Imagine...
Your book.
On Amazon.
In as little as 7days.
Turn-key done-for-you book creation services
If you wrote a manuscript, but couldn't figure out how to turn it into a finished book, you've come to the right place.
You wrote a manuscript. Now what?
This is where most writers quit.
Writers get stalled at the complexities beyond the story.
They don't know how to format it for print, design a cover, or create metadata.
Most don't have thousands of dollars for traditional publishers or literary agents.
And NO one wants a garage full of books that they have to sell themselves.
This is why many great manuscripts sit on a hard-drive. Most will be forgotten.
The story never reaches the one who needed it the most.
This is the wall. It's where most authors quit.
There's a better way.
Give us your manuscript, and we'll turn it into a beautifully finished live book that you will be proud of...
selling live on Amazon in as little as 7 days.
You keep 100% of your royalties.
You keep all your files when the project is done.
No traditional publisher or literary agent.
No shipping headaches and no garage full of unsold books.
What do real people say about our service?
Steve Karraker
Retired School Superintendent & Author
Massac County, Illinois
I had no idea whatsoever as to how to get this book published. It was then that I got the idea to see if Michael Shank, a former preacher at the church where I now attend, could help me. Once I contacted him, he was eager to help.
Let me tell you, there are a lot of steps in putting a book on Amazon, or any other publishing service for that matter. Michael Shank has used several publishing services over his career as a writer, and he knows the business “inside and out.” Once Michael agreed to take this project on, I literally just sat back and watched him go to work!
I understand that Mr. Shank has now decided to help others as he did me. If you decide to use him, your book is as good as published, and you will have saved yourself a lot time, grief and money!
Ok, how does it work?
1. Choose your service package.
2. Complete your purchase.
2. Download the Author Intake Form (link below).
3. Return the form and your manuscript.
4. We'll discuss your ideas.
5. I'll complete the work and finalize your approvals.
6. Your book will go live on Amazon and you will receive your completed files.
7. When someone buys your book, Amazon drop-ships the order and your royalties go straight to your bank account.
Simple. And you stay in control.
Author Intake Form - Free Look
mar
2020
Here's a NO-OBLIGATION LOOK at the basic information we will need to get started.
NO purchase or opt-in or obligation.
We're just showing you the form we use to get started.
It's a 1-page PDF. Take a look if you like.
If you choose us, we'll need this form completed.
If you don't choose us, then no harm at all.
Cover design, formatting, and editing can cost thousands.
Current cost averages...
Book formatting and cover design service averages:
Full-spread book cover design (front, back, spine) $1,500
Manuscript copy-editing $2,000
Changes - revisions $750
Manuscript formatting $900
File uploading services $300
BICAS and metadata research (book optimization) $300
Creation and input of book data-specs $150
AVERAGE BOOK CREATION SETUP COSTS (2026) $5,900
Ingram Content Group, Cost Research (May 2026)
Starting at $497
An affordable all-in-one solution.
We offer 3 book-creation services: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 - Tier 1 is $497.
Every Tier package includes complete manuscript formatting, full-spread book cover creation (multple designs and samples for you to choose from), metadata research, file prep and upload, and bringing your book live on Amazon.
From rough manuscript to finished book selling on Amazon, we offer a complete done-for-you service.
What You Bring
Your manuscript in Microsoft Word format (.docx file)
Your ideas of your Title (I can provide book-title ideas from your manuscript; applies to every Tier level)
Your Cover design ideas (I'll provide cover design ideas based on your story)
Your back-cover description and author bio (I write and create for you - Tier 2 and 3)
Your author photo for back cover (optional)
Free Amazon KDP Account setup (I offer complete guidance for setup)
What you walk away with.
Once your book is live, we'll give you:
Your Formatted Manuscript
We professionally format your approved interior manuscript file, prepare it into a fully upload-able KDP-ready PDF, upload it into KDP, and provide you with the file.
Your Full Book Cover
We design a professional book cover based on your ideas and your story, provide samples for you to choose from, prepare the upload-able KDP-ready cover, upload it to KDP, and provide you with the file.
