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You Finished the Manuscript.
Now the Real Decisions Start.
You wrote it. That part is done. What comes next is where most authors lose months and sometimes thousands of dollars making decisions without enough information.
Which publishing path fits your goals? What does a professional book look like on the inside? How do readers find it once it's out?
The School of Publishing and Production gives you the framework, the tools, and the expert guidance to take your finished manuscript to a published book.
I published my first book wrong, and then figured out how to fix it
When I published my first book, I did what most first-time authors do. I pieced together a plan from online research, asked a few people who had done it before, and made my best guesses about the parts I didn't understand.
A book existed when I was done. But I had shortcut critical steps. Not because I was careless. Because I didn't know what I didn't know.
By the time I wrote my second book, I had learned from those mistakes. That book climbed the Amazon bestseller ranks. It opened speaking opportunities. It built credibility in a way the first book never did.
The difference wasn't the writing. The difference was the production decisions behind it.
Now, nearly 300 books published for other authors later, I teach those decisions inside the School of Publishing and Production. The actual steps, in the right order, with expert guidance behind each one.
You don't have to figure out the publishing and production by yourself
You already know how this goes when it is just you and a search bar. Editing, cover design, formatting, distribution, metadata, pricing, audiobooks. Every decision has real financial consequences if you get it wrong, and most of that advice online contradicts itself.
What actually helps is a place to bring your real questions to real people, on a schedule, before you have made an expensive mistake instead of after.
Here is what that looks like inside the School of Publishing and Production.
- Weekly Accountability Call. Every week, Jenn T. Grace runs a live accountability call. You check in, you say what you are working on, and then you work. This touch point can help keep you from stalling out or losing momentum. Production has its own version of stalling out.
- Monthly Office Hours. Once a month, Jenn hosts live office hours. Bring your actual publishing and production questions, whatever stage you are at, and get an answer that applies to your specific book project.
- The Author Growth and Impact Forum. Once a month, a different expert leads a live session on marketing, growth, or building your author ecosystem. You can ask questions live, and every past session is in the content library for you to go back to.
Know where you stand before you publish
The 5-Pillar Book Production and Impact Audit is a self-scoring diagnostic that shows you exactly where your production plan is solid and where the gaps are. Most authors find those gaps after they publish. This gives you the chance to find them first.
What You’ll Navigate: The 8-Unit Curriculum
The School of Publishing and Production takes you through every decision point in the production process, in the order you actually need it.
- Unit 1 - Understand Your Publishing Path: Self-publishing, hybrid, traditional. Each path has different tradeoffs for control, cost, timeline, and rights. You will identify which relationship fits your goals, establish a realistic production timeline, and build a budget before you commit to anything.
- Unit 2 - Refine and Strengthen Your Draft: Learn how to work with developmental editors and beta readers to sharpen your manuscript while protecting your voice. Includes real examples from Jenn's own editing process on her books.
- Unit 3 - Prepare Your Manuscript for Publishing: Build the components that turn a manuscript into a professional book: author bio, foreword, testimonials, and front and back matter. Learn how to write a book description that gives readers a clear reason to buy.
- Unit 4 - Develop Your Title, Subtitle, and Cover Design: Develop a title and subtitle that captures attention and fits your category, while navigating the legal considerations around trademarks and naming rights. You will define your visual identity through professional cover design and align your author brand with a headshot that positions you as the right person to have written this book.
- Unit 5 - Format and Typeset for Book: The interior of your book affects how it feels in a reader's hands. You will learn the typography, margins, and layout standards that make a book feel professionally produced.
- Unit 6 - Optimize Metadata and Pricing: Keywords are how readers find your book. You will learn how to select BISAC categories, write metadata that works for retail platforms, and price your book based on your revenue goals and your category.
- Unit 7 - Print and Distribute Your Book:You will work through the technical setup for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, learn how to manage manufacturing quality and inventory, and establish a clear strategy for global royalties and revenue flow. By the end of this unit you will know exactly where your book is available, who owns the data, and how the money moves.
- Unit 8 - Publish Your Book in Digital and Audio Formats: Prepare your manuscript for global digital reach by organizing professional ebook files for Amazon KDP and "wide" retailers. You will develop a high-impact plan for your audiobook launch and identify the next strategic steps to move from production into active marketing.
The missing pieces you were unaware of
Most publishing advice focuses on the writing. Almost none of it addresses what comes after.
