How to publish a book in Nepal

To publish a book in Nepal, choose how the work will be funded and managed, prepare your manuscript or outline, and agree the support you need. The work then moves through development or editing, design, edition and ISBN arrangements, production and the agreed route to readers. Your starting material and the publishing arrangement determine who handles each stage.

At Samman Publishing House in Kathmandu, our services are author-funded. We can discuss an idea, a few poems, research or a finished manuscript, then propose the relevant work and costs. You can ask a question before completing an application.

The publishing process, step by step

1. Describe your book, its language, intended readers and the material you have.
2. Choose a publishing arrangement and agree who pays for and carries out each part of the work.
3. Agree the scope, costs, responsibilities, approvals and proposed schedule before work begins.
4. Develop and edit the manuscript, then review the cover, interior design and proofs.
5. Confirm the publisher of record, edition details, ISBN arrangements and print specifications.
6. Approve production and carry out the distribution or introduction to readers agreed for the book.

What do you have ready?

• An idea or outline: describe the book you want to make, its readers and where you need writing support.
• Poems, notes or a partial draft: share what exists and the question you want help with first.
• A complete manuscript: describe its language, approximate length and any editing already completed.
• Research or an academic project: explain its intended readers and any institutional requirements before agreeing the work.

Choose the publishing arrangement

Publisher-funded publishing

A publisher selects work to finance under its commercial agreement. Ask about its submission process and the arrangement it offers. Selection and terms depend on the publisher; an enquiry does not establish that a book will be accepted or funded.

Author-funded publishing

You or an institution pays for an agreed scope. At SPH, that can include writing support, editing, design and production, with distribution or campaign work where agreed. The proposal should make the work, costs, exclusions and responsibilities clear before you commit.

Managing publication yourself

You can also coordinate publication yourself, choosing the specialists and printer you need. Decide who handles editing, design, proofs, edition records, stock and access for readers. A printer's quotation may cover only printing; check the scope rather than assuming these other tasks are included.

Agree the costs and schedule

Editing depth, writing or translation support, illustrations, page extent, paper, binding and print quantity affect the budget and schedule. Ask what is included, what changes cost extra and which stages need your approval. At SPH, we review your material and needs before proposing the work and price.

If you have a publication date in mind, tell us what is ready and what still needs work. Author revisions, approvals and production dependencies matter alongside the deadline. We can discuss those stages before proposing a schedule.

Confirm the publisher and ISBN arrangements

Agree whose name will appear as publisher and who will handle the edition's ISBN application. When SPH publishes a book as publisher of record, we handle that application. Self-publishing authors can also be publishers: the International ISBN Agency explains this, and TU Central Library's ISBN portal provides registration for authors and publishers. Check the current application requirements with the agency.

Plan how readers will find the book

Before approving a print quantity, discuss who the book is for and how copies will reach them. Agree the distribution channels, stock responsibilities and any public introduction or campaign work. A listing, a launch and a sale are different outcomes; ask what work is included and what evidence will be reported.

Discuss your book with SPH

Tell us what you are working on and which part you would like help with first. We can discuss writing support, editorial work, design, production and the agreed work of reaching readers. If your project has university or other institutional requirements, bring those to the conversation before the scope is set.

Questions before you start