Bottom line: Based on its published terms, pricing and documented results, Writers of the West is a strong-value option for first-time authors who want professional help rather than a do-it-yourself upload. Its terms are notably author-friendly: ownership and royalties transfer at contract signing, books can be published through the author’s own accounts, and the company documents a pre-launch ranking process with verifiable #1 Amazon category results. Its $2,199 Gold package includes distribution to 20+ retailers and libraries, is priced below the entry packages at MindStir Media and Gatekeeper Press, and can be paid in 0% installments. Authors willing to hire freelancers and manage the process themselves can spend less by going fully DIY.

Company profile

Headquarters	Houston, with offices listed in Los Angeles and New York
Business model	Full-service self-publishing: authors pay for services and retain rights and royalties
Services	Ghostwriting, editing, design, publishing, audiobooks, marketing
Publishing packages	$699–$5,999
Author royalties	100%
Payment terms	0% interest installments; self-paced option
BBB status	A+ rated, accredited
Public catalog	100+ titles in the company’s portfolio

Background

Writers of the West is a ghostwriting, editing and self-publishing services company led by founder and CEO Chris Holloway. The company traces its publishing roots to 2004, operates as a Texas LLC, and holds an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.

It operates as a self-publishing services company rather than a traditional publisher. Authors pay for services up front and retain the rights, the royalties and control over retail pricing. No advance is paid, and the company takes no share of sales after publication.

A practical test of any publishing company is whether its books can be found in the market. The company’s portfolio page lists more than 100 titles spanning memoir, Christian nonfiction, children’s books, thrillers and business guides, each linked to a live Amazon or Blackwell’s listing. It also links to its catalog pages on Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org and other retailers, which makes its distribution claims straightforward to check.

The gap it addresses for first-time authors

Amazon KDP is free to use, but it is an upload tool, not a publishing service. It does not edit manuscripts, design covers, format print interiors to specification, select categories and keywords, or distribute to stores and libraries beyond Amazon. For first-time authors, this is where most of the work and most of the costly errors occur: rejected files, weak covers, and books listed in categories where their readers don’t browse.

Full-service companies exist to close that gap. The relevant comparison is which ones deliver the most for the price and leave the author with the most control afterward. On both measures, Writers of the West’s published terms compare favorably.

Key differentiators

Ownership from contract signing

According to the company’s terms, ownership and royalties belong to the author from the moment the contract is signed. They are not conditional on project completion or final payment, and the company takes no ongoing percentage of sales. This contrasts with assisted-publishing arrangements that tie ownership transfer, production files or revenue to later milestones.

Publishing through the author’s own account

The company states that projects can be set up so books publish through the author’s own KDP and retailer accounts, giving authors direct access to sales data, pricing and settings. Many assisted-publishing models instead keep books in company-managed accounts, leaving the author dependent on the provider for that information.

Post-launch support

Each author is assigned a dedicated project manager who, according to the company, can remain the point of contact for years after publication. Eligible projects also include up to three years of post-publication revisions. Many competing packages end at launch and price later changes as new work.

A published ranking methodology

Many services advertise bestseller campaigns without explaining the method. Writers of the West publishes its process and specific results, examined in the next section.

Verifiable distribution

Rather than relying on retailer logos, the company links to live pages showing its books on each platform it lists, so prospective authors can confirm its reach independently.

End-to-end service

Ghostwriting, editing, design, formatting, publishing, audiobook production, distribution and marketing are offered under one roof. Authors can select individual services or retain one team for the full project, avoiding the coordination burden of hiring several freelancers.

Amazon ranking methodology

Pre-launch positioning is the step most often skipped by authors publishing alone. Writers of the West documents its approach publicly: after a manuscript is edited, designed and formatted, the team holds it for up to 10 business days of research before publishing through its Amazon KDP publishing service. The process has six stages:

1. Category identification: every Amazon category the book legitimately fits.
2. Category scoring: each candidate is assessed against internal criteria, of which competitiveness is one.
3. Competitive analysis: the top 10–15 ranking titles in shortlisted categories are studied for titles, subtitles, descriptions and metadata.
4. Search-language research: the terms readers actually use, which often differ from the author’s own.
5. Positioning: the opening where the book’s strengths meet demonstrated reader demand.
6. Listing build: subtitle where still flexible, description, back-cover copy, metadata, Author Central and A+ content, without keyword stuffing.

The company documents four titles that reached #1 through this process, each linked for verification:

Book	Author	#1 position
A Walkthrough of the Bible	Doug Kroeker	New Releases in Paul’s Letters, first week
Hell Bringeth A Woman Scorned	Alec Schweitzer	New Releases in Prophecies
Custody MD: Fighting for the Woo	Dr. Adwoafuaa Nwokocha	New Releases in two categories simultaneously
Love Against the Wall	Hagos Weldegebriel Debesay	#1 Best Seller in Middle Eastern Literature, first week

The company’s own documentation notes the limits of these results: they are category-level rankings captured at a point in time, rankings change continually, and no publisher can guarantee a #1 position because none controls Amazon’s algorithm. What the service provides is the research and positioning work itself.

