Ballast Books
The terms that govern your use of our website, our inquiry forms, and our SMS communications. We keep this plain-spoken on purpose.
On this page
Ballast Books LLC ("Ballast Books," "we," "us") is a hybrid publisher based in West Palm Beach, Florida. We provide professional, guided publishing services to authors who retain the rights to their work.
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our website at www.ballastbooks.com, our inquiry forms, and any SMS messages we send you. By visiting our website, submitting a form, or opting in to receive messages from us, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our website or submit your information to us. Our separate Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information, and is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Ballast Books offers guided, hybrid publishing services, including editorial support, book design, production, distribution setup, and related author services. The specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees for any publishing engagement are set out in a separate, individually negotiated publishing services agreement between Ballast Books and the author, not in these website Terms. Submitting an inquiry through our website does not, by itself, create a publishing agreement or any obligation on either party.
As a hybrid publisher, we describe our process, editorial support, and distribution channels honestly, and we do not promise outcomes we cannot control, such as bestseller status, a specific sales volume, media placement, awards, or traditional-publisher or literary-agent interest. Any description of our services on this website is a description of our process and support, not a guarantee of a result.
Our website and services are intended for adults. By submitting a form or opting in to SMS messages, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and that the information you provide is accurate and belongs to you (or that you have the right to submit it, for example, a manuscript you co-authored).
When you submit a book idea, synopsis, manuscript, or excerpt through our "Submit Your Book Idea" form, you retain all rights, title, and interest in that material. Submitting it to us does not transfer any ownership or license to Ballast Books beyond what is reasonably necessary for our acquisitions team to review it and respond to your inquiry. We do not claim any rights to unpublished submissions, and we will not use, publish, or share your submitted material outside our internal review process without your separate, written agreement.
Submitting an idea does not guarantee that Ballast Books will accept, publish, or move forward with your project. Our acquisitions team reviews submissions at our discretion, and any decision to proceed, along with the specific rights, royalties, and services involved, is set out in a separate publishing services agreement, not in these Terms.
Separately, all content on our website itself, including text, graphics, logos, and design, is owned by or licensed to Ballast Books and is protected by applicable copyright and trademark law. You may view and print pages of our website for your own personal, non-commercial use, but you may not otherwise copy, reproduce, or distribute our website content without our written permission.
When you use our website, you agree not to:
Use the site for any unlawful purpose, or in a way that violates any applicable local, state, national, or international law;
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems, forms, or data;
Use automated means (such as scraping or bots) to extract data from our website without our permission;
Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information through our forms;
Interfere with or disrupt the website or the servers or networks connected to it.
Ballast Books offers text messaging as an optional way to stay in touch with authors and prospective authors who ask for it. We only send SMS messages to people who have opted in.
Recipients who opt in may receive SMS messages from Ballast Books related to scheduled call reminders and confirmations, as well as follow-up or thank-you messages after submitting a book idea or publishing inquiry. Message and data rates apply, message frequency may vary, reply STOP to opt out, reply HELP for assistance, consent is not a condition of purchase, and carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Our SMS program is described further, including how your mobile number and message data are handled, in our Privacy Policy. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message we send, or by contacting us using the details in Contact us.
This website describes our services generally; it is not a price list or an offer to contract. Specific package pricing, payment terms, and the services included are set out in the individual publishing services agreement we provide once we've discussed your project with you. Nothing on this website should be read as a binding quote or offer.
Our website may link to third-party websites, or use third-party tools (such as our live chat widget, analytics, and advertising-measurement tags, described in our Privacy Policy). We don't control those third-party sites or services, and we aren't responsible for their content, policies, or practices. Visiting a linked site is at your own discretion and risk.
Our website, forms, and communications are provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure.
As described in Our services, we do not guarantee specific publishing outcomes, including sales figures, bestseller status, media coverage, awards, or interest from literary agents or traditional publishers. Any results we describe, such as author testimonials or examples of past work, reflect individual experiences and are not a promise of similar results for you.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Ballast Books and its owners, employees, and contractors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of our website, our forms, or our SMS communications, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in these Terms limits any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
You agree to indemnify and hold Ballast Books harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your misuse of our website, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third party's rights, including intellectual property rights in material you submit to us.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.
Before filing a claim, you agree to first contact us at info@ballastbooks.com and give us 30 days to try to resolve the dispute informally.
If we can't resolve a dispute informally, you and Ballast Books agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, our SMS program, or your use of our website will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, rather than in court, except that either party may bring a qualifying individual claim in small-claims court instead. Arbitration will take place in Florida, or another location we agree to.
You and Ballast Books each agree to bring claims only in an individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. If this class-action waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) will proceed in court rather than arbitration, under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Florida.
Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court at any time to protect its intellectual property or confidential information, without first pursuing informal resolution or arbitration.
You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing info@ballastbooks.com within 30 days of first agreeing to these Terms, stating that you opt out. If you opt out, disputes will instead be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Florida.
We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page, and significant changes will be made clear. Your continued use of our website or continued opt-in to our SMS program after a change takes effect means you accept the updated Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
If you have questions about these Terms, contact us:
Email: info@ballastbooks.com
Mail: Ballast Books LLC, West Palm Beach, Florida