Contracts & Ownership

Clear terms. Transparent rights. No ambiguity.

Publishing a book is a creative partnership—but it is also a legal one.
At The Paper House, our contracts are designed to be straightforward, ethical, and author-first.

You should always understand what you’re signing, what you retain, and how your work is protected.

Author Ownership Comes First

Authors retain ownership of their work.

We do not claim creative control, copyright ownership, or long-term rights beyond what is required to publish and distribute your book according to the selected publishing path.

Your manuscript remains yours.

What Our Contracts Cover

Every publishing agreement clearly outlines:

  • Scope of services included
  • Publishing path selected (Self, Hybrid, or Children’s)
  • Rights granted for production and distribution
  • Royalty structure (where applicable)
  • Timelines, approvals, and author responsibilities

There are no hidden clauses or bundled rights transfers.

Children’s Books & Special Considerations

Children’s publishing often involves additional considerations—illustration rights, formatting standards, and production requirements.

Contracts for children’s books reflect:

  • Illustration coordination terms
  • Usage rights specific to visual content
  • Format-appropriate production standards


All rights are addressed explicitly before work begins.

02

Publishing With Confidence

Contracts should enable creativity—not complicate it.

Our goal is to provide a clear framework that supports collaboration, protects authorship, and allows the publishing process to move forward with trust.

01

Review Before You Commit

You’ll receive your contract before moving forward—never after work has begun.

We encourage authors to:

  • Take time to review
  • Ask questions
  • Seek independent legal counsel if desired

An informed author is a protected author.

We now have a hybrid program!

Mirage Hybrid Publishing

Mirage Hybrid Publishing is an imprint of The Paper House designated for select books. Mirage is a publishing model that combines the benefits of both traditional and self-publishing. You keep creative control, intellectual property, and the majority of royalties. Hundreds of books are sold daily in the United States and this can only be met by an aggressive production, marketing, and distribution services.