Case Study

The Cabochon

By Matthew Saxton

An atmospheric historical novel set in London in 1724: part crime thriller, part search for identity, driven by a divided cabochon pendant, a lost child and a mother who refuses to stop looking.

Matthew Saxton came to us with a richly researched debut featuring real historical figures such as Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard, and sensitive themes, including forbidden love, which could then be a hanging offence.

The aim was bookshop-quality paperback and Kindle editions that kept the story’s voice, plus a professional launch platform.

Get a Quote
Paperback copies of The Cabochon by Matthew Saxton standing in a row
Two copies of The Cabochon lying stacked

About the author

An experienced academic’s first novel

Matthew spent decades as a developmental psychologist and academic, with extensive writing and publishing experience. He lists Child Language: Acquisition and Development among his published works.

That gave the manuscript depth and detail. Debut fiction still needs polish and packaging to feel commercially finished, especially when the setting and cast demand clarity.

Get a Quote

WHAT WE DELIVERED

Full production and launch

One joined-up workflow, one point of contact, and decisions made with Matthew.

The process

How we worked on the book

  1. Discovery and a plan

    We start with a proper conversation and a clear plan, then shape the work around the author’s goals, timeline and budget.

  2. Editing that keeps the atmosphere

    A setting like 1720s London needs vivid detail without confusing the reader. Editing focused on clarity, transitions and character motivation, keeping the gritty tone and the emotional centre: identity, separation, survival.

  3. Formatting for print and Kindle

    Paperback and Kindle are different products. We prepared publication-ready files so print reads well on paper and Kindle works properly on devices, with no awkward breaks.

  4. Cover design

    A cover must look bookshop-professional in the hand and work as a tiny thumbnail online. The process includes consultation, a unique design, a print-ready wraparound to exact specs, a Kindle-optimised front and proof rounds with the author.

  5. Amazon KDP launch

    We set up and submitted the paperback (POD) and Kindle editions under Matthew’s name and KDP account, so royalties and control stay with him.

  6. A launch website beyond Amazon

    We handled KDP setup and submission so the book went live smoothly across paperback POD and Kindle - configured under the author’s name and account, meaning royalties and control remain with them.

RESULT

A debut historical novel packaged to professional standards

  • Paperback via Amazon print-on-demand
  • Kindle edition
  • A dedicated website that helps readers find the book
Get a Quote Browse Our Books

The Cabochon is an atmospheric historical novel set in London, 1724—part crime thriller, part emotional search for identity—driven by a divided cabochon pendant, a lost child, and a mother who refuses to stop looking.


Matthew Saxton came to us with a debut novel that’s richly researched and emotionally charged, featuring real historical figures such as Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard, plus sensitive themes (including forbidden love in an era when it could be a hanging offence).


The goal was simple: publish to bookshop-quality standards across paperback + Kindle, without losing the story’s voice,  and build a professional launch platform around it.

Case Study

The Cabochon

By Matthew Saxton

About the author

Why it mattered to the publishing process 

Matthew’s background is unusually strong for a debut novelist: he’s spent decades as a developmental psychologist and academic, with extensive writing and publishing experience, and he’s described Child Language: Acquisition and Development among his published works.


That gave the manuscript depth and detail—but debut fiction still needs a very specific kind of polish and packaging to feel commercially “finished,” especially when the setting and cast demand absolute clarity for the reader.

What We Delivered

A full production and launch package

Aligned with the way Dave Palmer Consulting works best: one joined-up workflow, one accountable point of contact, and decisions made with the author—not for the author.

Editing

voice-preserving clarity + flow

Proofreading

final “professional eyes” pass



Interior formatting for print and Kindle

professional layout, consistent typography and structure

Bespoke cover design

print wrap + Kindle-ready front

Amazon KDP

files, settings, checks, troubleshooting

Website Build

author platform + discoverability

Print Support

alongside POD for authors who want stock for events/ signings/press, with bookshop-standard production and flexible quantities

What We Delivered

How we take a complex book from manuscript to market

We start with a proper conversation and a clear plan, then tailor the workflow to the author’s goals, timeline and budget—so the book moves forward with confidence and zero guesswork.

Discovery + roadmap (human-first, not platform-first)

With a densely textured setting like 1720s London, readers need vivid detail without confusion. Editing focused on tightening clarity, smoothing transitions, and ensuring character motivations land cleanly—while preserving the gritty tone and emotional centre (identity, separation, survival).

Editorial polish: keep the atmosphere, remove the friction

Paperback and Kindle are not the same product. We prepared publication-ready files so the print edition reads beautifully on paper and the Kindle edition behaves correctly on devices—no awkward breaks, inconsistent structure, or “conversion-looking” ebooks. (This is a major reason we treat Amazon submission as one step in a wider publishing journey, not a last-minute upload.)

Formatting for two different reading experiences (print + Kindle)

For indie authors, the cover has to do two jobs at once: feel bookshop-professional in hand and perform as a tiny thumbnail online. Our cover process includes consultation, a unique design (not a template), print-ready wraparound built to exact specs, a Kindle-optimised front, and collaborative proof rounds.

Cover design built to sell (and to upload perfectly)

We handled KDP setup and submission so the book went live smoothly across paperback POD and Kindle—configured under the author’s name and account, meaning royalties and control remain with them.


That independence-first approach mirrors why Dave Palmer built the business in the first place: to replace confusing, frustrating publishing experiences with honest, practical guidance and a process that actually supports the author.

Amazon KDP launch (POD + Kindle) where the author stays in control

We handled KDP setup and submission so the book went live smoothly across paperback POD and Kindle—configured under the author’s name and account, meaning royalties and control remain with them.


That independence-first approach mirrors why Dave Palmer built the business in the first place: to replace confusing, frustrating publishing experiences with honest, practical. guidance and a process that actually supports the author.

Website launch hub to support discoverability beyond Amazon
DavePalmer Consulting logo with a blue, gold, and white geometric shape.

Let’s Create Something Beautiful

We’d love to design a cover that does your story justice.  We’ll include pricing and timelines with no obligation to proceed.

Smartphone screen showcasing book publishing services: copywriting, cover design, printing. Trusted by authors.

Result

A debut historical novel packaged to professional standards

  • Paperback via Amazon print-on-demand
  • Kindle edition
  • A dedicated website supporting visibility, credibility, and reader conversion
  • Delivered through the Dave Palmer Consulting model: one joined-up process, a dedicated point of contact (not a revolving door of freelancers), and bookshop-quality outcomes.