Author Care in Publishing – A Call to Practice – MSc Publishing

As a writer, I find the prospect of getting my work published a daunting task. How do I go about it? Whom should I trust? Is it better to self-publish a finished work or submit a query package to an agent? How do I even get an agent? If I am lucky enough to get my foot in the door of a publishing house, what happens next? There are many questions and even more answers. The internet is a vast sea of advice and I am but a freshwater guppy out of her element.

If an author does manage to swim through the door of a publisher, they have likely been close to drowning multiple times—in misinformation, rejection letters, and self-doubt. Perish the thought they now get sucked into a raging river towards an unknown end, battling forces that threaten to devour what remains of their integrity and power. Am I exaggerating? Consider what published authors are saying about their experience in the publishing world.

Word cloud generated using author feedback in two articles within *The Bookseller*¹²

Author care is a serious issue within the publishing industry, enough to warrant its own panel during the recent Scottish Book Trade Conference in May 2026, titled “Authors First – Making Time to Care.”

Chaired by Vikki Reilly (Business Development Manager for Publishing Scotland), the panel consisted of Caro Clarke (Literary Agent for Portobello Library), Hope Ndaba (Creative Communications Consultant), Mary Paulson-Ellis (author and Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland), and Francesca Barbini (educator and founder of Luna Press Publishing). The sofa embraced an excellent representation of expertise to speak to the issue.

According to Mary Paulson-Ellis, the Society of Authors advocates for author rights and responsibilities across the UK, with their latest tool being Author Care: A Toolkit for Authors.³ The Society seeks to equip the publishing community with clear and consistent practice in caring for their authors. The foundation of care must be transparency, inclusive support, and respectful communication.

I am inspired by the clear action steps Francesca Barbini takes to prepare Luna Press authors for the publishing and marketing process. She has recorded a free video series that demystifies what they can expect. Even before signing a contract with an author, she outlines any major revisions they should consider, stressing that “…nothing should come as a surprise…pre-preparation” is key. Beyond nurturing healthy relationships with authors, Barbini calls publishers to create a healthy business.

“[I]n this game, the power does rest with us [as publishers] and so the responsibility truly is with us to be the best business that we can possibly be and…take advantage of every opportunity…. [I]f I make my business an excellent business…it creates an amazing environment for the authors as well…. I think that is part of author care.”

As an independent publisher, I want to welcome authors into my house as a crucial part of a team who is working hard to get their words heard. As a writer, I want to feel I have “found my school of fish” in a trustworthy and supportive industry where everyone wins.