Are you a Christian author considering your publishing options? There are several approaches to publishing your book, but if you’re considering a nontraditional route, knowing what’s available and what you can expect is the key to a successful book publishing experience.
To help you make an informed decision, this article provides a Christian Faith Publishing review to help you decide if this is a company you’d like to consider for your publishing needs.
We’ll take a closer look at:
Who is Christian Faith Publishing?
Christian Faith Publishing (CFP) is a full-service publishing company located in the United States. According to their website, their mission is to “discover and market unknown Christian-based authors who aspire to craft the greatest spiritual impact imaginable via the written word.”
As a hybrid publisher, they handle book production, but you are responsible for an upfront investment to cover the cost of publishing. You retain 100% of the rights to your work and have access to their distribution partners: Ingram, Spring Arbor, and major retailers.
Services and offers
Since CFP is a full-service publisher, they offer a one-stop shop for your book’s publication. The benefit of working with a full-service publisher is having access to their team of professionals.
With CFP, you can expect the following:
Editorial services
Quality editorial services are critical to the professional quality of a book. CFP offers comprehensive manuscript reviews as well as access to experienced editors to shape your book by assisting with the basics of grammar and spelling, as well as more in-depth types of editing.
Design and production
While editing is a critical component to enhancing the reading experience of your readers, what your book looks like can make or break a sale. If the cover looks unprofessional or isn’t genre-specific, a buyer may pass over it for another book. The same goes for typesetting and how the book is formatted.
CFP offers professional typesetting for both ebooks and print, digital conversion for online retailers, and a design team that offers traditional covers as well as illustration.
Marketing and publicity
Once your book is ready for publishing, CFP designs a professional press release to announce your book’s publication. Whether you sell your book online, in brick-and-mortar stores, or both, CFP handles book distribution and fulfillment for both secular and Christian retailers.
Screenplay adaptation
This screenplay adaptation service is unique to CFP. There aren’t a lot of independent publishers offering this type of service. According to their website:
At Christian Faith Publishing, we’ve partnered with experienced screenwriters and industry professionals who specialize in adapting written works into compelling screenplays. We’re dedicated to preserving the essence of your book while translating it into a visual masterpiece. …Unlock the power of your words and bring your story to life on the silver screen with Christian Faith Publishing’s Book-to-Screenplay Service. We understand the importance of reaching a broader audience and expanding the horizons of your literary creation.
While not every author has their sights set on having their book adapted to the big screen, for authors who are interested in this path, having access to professionals in the industry is something to consider.
Pricing
You have to inquire for exact pricing through their website, but it’s reported that publishing fees are between $3,000 and $5,000+. This range is on the lower end of typical self-publishing costs, so you can expect to incur additional add-on fees depending on the services you select.
Reputation and reviews
CFP receives a mixed bag when it comes to reviews. They have a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on their business page on Google. At the writing of this article, there were 538 reviews. Positive reviews tend to focus on specific people in the company that they worked with and the positive outcome, while negative reviews within the last year mention poor communication and editing quality issues.
They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Any complaints received on the platform have a direct response from the CFP team. You can find the BBB reviews here.
Here’s a comparison chart that shows the difference between publishing with Christian Faith Publishing vs a direct do-it-yourself approach through platforms like KDP or IngramSpark.
Comparison: CFP vs. Self-Publishing (KDP & IngramSpark)
CFP vs DIY on KDP
- Cost: CFP costs thousands; KDP is free and gives you full control and royalties.
- Services: CFP’s done-for-you packages give you direct access to publishing professionals rather than hiring each one individually (e.g., editor, designer, formatter).
- Ease: CFP handles all the steps for you, unlike DIY-ing that requires you to make sure all of your book production needs are met and managed properly.
CFP vs IngramSpark
- Professional distribution: CFP and IngramSpark handle distribution, but IngramSpark requires you to set everything up through their platform.
- Costs: IngramSpark has minimal costs vs. significant CFP packages.
Pros and cons of publishing with Christian Faith Publishing
Benefits
Done-for-you model
CFP handles many technical aspects of publishing (editing, formatting, printing, distribution), which can be helpful for authors who don’t want to learn the self-publishing process themselves.
Guided support
The assigned Publication Specialist can offer accountability and assistance through each stage of publishing.
Christian-focused branding
For authors writing religious or faith-based material, CFP markets itself as “Kingdom-friendly,” which may be appealing to some audiences.
Accreditation
BBB accreditation gives authors an official conduit for complaints or mediation.
Criticisms
High costs
CFP’s services are more expensive than DIY self-publishing options.
Mixed quality and delivery issues
Multiple customer reviews report poor editing, missed deadlines, errors in published books, or unsatisfactory marketing support.
Lack of upfront, transparent pricing.
Prospective authors may not be given clear pricing details until partway through the process, which can cause sticker shock or frustration.
Online reputation
Review platforms show both very positive experiences (authors who enjoy the support) and very negative ones (authors calling it predatory or ineffective).
Key takeaways
Christian books, like most genres, have a specific audience base that selects books based on writing style preferences, reading habits, storylines, and price points. But, unlike other genres, Christian book readers often have a specific worldview, which also impacts their purchase decisions.
While a general nontraditional publisher can offer a quality book publishing experience, a niche publisher who understands your specific market can offer insight that general publishers may not tap into.
If you are considering working with a niche publisher. I hope this Christian Faith Publishing review helps. Weigh the pros and cons carefully, especially since their reviews can vary drastically. Do your own research, and as with any publisher, if it doesn’t feel right, be okay with walking away. This is your book, so you should publish on your terms.