Once your manuscript is done, you are navigating decisions about editing, cover design, interior formatting, ISBN ownership, distribution platforms, metadata, pricing, and audiobooks. Most of these decisions have real financial consequences if you get them wrong.
The authors who struggle after publishing often made avoidable production decisions without enough context. This school gives you that context.
Founding Member Rate: $147/month
This price is locked in for as long as you stay a member. When the price increases later your rate stays exactly where it is today.
Get a 30-minute 1:1 strategy session with Jenn (a $300 value), yours free as a Founding Member welcome gift.
Pay Monthly
$147 USD
Per Month
Founding Member rate, locked in for life.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.
Pay Yearly
$1,497 USD
Per Year
BEST VALUE: Save $267 + get a private 60-minute strategy session with Jenn.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.
One Membership. Three Schools.
Most programs cover one part of the process and leave you to figure out the rest. Your membership includes all three schools because your book's success depends on all three working together.
School of Writing
& Author Readiness
For authors who are still writing. Get the structure, tools, and accountability to stop starting over and finish the book that has been sitting in your head.
School of Publishing
& Production
For authors with a finished manuscript. Learn every production decision in the right order so you publish with confidence and without expensive mistakes.
School of Marketing
& Influence
For authors who are ready to grow their reach. Build a marketing strategy that fits your values, finds your readers, and keeps working long after launch day.
What Makes The Institute for Author Growth and Impact™ Different?
Nonfiction and Memoir Author Community
Nearly 300 books published over more than a decade. Every framework, template, and lesson inside The Institute came from real publishing experience with real authors.
Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing: All in One Place
Most programs cover one phase of the process. The Institute was built for all three because your book's success depends on all three working together.
We are a
Certified B Corporation
We measure success by the impact of our authors' work in the world, not just the number of books sold. Integrity and inclusion are structural, not decorative.
Founder & Lead Faculty, Jenn T. Grace
I'm the founder of Publish Your Purpose® and the Institute for Author Growth and Impact™, where I work with nonfiction and memoir authors at every stage of the process.
Eight books written. Nearly 300 published for other authors. More than 20 years in marketing. Nearly 15 years in publishing.
I have been on both sides of the desk. I know what the production process looks like when it goes well and when it doesn't. Everything inside the School of Publishing and Production came from that experience.
As Seen On:
7-Day No Questions Asked Money-Back Guarantee
When you join The Institute, you're fully protected. If it's not the right fit within the first 7 days, just let us know and we'll refund you completely. No hassles, no fine print, no hard feelings.
We're confident you'll find it valuable. But if you don't, we'll make it right. That's how we operate.
Get Instant Access to The Institute!
If you’re ready to move your author journey forward, enroll in The Institute for Author Growth and Impact™ today and choose the learning path that fits where you are—whether you’re writing your manuscript, preparing to publish, or ready to promote your book to the world.
Select your enrollment option below and take your next step toward writing, publishing, and promoting your book with purpose and confidence.
Pay Monthly
$147 USD
Per Month
Founding Member rate, locked in for life.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.
Pay Yearly
$1,497 USD
Per Year
BEST VALUE: Save $267 + get a private 60-minute strategy session with Jenn.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.
Not ready to join yet? Start here instead.
Both of these are free. Both were built specifically for nonfiction and memoir authors who are figuring out their next step in publishing.
I prefer to watch
Watch the free masterclass:
The 5 Self-Publishing Mistakes That Cost Authors the Most: A session that covers the production decisions most authors get wrong before they ever hit publish.
I prefer to read
Download the free audit:
The 5-Pillar Book Production and Impact Audit: A self-scoring diagnostic that shows you where your production plan is solid and where the gaps are.
Is This Program Right For You?
The School of Publishing and Production is built for a specific kind of author. Here is how to know if that is you.
Who This is For
- Authors with a finished or nearly finished manuscript who are ready to move into production and want to do it without expensive mistakes or wasted time.
- Purpose-driven authors who want their book to do something, i.e. build credibility, create opportunities, or reach readers who need what they have to say.
- Entrepreneurs, coaches, and thought leaders who see their book as part of a bigger mission and want to publish in a way that supports their business and their brand.
- Authors who want to understand the strategy, not just follow a checklist. You want to know why each production decision matters and how it affects your book's reach and impact.
- Action takers who are willing to show up consistently. Not perfectly. Consistently.
