One: The Contract

Date Signed Contract was Received: 

Step Two: The Material

NEW BOOK COVER SURVEY 2026

The purpose of a book cover is to sell the book. And yes, people DO judge a book by its cover. Book shop owners, literary award judges, book reviewers, and potential buyers  will all judge your book by its cover.

No matter what the subject of your book, the cover must be attractive. Do some research on what makes a cover attractive. Begin with August Isley’s article: https://www.shelteringtreemedia.com/about-us/august-advice/2947802_book-cover-designs-that-sell . Use his points to research what would best work with your book.

As the individual most familiar with your book's content, we value your insights. At the same time, we are professionals and know what can make or break a book’s success. The questions below will help clarify and refine your book's message, enabling one of our designers to convey it visually. 

Our two design artists are well-established both in our publishing house and in the art world. See their bios and samples on our Team page: https://www.shelteringtreemedia.com/about-us/team . The main difference between them has to do with their use of AI to assist with the cover design. Brian uses AI to assist – NOT to generate – his creations. Syranity does not use AI in any way to create her designs.

The process:

We will assign your cover to one of our Design Artists as soon as you send us this survey.

Then, we read over your survey and address any concerns before we begin.

The artist will create 3 samples based on your answers above. These samples will not have text on them – just the image of the cover.

These three samples will be placed on your landing page. You need to choose ONE of them. Use the form next to the samples and tell us which one you chose and what details you want changed, if any.

You will have only one revision, so word your details as precisely as possible.

The artist will then refine your cover and it will be posted on your landing page. You need to fill out the Approval Form at that time.

What if you don’t like any of the samples or the final cover?

These samples and final revision are based on your words and details, and we have already paid the artist for this service. If we have not been able to bring your words to life, you need to hire a professional book cover done (meaning, you cannot just do one yourself). However, said cover would need to match our house’s vision and standards. We suggest August Isley Books, specifically, the services of the three e-book, paperback, and hardback  covers: https://www.augustisleybooks.com/product/20167671/book-covers . It would be unethical for us to allow you to compensate the artist for further revisions because we don’t want any semblance of messing up the product to engender more money.

You have entrusted us with your book and we are deeply grateful. We look forward to crafting a cover which will introduce it to the world.

You may only upload one addendum at a time. 

Please use only this form to send me addenda. Do not email me to tell me you have sent this.

For OTHER, list on a Word doc the items to your right which you will not need to submit. 

Dates received:

  • Acknowledgements
  • Author bio
  • Author photo
  • Back of the book blurb
  • Dedication
  • Discussion guide
  • Illustrations - Make sure they are titled by the page number in the book where you want them to be and your last name. ie. Rainey page 75.
  • Illustrator bio
  • Illustrator photo
  • Map/Graph/Chart, etc. - Note - This must be original to you or have proper citation and permission to use it.
  • Permission to use the likeness of real people - see form below
  • Prior Published Books List - NOTE - these must be in Turabian or APA style. See this video on how to do this.
  • References / Bibliography - NOTE - these must be in Turabian or APA style. See this video on how to do this.
  • Title Evaluation - fill out and attach the form below.
  • Other (list on a Word doc the items above which you will not need to submit.)

Step Three:

The Coaching Process

Assigned to Writing Coach: 

Step Four:

Revisions

  1. Type your first and last name into the Name box.
  2. Type your email address into the email box.
  3. Make sure you have changed the name of your revised manscript to: YOURLASTNAME REVISION 
  4. Click SEND ME A COPY.
  5. Click that you are NOT A ROBOT.
  6. Click SUBMIT FORM.
  7. Take a screenshot of your confirmation message and save it (in case you need it later).
  8. Wait 10 minutes, then check your email for your copy.
  9. If it is there, the I received it, too, because you did this correctly.
  10. If it is not there, check your spam folder.
  11. If it isn't there, send me theh copy of your confirmation message, date, and time.
  12. I will email you if you need to repeat this process.

Date revised manuscript was received: 

How To Proof A Galley Template Xlsx
Excel – 12.0 KB 143 downloads
  1. Type your first and last name into the Name box.
  2. Type your email address into the email box.
  3. Make sure you have changed the name of your proof sheet to: YOURLASTNAME Proof 
  4. Click SEND ME A COPY.
  5. Click that you are NOT A ROBOT.
  6. Click SUBMIT FORM.
  7. Take a screenshot of your confirmation message and save it (in case you need it later).
  8. Wait 10 minutes, then check your email for your copy.
  9. If it is there, the I received it, too, because you did this correctly.
  10. If it is not there, check your spam folder.
  11. If it isn't there, send me theh copy of your confirmation message, date, and time.
  12. I will email you if you need to repeat this process.

