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
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.
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.
