Case Study
The Cabochon — Matthew Saxton
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.
About the author (and 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 (full start-to-finish publishing package)
For this title we provided an end-to-end solution—so nothing was left to chance at the final hurdle:
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 + 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 upload for paperback print-on demand + Kindle,
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
Our process
(how we take a complex book from manuscript to market)
1) Discovery + roadmap (human-first, not platform-first)
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.
This is core to how Dave Palmer Consulting works: tailored advice, author-led decisions, plain-English communication.
2) Editorial polish: keep the atmosphere, remove the friction
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).
Proofreading then acted as the final “quality gate” before files were locked for publication—delivered via tracked changes so the author had full approval.
3) Formatting for two different reading experiences (print + Kindle)
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.)
4) Cover design built to sell (and to upload perfectly)
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.
5) 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.
6) Website launch hub to support discoverability beyond Amazon
Publishing is only the beginning—authors need a credible online presence for readers, media, and long-term sales. Our author websites are designed to showcase the book, build
trust, and link seamlessly to retailers.
For The Cabochon, the site positions the story clearly (hook + synopsis + author profile) and gives readers immediate routes to purchase and contact.
Result:
A debut historical novel packaged to professional standards and released across:
- 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.
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.