- First-time and experienced authors alike, whether this is your first book or you published before and want a cleaner, more strategic process this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers.
My manuscript is done. Where do I start?
Start with Unit 1, which walks you through choosing the right publishing path for your goals. Most authors come in thinking they already know which path they want. Unit 1 either confirms that or saves them from an expensive mistake.Do I need to know anything about publishing before I join?
No. The curriculum is built for authors who have finished writing and are starting to figure out production for the first time. Every decision point is explained in full, with the context you need to move forward confidently.Does the school include publishing services?
No. The Institute does not publish books directly. The School of Publishing and Production walks you through the full production process so you can publish on your own or make an informed decision about hiring professional support. For authors who want full-service hybrid publishing, that work happens through Publish Your Purpose®, our sister company.I have already published one book. Is there anything here for me?
Yes, especially if your first book had production gaps, i.e. metadata that was not optimized, distribution that was not set up correctly, or formatting that did not meet professional standards. The curriculum helps you understand what to address and how. It is also directly relevant if you are preparing a second book and want a cleaner process.What if I am also interested in the Writing or Marketing schools?
Your membership includes access to all three schools. If you are still finishing your manuscript, start with the School of Writing and Author Readiness. If your book is out and you need marketing strategy, the School of Marketing and Influence is your next step. You move between schools based on where you are in the process.Can I get one-on-one support?
Yes. Monthly office hours give you direct access to Jenn for your specific questions. Members can also schedule individual consulting calls separately if they need deeper guidance on a particular production decision.What if it is not the right fit?
You have seven days to decide. Email us within that window and we will issue a full refund with no questions asked. Month-to-month members can cancel anytime and keep access through the end of their billing period.Can I upgrade from monthly to annual later?
Yes. You can upgrade at any time. When you switch from monthly to annual, your payment is prorated and your annual term begins immediately. The annual membership saves you the equivalent of two months compared to paying monthly.What are the publishing options for nonfiction authors?
Nonfiction authors have three primary publishing paths. Traditional publishing involves securing a literary agent and a book deal with a major publisher, which typically takes one to three years and requires giving up significant control over the final product. Self-publishing gives authors complete control over every production decision and full ownership of their rights, but requires managing editing, design, distribution, and marketing independently. Hybrid publishing combines professional production support with author ownership of the work, making it a practical option for thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts who want a professionally produced book without surrendering their rights. The School of Publishing and Production at the Institute for Author Growth and Impact helps authors understand each path and choose the one that fits their specific goals.How do nonfiction authors publish their books?
Publishing a nonfiction book involves six core stages: editing, cover design, interior formatting, metadata and pricing setup, distribution platform configuration, and format expansion into ebook and audio. Most authors underestimate the number of decisions involved and the order those decisions need to happen in. Getting the sequence wrong, i.e. designing a cover before the title is finalized, or setting up distribution before metadata is complete, creates expensive rework. The School of Publishing and Production at the Institute for Author Growth and Impact walks authors through each stage in the right order.What does it cost to self-publish a nonfiction book?
The cost to self-publish a nonfiction book varies based on the level of professional support an author uses. A professionally produced nonfiction book typically requires investment in developmental editing, copyediting, cover design, and interior formatting. Combined, these costs generally range from $3,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the length and complexity of the book and the professionals hired. Authors who understand which production decisions they can make confidently on their own and which require professional support are in a much better position to budget accurately. That is what the School of Publishing and Production teaches.How do nonfiction authors get their books into bookstores and libraries?
Distribution for nonfiction books typically runs through two platforms: Amazon KDP for Amazon-specific or wide digital distribution, and IngramSpark for access to the broader wholesale and retail network including independent bookstores and libraries. Authors who want their books in physical bookstores and library systems need to set up IngramSpark with correct wholesale discount settings and returnable status. Many authors skip this step and limit their book's reach without realizing it. The School of Publishing and Production covers both platforms in detail, including account setup, distribution settings, and the royalty implications of each choice.Start the School of Publishing and Production
Your manuscript is done. This is the next step. Choose the option that works for your budget and start moving your book through production with a clear plan behind it.
Pay Monthly
$147 USD
Per Month
Founding Member rate, locked in for life.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.
Pay Yearly
$1,497 USD
Per Year
BEST VALUE: Save $267 + get a private 60-minute strategy session with Jenn.
Hassle-free 7-day money-back guarantee.