Your e-Book File
If you choose Tier 2 or Tier 3, we will prepare and upload your Kindle e-Book files and provide them to you upon completion.
Your Metadata
We also research, write, and code all metadata related to your story and provide it to you upon completion.
Your Republishing Ability
Since all professionally formatted and prepared files are provided to you upon completion of service, you have the power and flexibility to republish your work with any printer or publisher at any time.
Your Control
You will have all of your files upon completion of service, so you remain in control. No file hostage. No dependency. No coming back to ask for what you've already paid for.
Your manuscript was written for someone. Let's get it to them.
Choose Your Package
BASIC
$497.00
7-Day Turn Around
60k word manuscript
Your Books Created in this Tier:
Paperback
30 Hours of Labor
INCLUDES:
• MANUSCRIPT (interior file) full formatting and preparation
• SINGLE-PASS COPY EDIT complete read-through for grammar, punctuation, spelling consistency, and clarity issues
• 2 BOOK COVER DESIGN SAMPLES of full-spread (front-back-spine) based on author's ideas and story content; professional counsel on trim-size and paper/finish
• BACK COVER description and barcode
• COPYRIGHT PAGE CREATION
• KDP AUTHOR ACCOUNT SETUP training and assistance
• 2 STRATEGY CALLS (30 min. ea.)
• AMAZON LIVE STATUS VERIFICATION
• FINISHED FILE PACKAGE TO AUTHOR
MOST POPULAR
$797.00
10-Day Turn Around
90k word manuscript
Your Books Created in this Tier:
Paperback
Kindle eBook
45 Hours of Labor
INCLUDES:
ALL SERVICES IN TIER 1 PLUS;
• DOUBLE-PASS COPY EDIT Collegitate Level two complete read-throughs for grammar, punctuation, spelling consistency, and clarity issues
• 5 BOOK COVER DESIGN SAMPLES of full-spread (front-back-spine) based on author's ideas and story content; professional counsel on trim-size and paper/finish
• BACK COVER CREATIVE WRITING that we design and write for the author
• QR CODE AND AUTHOR PHOTO for back cover (if author desires)
• KINDLE eBOOK file creation, setup in system, creation of e-Book title with all data in KDP's system, and brought live
• METADATA AND BISAC CODE RESEARCH for search optimization across all digital platforms
• 3 STRATEGY CALLS (30 min. ea.)
• 3 FACEBOOK PROMOS ready for posting
WHITE GLOVE
$1,497.00
14-Day Turn Around
120k word manuscript
Your Books Created in this Tier:
Paperback
Kindle eBook
Hardback
Audiobook (if available)
75 Hours of Labor
INCLUDES:
ALL SERVICES IN TIERS 1 & 2 PLUS;
• TRIPLE-PASS COPY EDIT (Professional Level three complete read-throughs for grammar, punctuation, spelling consistency, and clarity issues
• 8 BOOK COVER DESIGN SAMPLES of full-spread (front-back-spine) based on author's ideas and story content
• HARDBACK BOOK CREATION which requires a complete and seperate full-spread book cover, ISBN, barcode, and complete title setup
• AMAZON VIRTUAL VOICE AUDIOBOOK (AI-narrated) setup and publication through Audible (if available at time of setup)
• TABLE OF CONTENTS formatting with page number linking (author provides chapter titles and structure)
• LAUNCH CHECKLIST customized for the author's release
• 5 FACEBOOK PROMOS ready for posting
• ANNOUNCEMENT ON MUSCLE AND A SHOVEL'S FACEBOOK PAGE (24K Followers) AND MICHAEL SHANK'S PERSONAL PAGE (5.4k Followers) which includes your book image, your author website info, and descriptive post text written by Michael Shank
• EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT TEMPLATE drafted for the author to send to their own email list
• PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE drafted for the author to send to local newspapers, Christian publications, blogs, or radio stations
• 6 FACEBOOK PROMOS ready for posting (upgraded from 3)
• 6 INSTAGRAM PROMOS ready for posting with caption text
• 4 STRATEGY CALLS (30 min. ea.) during production
SAVE ON YOUR PACKAGE PRICE...
