Publishing Partner

Active Publishing Partner Period

The first 12 weeks following enrollment are the Active Publishing Partner Period — the most intensive phase, during which the author receives weekly private consultations, priority text access, and the full range of Partner-level guidance described on this page.

Authors have up to 12 months from enrollment to complete the overall publishing project, subject to any approved pauses or extensions. The 12-month project window is the outer boundary for completing the publishing project — it does not represent 12 months of high-touch Active Publishing Partner support, which is concentrated in the first 12 weeks.

Work Directly with Lisa Tarves

Publishing Partner provides direct, personalized guidance from Making Sense Press founder Lisa Tarves. Lisa has been involved in publishing since 2011 — first as an author, and later from the publisher side as the former co-owner of a publishing company, where she worked directly with numerous authors and manuscripts. She brings additional decades of entrepreneurial, sales, and marketing experience to every author relationship.

Weekly Private Guidance & Priority Access

During the 12-week active period, Publishing Partner authors receive one scheduled private publishing-guidance consultation each week — up to 45 minutes each — covering writing progress, publishing decisions, production questions, cover and formatting choices, platform questions, launch planning, and other appropriate publishing concerns. Partner authors also receive priority scheduling and support over standard Guided Publishing support when reasonably possible.

Between scheduled consultations, authors have priority text access to Lisa Tarves for brief publishing questions, clarification, and decisions that come up day-to-day. Longer or more complex matters may be moved to a scheduled consultation.

Personalized Publishing Plan & Professional Guidance

Publishing Partner authors receive a personalized publishing plan tailored to their specific book, current stage, and intended path to publication — more individualized than the general Publishing Roadmap included with Guided Publishing.

Lisa will help identify appropriate publishing professionals when needed — editors, proofreaders, formatters, cover designers, illustrators, and others — including assistance understanding and evaluating professional quotes and proposals. When confusing requests or instructions come from vendors or publishing platforms, authors can bring those questions to Lisa for guidance on what is being asked and what the options are. Authors may also seek Lisa's perspective before making significant publishing decisions, including cover direction, metadata, categories, keywords, pricing, and launch planning.

Making Sense Press does not perform production services. Authors choose and contract with their own professionals separately.

Personal Manuscript Read & Written Publisher Review

Lisa Tarves will personally read the author's completed manuscript from beginning to end before publication — a publisher-level read and professional assessment, not a service provided by a staff member or third party. Following the read, Lisa will provide a written Publisher Review summarizing her high-level professional impressions, observations, strengths, concerns, and any important considerations the author should address before publication.

This is a publisher's assessment, not line editing, developmental editing, proofreading, rewriting, or technical file correction.

Launch & Visibility Benefits

Publishing Partner includes a full suite of launch and visibility benefits for qualifying finished books that meet Making Sense Press professional presentation and brand standards:

• —Standard Making Sense Press catalog listing and New Release feature
• —New Release promotion through the Making Sense Press Facebook page
• —Appropriate promotional exposure through LisaTarves.com and Lisa Tarves-owned social channels when relevant
• —Promotion to at least 10 appropriate third-party Facebook book, author, publishing, or promotional communities where current group rules permit the post
• —30-Day Premier Author + Book Spotlight Bundle included — a $399 standalone value. This upgrades and replaces, rather than adds to, the 7-Day Bundle included with Guided Publishing.
• —Personal book spotlight and recommendation video recorded by Lisa Tarves, published organically on the Making Sense Press YouTube channel
• —Personal written review of the finished book by Lisa Tarves — at least 200 words, delivered within 30 days of publication, reflecting her genuine opinion of the work
• —Individualized launch guidance covering launch timing, book description, metadata, categories, keywords, pricing, and promotional opportunities

Launch support is guidance, not done-for-you marketing. Third-party promotional communities are independently controlled. No specific promotional results are guaranteed.