FAQ
Q1. So what exactly is Kinor? Are you a publisher?
Kinor is an author services agency, not a conventional publisher. We help authors and small publishers handle the parts of the publishing process they can't handle on their own.
We are experts in the entire life cycle of book production — editing, proofreading, layout, cover design, printing, storage, fulfillment — and we step in to provide as much support as you need.
We're not going to acquire your book, put our name on it, or take a cut of your sales. You're the boss; Kinor works for you.
Q2. Why wouldn't I just take my manuscript to _______ [name of a major Judaica publishing company]?
For many authors, going to one of the mainstream publishers is the best option. But some authors can't (or won't) work with the mainstream publishers:
● Mainstream publishers may be highly selective. They may reject your manuscript if they do not approve of the content or simply because they feel it is not sufficiently marketable.
● Mainstream publishers may shut you out. Even if they accept your manuscript, major decisions about your book may be made without your input: important edits, cover design, and more. From a business perspective, this is certainly justifiable: they're taking the risk in investing in your manuscript, and they must have control over the finished product. However, the lack of control concerns many authors.
● Mainstream publishers may be prohibitively expensive. Unless your manuscript has a unique sales potential, mainstream Judaica publishers may demand $25,000 or more upfront to publish your book – without any guaranteed commissions. Kinor can generally produce a book of equal quality at a dramatically lower cost.
Q3. I have a book on a sensitive topic. Will you take it on
Maybe. As a custom publisher, we do not take editorial responsibility for your content the way a traditional publisher would. Accordingly, we may be able to publish a title that is a little unconventional. All submissions are 100% confidential
Q4. Does your name go on the book?
We generally place a small imprint on the title page. If we are especially proud of the book, we may ask for permission to put our logo on the cover as well. Ultimately, this is entirely up to you. We work for you, remember?
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EDITORIAL SERVICES
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Q7. What's the difference between editing and proofreading?
Editing is about making the writing better — the structure, the flow, the clarity, the language. Proofreading is about catching errors — spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency. Proofreading comes after editing, and then again after layout (because the typesetting process itself nearly always introduces new errors).
Q8. Do you use AI on my manuscript?
Kinor guarantees 100% human editorial service upon request. We also offer hybrid Human+AI editorial service which may dramatically reduce the time and cost of professional editing while maintaining tight supervision by experienced professional editor.
In order to ensure the best possible product, we always use AI for error checking as a supplement to our human proofreaders
Q9. I already have an editor. Can I still work with you for the rest?
We recommend that you use a professional for every stage of producing your book; however you're free to use our services a la carte. Alternatively, many clients prefer to delegate their entire book project to us from beginning to end .
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PRICING
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Q10. What is this going to cost me?
Every project is unique and the price will depend on what services you need, how long the manuscript is, what format you want, how many copies you're printing, etc.
The cost of editorial service depends primarily on two factors: the length of the manuscript and the quality of the writing. For this reason, it is impossible to give even a rough estimate before we have seen a sample of the manuscript.
Simple page layout generally starts at $4 a page. Features like footnotes, tables and photographs make the layout more complex. A very complex page may cost $8 or more.
For printing, the price varies based on quantity, format, paper, and where it's printed — but we can usually get you a useful ballpark once we know the basic specs: page count (estimate), trim size, binding type, and number of copie
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PRINTING
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Q12. What are my options for printing?
There are three main models.
Offset printing is the traditional model — lower per-unit cost at higher quantities, excellent quality, and longer lead time. It starts to make sense around 300–500 copies and becomes the clear choice above 1,000.
Digital short-run printing is for smaller quantities — anywhere from a handful of copies up to a few hundred. Fast turnaround, no setup costs, higher per-unit price. If you need a few hundred copies, digital is almost certainly your answer.
Print-on-demand (POD) — through platforms like IngramSpark or Amazon KDP — produces books one at a time as orders come in. Zero upfront cost, but highest per-unit price. Once your title is set up in our system, you can order one-off or bulk copies through our website.
Each has its place. It depends on your budget, your timeline, and your expected demand.
Q13. Where do the books get printed?
It depends on what makes the most sense for your project. We have relationships with printers domestically, in Israel, and in China. For a short run where you need quality and speed, domestic is usually the right call. For a larger run where cost is the priority, overseas gives you better economics. We'll get you quotes and give you a recommendation based on your specs.
Our print prices are highly competitive
Q14. How many copies should I print, and does it cost less per book if I print more?
Yes, the per-unit cost drops as quantity goes up. But that doesn't mean printing more is automatically the right move. The question is what quantity actually makes sense given your audience and the realistic demand.
Generally it's better to print conservatively and then print more when there is sufficient command. In the long run, over printing is almost always more expensive
Q16. How long does printing take?
For a digital short run, generally one to three weeks once files are approved. For offset, plan on six to ten weeks, not including shipping. Note that shipping times from China may be 2 to 3 months. These are ranges — the specific turnaround depends on the printer and their current schedule. We'll always confirm a timeline before we commit to anything
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FULFILLMENT & STORAGE
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Q19. How does fulfillment work?
We work closely with a fulfillment partner to provide our clients with economical storage and fulfillment services. This means we can store your inventory at competitive prices and automatically pack and ship orders from your website or Amazon Merchant account.
As a fulfillment aggregator, Kinor makes fulfillment services accessible to small publishers that otherwise would not have the volume to be accepted by a commercial fulfillment center
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MARKETING
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Q20. Can you help me market my book?
Yes! Kinor will soon be launching a unified marketing platform to help small and self-publishers market their books directly to readers in print and online.
For more information, join our mailing list (sign up form at the bottom of the page).