SAVE 5% on your package by paying by Venmo, Cashapp, or Check by Mail.
Simply email me at mike@michaelshankministries.com and let me know that you will be paying for your publishing service package by Venmo, Cashapp, or Check by Mail, and we'll deduct 5%.
Venmo name: @michaeljshank
Cashapp name: $michaeljohnshank
Phone: (618) 638-9959
Check by Mail: Michael Shank Ministries, PO Box 64, Vienna, IL 62995
It's normal to feel unsure when investing in your ideas.
But your question shouldn't be, "Should I finish my book?"
Your question should be, "If I don't do this now, will I ever finish it?"
That's honest.
Answer this: Where's your manuscript now? How many hours have you spent getting it to this point? If you wait and continue to "think about it", time will pass... your manuscript will sit. My question was this...
I wondered if my book would earn my investment back.
Will you recover the cost?
$1,497
Tier 3: White Glove Extended Service
Tier 3 delivers you 4 books in 14 days
(Paperback, Hardback, eBook, and Audio Book)
Production. Full production across paperback, Kindle, hardback, and AI-narrated audiobook, plus a triple-pass professional copy edit on manuscripts up to 120,000 words. Every service in Tiers 1 & 2, with much more.
8 Covers for Design Flexibility. 8 full-spread cover design samples, a linked table of contents.
Labor. 75 hours of dedicated labor.
Marketing is built in: announcements to a combined 29,400 followers across the Muscle and a Shovel and Michael Shank Facebook pages, 6 Facebook promos, 6 Instagram promos, an email announcement template, a press release template, a customized launch checklist, and 4 strategy calls during production.
There is no better offer available today.
No confusion. I'll show you how to pick your plan.
$797
Tier 2: Most Popular Choice.
Tier 2 delivers you 2 books in 10 days
(Paperback, eBook)
Production. Full production across paperback and Kindle eBook, plus a double-pass professional copy edit and every service included in Tier 1.
5 Covers for You to Choose From. 5 complete full-spread cover designs to pick from, plus a high-end back cover with QR code, author photo, and full industry coding that optimizes your title for discoverability.
Book Launch is built in: 3 premade Facebook posts with book graphics and creative marketing text, plus 3 strategy calls (30 minutes each) during production.
There is no better offer at this price point.
$497
Tier 1: A beautiful book - done!
Tier 1 delivers your beautiful paperback in 7 days
Production. Full manuscript formatting and interior preparation up to 60,000 words, a single-pass professional copy edit, copyright page creation, back cover description with barcode, KDP author account setup and training, Amazon live status verification, and your finished file package.
2 Covers for Design Flexibility. 2 full-spread cover design samples based on your ideas and story content, plus professional counsel on trim size and paper finish.
Labor. 30 hours of dedicated labor.
Affordable and Complete.
Add-On Services
Change Orders. All change orders incur a $75.00 fee per occurrence. For example, if you decide on a book cover design and we implement it, then you want a change to the cover after approval, the fee will apply.
Strategy Calls. Each Tier level comes with a specified amount of scheduled Strategy Phone Calls (30 min. for each call). If you desire additional Strategy Calls, they are $30/additional call.
Who provides this service?
I'm Michael J. Shank, author of the Christian best-seller, Muscle and a Shovel, and the Korby the Hedgehog faith-based children's book series.
I've self-publishing using Print-On-Demand services since 2011 with over 1m books sold. I built this service to help authors who have written a manuscript but find themselves stuck in the process.
Getting your manuscript into a professionally finished, beautiful, and marketable book is a complex and labor-intensive process that I've made easy for you through 3 tier level services to choose from.
Whatever your message, if it deserves to be in print, I can help you get it there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I keep my rights? Yes. You keep 100% of your rights. You keep 100% of your royalties. You get all of your files upon completion of project, your book is published under your KDP account, and Amazon pays you directly.
Are these service prices competitive? Consider that editing and formatting by independent gig-workers on platforms like Fiverr are charging $800-$4,000 for this one aspect of service. Cover designers charge between $300-$1,500 for cover artwork, design, and file-creation ready for digital upload. Our 3 Tiers of services are more than competitive, and the value of each is upwards of several thousand dollars.