Here are samples of the main image Brian created based on your book cover survey. Choose one and use the form below to suggest anything you would like changed.

Copy of full cover will be place here.  Make suggestions for change in the form.




Step Five:

Final Approval

NOTE: 2 separate forms.

ACCEPTING THE GALLEY

ACCEPTING THE COVER

Step Six:

Launching it to the World

Current DF Book:

Praying Luke

Summation

Step One: The Contract - NOT COMPLETE

Step Two: The Material - already completed by Editor-in-Chief

Step Three: Editing - already completed by Editor-in-Chief

Step Four: The Galley - done by Dyslexic Friendly Coach

Step Five: Your Approval of Galley and Cover- completed by Editor-in-Chief

Tentative Release Date: 

Pre-Orders begin:

ARC Team sent:

 

Step Two: The Material

Publisher will take care of gathering all the material.

Step Three:

The Coaching Process

Assigned to Dyslexic Friendly Coach:

Step Four:

Revisions

Step Five:

Final Approval

These steps will be taken care of by the publisher.

Step Six:

Launching it to the World

This is/will be the cover of the Dyslexic Friendly version.

Date Published: 

Current Audiobook: Praying Luke

Sheltering Tree Media offers the author two paths for audiobooks. The first one is the digitally narrated version while the second one is the human narrated version.

The first option (digitally narrated version) offers all steps from book to produced audiobook plus distribution at no charge to the author. The author makes royalties on the net profits.

The second option (human narrated version) offers the production step and the distribution with royalties on the net profits. However, the author is responsible for all finances and quality of the human narration and editting.

For option one (digital narration), the author plays an integral part in the editing process and gets to approve the audios before they go to the producers. 

For option two (human narration), the author is expected to already have the audios professionally narrated and edited before they come to us. 



Once you have made me aware of your choice, Steps 2-5 will appear here withi 48 hours.

Summation

see options below for specific steps

Release Date: 

Pre-Orders begin:

ARC Team sent:

 

Step One: The Contract

Please watch the video below.

How To Sign Contract Audio Mp 3
Audio – 1.5 MB 15 downloads

Once you are satisfied with the contract, electronically sign it, then upload it using the form below:

Date contract was received: 

OPTION ONE

DIGITALLY NARRATED AUDIOBOOK

OPTION TWO

HUMAN NARRATED AUDIOBOOK

Step Two: The Material

This step will be taken care of by the publisher.

Date audio files were completed: 

Step Three:

A. The Coaching Process

Assigned to Audio Coach: 

Step Three:

B. The Author Process

Set up zoom conference with Evelyn to walk you through this process.

The rights holder is responsible for accuracy

Distributors place the legal responsibility on the rights holder (author or publisher), not the narrator.

They expect the rights holder to:

  • Approve the final script

  • Approve any changes

  • Ensure the audio matches the book

  • Ensure the content is properly labeled (explicit, abridged, etc.)

If a narrator or editor changes wording without permission, the rights holder—not the narrator—gets stuck with the consequences.

How To Proof A Audiobook Galley Template Xlsx
Excel – 15.1 KB 8 downloads

Step Two: The Material

All clips must be MP3.

All clips must be no larger than 40 mb.

All clips must be exactly the way the author wants them to be.

All clip files must be named according to ACX specs.

Appropriate information must be found in the Closing and Opening clips, including ISBN.

Getting us the materials

Set up zoom conference with Evelyn to walk you through this process.

Date audio files were completed: 

Step Three:

There is no step three for the Human Narration option.

Step Four:

Post-Production

The Post-Production Engineers will take your materials and music and create your audiobook.

Step Five:

Final Approval

Once the audiobook has been accepted by AuthorsRepublic, we will notify you.

Step Six:

Launching it to the World

This will be/is the cover of the audiobook. 

Date Published: 

Contact us for any changes, requests, or questions:

Translations: 

Please remember the office is closed on Thursdays and Sundays, and office hours are from 9:00 to 5:00 with at least an hour for lunch around noon. Zoom conferences are scheduled on Fridays only. All times below are EST.







At this time (December 2025), we have translators for Spanish, French, and Gaelic. We are actively seeking HUMAN translators for the other languages listed. 

A language in ALL CAPS indicates the national or official languages of the indigenous languages listed below it.

Your contract covers translating your book into these languages. 

We would prefer to translate your book only into the languages you wish and can promote/market. 

With this in mind, please indicate below all of the language translations you would like us to schedule as soon as a human translator is hired.

If you know of a person who would like to become one of our translators, please have them get in touch via email.




























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