1. Scope of Services & Package Details

The Publisher will provide the following services under the International Publishing Package — Synthetic Paper Edition, priced at $325 USD (full advance):

• ISBN Assignment & Barcode Generation
• Professional Cover Design
• Comprehensive Proofreading (English Language)
• Interior Formatting & Beautification
• eBook Conversion (ePub & Kindle-ready)
• Paperback Setup — Synthetic Paper (as specified by the Author)
• Global Distribution on 20+ platforms
• 1 Professional Book Review
• 3D Book Mockups
• Publishing e-Certificate
• Author Dashboard with real-time royalty tracking

Note: This package does not include complimentary author copies. All physical copies are produced via the Author's separate bulk printing arrangements.

2. Distribution Platforms

• Paperback (Physical) Distribution: The paperback edition will be available exclusively on:
  • Amazon (via Kindle Direct Publishing / Amazon Marketplace)
  • Apna Publisher Store (store.apnapublisher.in)
• eBook (Digital) Distribution: The eBook edition will be distributed across 20+ international platforms including but not limited to:
  • Apple Books, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Kobo, Scribd, OverDrive, Smashwords, Rakuten, Tolino, and other regional partners.
• Book Fairs: Physical copies of the book will be showcased and made available for sale at India-based book fairs, including the New Delhi and Pune book fair showcases organized or attended by the Publisher.

3. Printing, Inventory & Stock Management

• The Author's book is produced on synthetic paper, a premium and high-cost material. The Author acknowledges and agrees that the Publisher (APUBS) shall retain a portion of physical copies from the Author's bulk printing orders as inventory stock.
• The number of copies retained as stock shall be determined solely by APUBS based on market demand, storage capacity, and distribution requirements.
• Stock copies will be used for:
  • Sales through the Apna Publisher Store
  • India-based book fair placements
  • Direct order fulfillment
• All stock retained by APUBS remains the intellectual property of the Author. Revenue from stock sales follows the royalty structure defined in Section 4.
• Any unsold stock after 12 months may be returned to the Author or donated with prior written consent.

4. Royalty Structure & Revenue

• The Author is entitled to 100% of net royalties after platform commissions and processing fees as detailed below:
• Apna Publisher Store Sales:
  • Author receives: Selling Price minus 2% Processing Fee
  • Example: On a $50 book → Author receives $49 (2% = $1 processing fee)
• Amazon Sales:
  • Author receives: Selling Price minus 12%–15% Amazon Commission
  • Amazon's exact commission percentage depends on category, marketplace, and listing type
• eBook Platform Sales:
  • Author receives: Selling Price minus standard platform commission (typically 30%–35% for most digital platforms)
• No additional printing charges will be deducted from royalties — the Author's printing costs are covered under separate bulk printing arrangements.
• Royalty payouts will be processed in Indian Rupees (INR) on a monthly basis via bank transfer, once the minimum payout threshold of ₹1,000 INR is met.
• Full financial transparency is guaranteed through the live Author Dashboard.

5. Shipping & Fulfillment

• Shipping charges for physical book orders are charged separately to the buyer at checkout.
• If free shipping is offered as a promotional measure, shipping costs will be deducted from the selling amount before royalty calculation.
• Shipping rates vary by destination country and carrier. Domestic (India) and international shipping rates are determined at the time of order placement.
• The Publisher is not responsible for customs duties, import taxes, or other levies imposed by the buyer's country of residence.

6. Author Rights, Copyright & ISBN

• Absolute Copyright Retention: The Author retains 100% intellectual property rights, copyright, and moral rights of their submitted work.
• ISBN Ownership: The ISBN assigned to each format of the book shall exclusively belong to the Author.
• Manuscript Security: APUBS guarantees strict data confidentiality. The manuscript will not be shared with unauthorized third parties.
• Non-Exclusive Grant: The Author grants APUBS a limited, non-exclusive right to format, print, publish, distribute, and market the book.

7. Payment Terms

• The total package fee is $325 USD (United States Dollars), payable as a one-time full advance payment at the time of signing this agreement.
• No further balance, installment, or hidden fee is due at any stage for the services outlined in Section 1.
• Payment is processed via Razorpay secure international payment gateway.
• Bulk printing orders placed by the Author are priced separately and are not covered under this package fee.

8. Timelines & Delivery

• Standard publication turnaround is 15–30 business days from the receipt of the final approved manuscript and full payment.
• The Author will receive proofs for review and approval before final production.
• APUBS will list the book on all specified platforms within 7–14 days of production completion.

9. Cancellation & Refund Policy

• Pre-Production: Full refund (minus payment gateway processing fees) if cancelled before any work commences.
• In-Production: Once editorial, design, or formatting work has begun, the payment becomes non-refundable.
• Post-Publication: The Author may withdraw the book from distribution at any time with 30-day written notice.

10. Tax Responsibilities

• APUBS is responsible for applicable Indian GST on services rendered.
• The Author is solely responsible for any tax obligations in their country of residence (including US income tax reporting on royalties received).

11. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

• This agreement is governed by the laws of India.
• In case of any dispute, both parties agree to first attempt resolution through mediation.
• If mediation fails, disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.