IAM Author Shares Her Experience with Gatekeeper Press After Going It Alone, and How It Made A Difference
When I published my first nonfiction book, Picture Perfect: An Insider’s Guide to Writing Picture Books, I thought self-publishing through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform would be straightforward. After all, I had the manuscript, the know-how to upload files, and the drive to get the book into the world. What I didn’t anticipate was just how steep the learning curve would be.
I spent hours teaching myself formatting, cover design basics, and the ins and outs of metadata. Although the book came out fine in the end, the time-to-effort ratio didn’t make sense. For every hour I spent troubleshooting, I was losing an hour I could have used doing the work I actually love—writing and coaching other authors.
Around the same time, I experimented with Draft2Digital, a popular distribution platform. While their interface was easy to use, my attempts at DIY formatting didn’t feel professional enough, and I felt overwhelmed by all the options available to me. To be honest, the experience left me wishing someone could just step in and steer the ship.
That’s why when I was ready to publish my next book, I partnered with Gatekeeper Press. They sponsored my book, Write, Teach, Spark, to use it as a real-world example of their services. In exchange for the sponsorship, they offer a free sample of the book on their website to anyone considering working with them.
Gatekeeper Press positions itself as a true independent publisher. Unlike hybrid publishers, Gatekeeper Press doesn’t take rights or royalties. Authors retain full ownership and pay for only the services they need—whether that be editing, design, formatting, distribution, or marketing support. The publishing service provider acts as a middle ground for writers who want more than a do-it-yourself platform like KDP or Draft2Digital but aren’t looking to give away creative or financial control of their titles.
Getting Started
In December 2024, we started work on the book. It began with a thirty-minute video call with Rob Price, the founder of Gatekeeper Press. When we spoke, he didn’t try to oversell me. As an editor, I knew I didn’t need developmental editing. My manuscript was clean, my layout simple, and I only needed one interior graphic. Instead of a one-size-fits-all package, Gatekeeper Press let me pick exactly what I needed: design, formatting, and later, marketing support.
The offer to customize a package to your project rather than pick from predetermined options is rooted in Price’s own experience as a self-published author. He’s lived through the frustrations of self-publishing and built his company to fill those gaps. Today, the philosophy that sets the company apart from other publishing services remains: that you pay just for the services you need. That said, it’s not the only route authors can take; Gatekeeper Press’s website details three packages for authors—the Children’s Book package, the Signature package for traditional novels, and the Poetry/Novella package—with set pricing and discounts for Gatekeeper+ members.
Inside the Process
Once I signed on, I was given access to Gatekeeper Press’s author dashboard—a customized project management system. Every milestone for the project was laid out on a timeline: cover design, formatting, distribution setup, and more. I could upload files, review proofs, and message my team through the dashboard, and notifications came instantly, which kept me engaged and reassured me that my project was progressing.
Not everything went smoothly at first. I struggled to articulate what I wanted for the cover. I had a vague vision, but I couldn’t explain beyond that. After a few rounds of designs that didn’t feel right, my project manager swapped in a new designer, who jumped on a video chat with me. That conversation unlocked the design and a brand-defining color palette, which I still use today.
My project manager also changed mid-process. Ordinarily, that could have been disruptive. In practice, the new manager picked up right where the other left off.
When it came to formatting, my manuscript was turned around in a single day, with only a minor adjustment needed. The designer also suggested subtle tweaks that elevated the overall layout—things I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.
Holding the first proof in my hands was validating. After the isolation of doing everything myself on KDP, this time I felt supported by a team invested in making my book the best version of itself.
When it came time to launch my book, Gatekeeper Press handled everything. When I had published through KDP, I hadn’t bought an ISBN, so my book could only be sold through Amazon. I chose my own keywords and categories, but it always felt like guesswork.
Gatekeeper Press researched and selected effective categories based on my book’s genre and target audience and distributed Write, Teach, Spark across all major platforms. The book was published on April 25, 2025, and in its first week, it hit the number-one spot in its business writing category on Amazon.
Marketing Beyond the Launch
Post-publication, Gatekeeper Press also offers à la carte marketing options for its authors. I added a press release and a book trailer for my project, and both exceeded my expectations.
Gatekeeper Press’s press release generated interview requests, alumni magazine features, local newspaper coverage, and a monthly column in the Santa Monica Star. That one document has continued to open doors for speaking engagements and podcast appearances since the book was published.
The trailer brought me to tears. Professionally produced and visually compelling, it gave my book—and by extension my brand—the polish of something bigger than a single project. I still use it on my website and in presentations, and it continues to deliver value long after launch.
Gatekeeper Press’s marketing services are a newer addition to the company’s list of offerings, but a spokesperson for the company confirms they are available to authors, even if the author didn’t publish the book using Gatekeeper Press’s services. Along with press releases and book trailers, available marketing services include author website creation, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestseller marketing campaigns, and Publishers Weekly ad creation, according to the Gatekeeper Press website.
The Author’s Perspective
Publishing with Gatekeeper Press felt collaborative. They knew when to listen and when to advise, and the end result reflected both my voice and their expertise.
That ongoing support has continued past publication. When I recently shared a reel about the companion workbook—a self-published add-on project that had an epic formatting fail in its first proof—a Gatekeeper Press team member reached out right away. They assumed the formatting hiccups were theirs and wanted to make sure I knew updates or corrections could be made at any time. I reassured them it wasn’t their project, but the fact that they noticed and cared enough to check in made me feel like I wasn’t just another client in the queue.
Who It’s Right For
As a book coach, I’ve referred both picture book authors and nonfiction writers to Gatekeeper Press, and the feedback has been consistently positive. Whether authors bring their own cover designers or interior illustrators or use Gatekeeper Press’s creators, the results look professional. Authors are also given full transparency and control over the use of AI design in their projects, with the option to opt out of using AI-assisted design in their final work, confirms a spokesperson for the company.
That’s not to say Gatekeeper Press is the only option. Some authors thrive on the full DIY route. Others are drawn to hybrid publishers, who promise more hand-holding but often retain rights and royalties in exchange. My advice to clients is always the same: Take the free calls. Learn what each model offers, and make an informed decision.
For me, Gatekeeper Press struck the right balance: independence with support, and expertise without ego.
Pro Tip
Pricing for Gatekeeper Press’s services varies based on the options or package selected, but more information can be found at https://gatekeeperpress.com/pricing. Authors who are interested can learn more about Gatekeeper Press and its services here: https://gatekeeperpress.com/online-consultation.
Final Takeaway
Publishing is never one-size-fits-all. But for authors who want to retain control while avoiding the pitfalls of going it entirely alone, Gatekeeper Press is a strong option. My journey taught me that expertise matters, in writing as well as in the way a book is brought to life and shared with readers.