Pricing and value

Writers of the West is one of relatively few companies in this segment to publish complete prices on its pricing page. Packages for authors with a finished manuscript:

Package	Price	Formats and distribution	Notable inclusions
Bronze	$699	Paperback, Amazon	Category optimization
Silver	$1,299	eBook, paperback, hardcover; 10+ platforms incl. Barnes & Noble, Apple Books	Keyword strategy, editorial reviews, 10 proof copies
Gold	$2,199	20+ platforms incl. Walmart, Target, Powell’s; libraries and bookstores	Library of Congress registration, Amazon A+ content, trailer, press release, 20 proof copies
Platinum	$3,799	30+ platforms, audiobook	Paid Amazon and social ads, author website
Titanium	$5,999	50+ platforms, audiobook	Digital billboards, influencer marketing, bestseller campaign

Editing is priced separately on the pricing page, from $300 for proofreading to $3,000 for developmental editing. All packages are available on 0% interest plans beginning with a deposit of roughly 30%.

Market comparison

Option	Upfront cost	Scope	Author royalties
Amazon KDP (DIY)	Free	Upload tool only	70% on eBooks priced $2.99–$9.99, otherwise 35%
IngramSpark (DIY)	Free setup; 1.875% fee per sale	Print distribution to stores and libraries; author supplies files and ISBN	After wholesale discount and print cost
Writers of the West	$699–$5,999	Full service, own-account publishing, ranking research, post-launch support, 0% plans	100%
BookBaby	Typically $1,100–$3,000	Modular production and distribution	Varies by channel
MindStir Media	$3,299–$17,199	Full service with founder mentoring	50%–100% by package
Gatekeeper Press	From $3,500	Production and distribution with an author manager	100% of net
Greenleaf Book Group	Custom; authors report about $30,000–$50,000	Selective hybrid publisher with trade distribution	Shared with publisher

Among full-service providers, Writers of the West sits at the affordable end of the market. Its Gold tier is priced below Gatekeeper’s $3,500 Signature package and MindStir’s $3,299 entry package, while including items those entry packages do not list: Amazon A+ content, editorial reviews, a book trailer, a press release and library distribution. Premium providers offer their own advantages, such as founder mentoring at MindStir or selective trade distribution at Greenleaf, at several times the cost.

Customer feedback

The company has roughly 100 public reviews across platforms, predominantly positive:

• Google: 50+ reviews. 
• Reviews.io: 4.9 out of 5 from 22 reviews.
• Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 27 reviews; the company responds to reviews publicly.

Recurring themes in positive reviews include hands-on support for first-time authors, responsive project managers and repeat clients returning for later books. As with any provider, recent and verified reviews deserve the most weight, though the company does have some bad reviews, about a customer who got a late deliverable and got a partial refund on request, and a customer who was not happy with best-seller promotion and expected to sell more copies than sold.

Considerations

• DIY remains cheaper for self-directed authors. Those comfortable hiring an editor and designer and learning KDP and IngramSpark can spend less.
• Upper-tier marketing builds visibility rather than guaranteed sales. This applies across the industry; no self-publishing service can promise sales. Platinum and Titanium are best evaluated on their concrete deliverables, such as paid advertising, an author website and an audiobook.
• ISBN publisher of record. The included ISBN lists Writers of the West as publisher of record, although the book can still be published through the author’s own account. Authors who want their own imprint listed can supply their own ISBN.
• Package inclusions. As with any provider, authors should confirm editing level, revision rounds and proof copies in writing.

Best suited for

Strong fit for authors who:

• are publishing a first book and want an experienced team to handle production, distribution and positioning;
• want to own their book and see sales data directly in their own accounts;
• want support that continues after launch;
• need to spread costs over time;
• are writing memoir, faith-based, business or children’s books where a professional finished product matters.

Other options may suit authors who:

• are comfortable managing freelancers and want the lowest possible cost;
• want a selective hybrid imprint with traditional trade sales teams and have a budget of $30,000 or more.

FAQ

Is Writers of the West legit?

Yes. It is a registered Texas company with an A+ BBB rating and accreditation, published pricing, and a public portfolio of 100+ books verifiable on Amazon and other retailers.

How much does Writers of the West charge to publish a book?

Publishing packages range from $699 (paperback on Amazon) to $5,999 (50+ platforms with extensive marketing), with 0% installment plans available. Editing is priced separately.

Do authors keep their rights and royalties with Writers of the West?

Yes. According to the company’s terms, authors own the book and 100% of royalties from contract signing, set their own retail price, and can publish through their own accounts.

Can Writers of the West get a book to #1 on Amazon?

No publisher can guarantee it. Writers of the West conducts pre-launch category, competitor and keyword research designed to position books to compete, and documents several titles that reached #1 in their Amazon categories.

Is it better to self-publish on KDP or use a self-publishing company?

KDP alone costs less for authors who can handle editing, design, formatting and positioning themselves. A full-service company makes more sense for authors who want professional production, distribution beyond Amazon, and pre-launch category and keyword research, which strongly affects whether a new book is found.

Verdict

For first-time authors, Writers of the West offers an unusually author-friendly combination at its price point: ownership from contract signing, publishing through the author’s own account, a documented ranking process with verifiable #1 results, post-launch support and flexible payment, at a lower cost than most full-service competitors’ entry packages. The Silver and Gold tiers represent the clearest value. Authors on the tightest budgets who are prepared to manage every step themselves can go DIY, and anyone choosing a publishing service should compare at least two providers and confirm inclusions in writing.

Sources

• Writers of the West: self-publishing services, pricing, portfolio, Amazon KDP publishing service, ranking methodology
• BBB business profile
• Customer reviews: Google, Reviews.io, Trustpilot
• Competitor pricing: IngramSpark fees, BookBaby pricing breakdown, Gatekeeper Press pricing, MindStir Media review, an author’s Greenleaf account