How long does it take? Tier 1 is a 14-day turn around time. Tier 2 is a 10-day turn around time. Tier 3 is a 7-day turn around. The clock starts when I have your manuscript and intake form in hand.
Do you edit my manuscript? Tier 1 includes a basic spelling and grammar check. Tier 2 includes a collegiate-level check plus a single-pass copy edit. Tier 3 includes a professional-level check plus a three-pass copy edit. None of the tiers include line editing or developmental editing. Your manuscript should be in a rough-finished form when you send it to me.
What if I don't like the cover? I provide multiple cover designs to choose from at every tier (2 in Tier 1, 5 in Tier 2, 10 in Tier 3). You select the one you want. If you do not like any of the cover designs I create and offer to you for your review, that's perfectly fine - we'll discuss your ideas further and I will create 2 new additional covers at no additional cost to you.
Cover design and approval are one of the major components of every new book, and YOUR SATISFACTION IS CRITICAL. Our good discussions prior to any cover design and creation are required so that we can have an excellent understanding of your thoughts and ideas regarding the cover of your book.
We will not allow you to be dissatisfied with a potential cover and you will never be made to accept something that you're not completely happy with prior to completion of your book.
If you change your mind after your confirmed selection and complete approval of a cover design, a change order fee of $75 will apply.
Do I have to set up my own KDP account? Yes. Your book is published under your own KDP account, which means royalties go directly to your bank account. I'll coach you through the setup if you don't have one yet.
Once your KDP account is created and ready, you can provide us with your temporary password so that we set up your book in your KDP account. You'll change the password at project completion.
What about ISBNs? All tiers use the free ISBN that KDP assigns when you publish. If you want to use your own ISBN from Bowker, you can supply it and I'll use that instead.
Do I have to print a bunch of copies up front? No. Amazon KDP is the company and distribution platform that your book will be listed on and distributed through. It is called print on demand (POD). When a customer orders your book on Amazon, Amazon prints it upon receiving the order for your book, then they package and drop-ship the order to your customer. You never touch inventory if you choose not to. You never pay for printing. You collect royalties on every sale.
Will my book be available worldwide? Yes. Amazon distributes your book to its global marketplaces. Your book will be available to readers worldwide through Amazon.
What if I already have a KDP account? Even better. We skip the account setup step and go straight to setting up your title.
What if I'm not a Christian author? You're still welcome. I specialize in Christian content because that's my background, but I work with authors writing memoirs, fiction, children's books, non-fiction, and other genres.
What's NOT included? I don't do line editing, developmental editing, ghostwriting, marketing campaigns, or human-narrated audiobooks, as these are all very labor-intensive and time-intensive, and would require thousands of dollars in additional fees.
What about an audio book? Once your eBook is created, submitted, and approved, KDP may offer the option for us to have an audio-book of your book created. The Amazon Virtual Voice audiobook in Tier 3 is AI-narrated, not human-narrated. I have done Muscle and a Shovel in this virtual voice audiobook by Amazon and it is good quality - customers have given positive feedback; however, it is important that you know that it is done by Amazon AI and is not human narration.
What happens if I back out after work begins? Service fees are paid up front. And because our work begins immediately, refunds after project start are limited to 50% of the package price.
Pricing versus donations? We are a non-profit private member association (PMA) of Christians who offer donations in exchange for Christian books and publishing services. All amounts shown as prices are, in reality, suggested donation amounts in exchange for books or services. Our PMA seeks no "commercial" or "retail" activity, but remains a private non-profit ministry effort to glorify the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can I SAVE MONEY ON SERVICES by paying by Venmo, Cash App, or Check by Mail? Yes. We will deduct 5% of your package total when you pay by one of the aforementioned ways. Simply email me at mike@michaelshankministries.com and let me know that you will be paying for your publishing service package by Venmo, Cashapp, or Check by Mail. Here's the payment info for these three ways to pay:
Venmo name: @michaeljshank
Cash App name: $michaeljohnshank
Phone: (618) 638-9959
Check by Mail: Michael Shank Ministries, PO Box 64, Vienna, IL 62995