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
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.
About the author
Why it mattered to the publishing process
What We Delivered
Full start-to-finish publishing package
What we delivered full start-to-finish publishing package
Editing
clarity, flow, pacing—protecting voice while sharpening readability
Proofreading
final precision pass, delivered with tracked changes so the author stays in control
Interior formatting for print and Kindle
professional layout, consistent typography and structure
Bespoke cover design
custom front, full wraparound, Kindle-optimised file, multiple
proof rounds, technical-spec compliant
Amazon KDP
set up under the author’s account so they retain royalties and control
Website Build
to support the launch and long-tail sales (author credibility, buy links, and a clear “home” for the book)
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
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.
- 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.
Result
