Most publishers leave you in email threads. AuthorShelf includes a lifetime Author Portal on every package — Spark through Ultimate — so production is visible, approvals are written, and royalties live in one place after Title Live.
What the portal is for
The portal is your project home from first payment through post-publication. You can:
- Track six production phases from Title Setup to Title Live
- Upload manuscripts, covers references, and revision files with version history
- Complete eProof reviews and markups without hunting email attachments
- Message your production team with unread badges and a clear thread per project
- View Published Titles separately from in-progress Projects
- See royalty reporting after go-live (you keep 100% of net royalties)
Projects vs Published Titles
Projects hold books still in production. Published Titles hold books after distribution go-live. Checking sales or royalties means opening Titles/Royalties — not an old email chain.
Title Setup (Phase 1)
After package payment, you complete an 11-page Title Setup wizard: book title, contributors, trim size, manuscript details, and starter files. Progress saves so you can exit and resume. Production cannot start cleanly until setup is complete.
Why “lifetime” matters
There is no monthly portal subscription. When your book is live, you still use the portal for reprints, royalty visibility, messaging, and future titles under the same account.