Author Safety

Publishing your first — or fifteenth — book means trusting someone with work that matters to you. This policy sets out how we protect that trust.

Protection against plagiarism and manuscript theft

• Every manuscript is protected by a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before it is ever submitted or reviewed — this is a legal commitment from Chance Publishers and every staff member involved not to disclose, copy or misuse your work.
• Only the staff assigned to your specific project can view your manuscript files — access is not open to the whole team.
• You retain full copyright of your manuscript throughout the entire process. See Copyright & Manuscript Ownership.

Protection against unsafe or exploitative practices

• All pricing is transparent and set out in advance in your publishing package or written quotation — there are no hidden fees added after work has started.
• Payments are staged: you pay a deposit to begin, and the balance is only due before your final files are released, so you are never asked to pay the full amount upfront for undelivered work.
• You can request a copy of all communications, invoices and receipts relating to your project at any time.
• If you experience conduct from any staff member that feels unprofessional, pressuring or unsafe, report it immediately using the contact details below — reports are taken seriously and investigated directly by management.

Content and editorial safety

Our editors and proofreaders work to improve the clarity, structure and quality of your writing. We do not add content, claims or opinions that are not yours, and any suggested changes to your manuscript's meaning are flagged for your review and approval before being finalised — you always have the final say over your own words.

Reporting a concern

If something doesn't feel right at any point during your publishing journey, contact us directly and confidentially — we would rather hear from you early than have a small concern become a bigger problem.